Choosing an effective domain name for your website is becoming more important in the age of internet marketing and branding development.
For some, the process of domain registration and choosing a domain name is a real mystery. But coming up with a good domain name for your business website doesn’t have to be difficult. These six handy tips will help you create a catchy, memorable and effective one.
1) Choosing .com or Country Top Level Domain?
There are many extensions to choose from, including .net, .org, .biz, .cc and etc. If you are building your website for international users, .com domain is the best option for you. Most Internet browsers automatically default to this extension as well. It’s definitely wise to take advantage of this default when choosing your domain name.
In case your website is only for users located in a certain country or area, you may consider using country level domains, such as .us, .uk or .is. These domains have more availability to choose from. It is however important to realize that rules and regulations for registering these domains may significantly differ from the common domain extensions.
2) Who are You, Where are You Located and What do You do?
Try to incorporate your business name and words that best describe what you do in your domain and in your entire site’s content. For example, Henri’s Car Wash in Reykjavik, Iceland might use a name like ‘henriscarwash.com’ or ‘reykjavikcarwash.com’. When searching for this type of service, people will most often look for ‘car wash´ near where they live, so make sure your location is mentioned in a lot of places on your website, or even in your URL. After all, who would want to travel to next town to get their car washed if they lived in Reykjavik?
3) Choose an Easy Name
Keep in mind that you’ll be giving your email and website address to people quite often. Many times, you’ll do so over the phone, which can lead to misunderstandings and inaccurate spellings. So, for example, if your car wash business is in the town of Kirkjubaejarklaustur (which is actual name of town in Iceland), you probably don’t want to include that in the name of your website.
A good option, in this case, might be to choose something basic like ‘carwash.is’, and just include your location in a lot of places on your website. That way, people searching for your services near your location will find it, but you don’t have to worry about misunderstandings when you’re telling people the name of your site. The golden rule is, the easier your domain name is to spell for the majority of people, the better.
4) Search for Expired Domain Names
Domain names expire constantly and expired names are a great way to get free traffic to your website. If you can find a good fit for your business by using an expired name, it will go a long way toward increasing your online exposure. Be aware that used domains are scooped up by resellers as soon as they become available. Check every day for expired domain names as soon as you know you want to set up a website.
5) Keep Your Domain Name Short
Making your domain name as short as possible is the best way to help people remember it. Longer, more complex names are more difficult to recall and fewer people will think of you when looking for your services. If you are creative and unique while keeping it short, your site name will stick in visitors’ minds. Shorter names are also easier to type and less likely to be spelled incorrectly.
6) Public or Private Registration
Companies will often search for the owners of domains when looking to solicit their own services. Choosing to use your company name rather than your personal name and address is a good way to protect your privacy. This will direct them to send their information to your business address, not your personal address. Furthermore, some of domain name registrars will keep your information private, keeping marketers and others at bay. This is already included within the price on our services.
Choosing a domain name for your website isn’t the most difficult thing you’ll do as a business owner, but it is extremely important. Following this guide should make it a little easier for you to decide. If you get creative and keep these tips in mind, you’re sure to find the perfect name for your domain.
If you’re still not sure which direction to go with your domain name, contact us. We will be happy to answer your questions and help you any way we can with this process.
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