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What you need to know to create a domain name that speaks for your brand and your business.
Coming up with the perfect website domain name for your blog or business can be challenging. However, it’s a crucial step in establishing your online presence and developing your unique brand identity.
In this article, I’m walking you through some important aspects that must be considered when choosing a domain name.
There are numerous factors to weigh, and finding a domain that satisfies all criteria will likely be challenging (or even a bit pricey)!
With this in mind, I recommend that you try to find a domain name that aligns with most of the considerations I’m about to share with you.
What is a domain name?
Before diving into the details, let’s make sure we’re all on the same page about what a domain name even is.
A domain name is essentially the address of your website, just like how your home has a physical address. It’s also commonly referred to as a website URL or web address. For example, http://www.yourbusinessname.com.
Why is a domain name important?
As I was saying, a domain name serves as your website’s address on the internet, such as Google.com or Facebook.com.
It’s what website visitors will type into their browser to access your website, and it forms a part of your brand identity. It essentially tells people where to find you online and helps build credibility.
A good domain name can contribute to your website’s search engine optimization (SEO). And it can also make it easier for potential customers or readers to understand what you’re all about, right off the bat.
10 Key considerations for choosing a domain name
1. Identify your niche and target audience
If you already have a business, and you’ve now decided to digitalize it, your domain name should certainly match your company’s name.
But if you’re just getting started, identifying your niche and target audience is the first step to take.
You want your domain name to reflect what you do and appeal to who you want to serve.
2. Keep it simple
This is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a great domain name. Short and simple domains are easier to remember, type, and share with others.
As a general rule of thumb, you should avoid picking a domain name that is longer than 12 to 15 characters, or 3 to 4 words. Longer domains are harder to remember and more prone to being mistyped.
3. Make it easy to pronounce and spell
Imagine trying to tell someone about your website’s domain, but finding that they can’t understand it or remember how to spell it. Not fun, I’m telling you! Take it from someone who’s registered 3 domains before finally settling with my current business name… I know, it’s embarrassing!
But to avoid going through the same, make sure that the domain name you choose is easy to pronounce and spell.
If possible, stay away from:
- words with multiple spellings (think of the variations between American English and British English, such as “mommy” vs “mummy”)
- confusing words that can be easily misspelled, and even purposefully misspelled words.
These types of words could lead to people constantly asking you to share the link with them again, or worse, not finding your site at all.
4. Pick a suitable top-level domain (TLD) extension
A TLD (or top-level domain) is the suffix at the end of a domain name, that comes after the dot.
While most of us recognize a .com domain extension as standard, there are plenty of alternatives to choose from.
You will certainly be familiar with most of the older TLDs, including .info, .net, .org, etc. But today, there are over 1500 extensions to choose from.
New and creative ideas include things like:
- .design;
- .tv;
- .studio;
- .blog;
- .co;
- .io;
- .today;
- .recipes;
- .photography;
- .film;
- and so many more!
If you’re targeting a specific country, you can also consider using a country code top-level domain (ccTLD) such as:
- .co.uk for the United Kingdom;
- .es for Spain; or
- .dk for Denmark.
As you see, the possibilities are endless, but it’s important to choose an extension that makes sense for your business and brand.
Most businesses and blogs will benefit from using a .com domain since it’s the most recognized TLD in the world.
However, with the massive growth of the internet, it can be challenging to find a suitable domain with a .com ending.
If your brand is more trendy and your target audience is young, considering one of the newer TLDs can be an excellent choice and differentiate you from the competition.
Here’s a full list of TLDs that you can use.
5. Avoid domains that are too similar to existing brands
When you sit down to brainstorm about your domain name, do a quick Google search to see if there are any existing brands with a similar name.
This will help avoid potential legal issues and confusion for your audience.
If you find that there is an established brand using a similar name, your best bet is to come up with an alternative. The last thing you want is for your brand-new business to be overlooked by people who are familiar with that other company.
6. Cross-check the major social media platforms
This might be a good time for you to decide which social media platforms you’d like to use. But even if you leave that for later, I strongly suggest that you cross-check your chosen domain’s availability in the most important channels.
It isn’t uncommon to find that while the domain name you want is available, its respective social media handle isn’t. Depending on how big of a part social media will play in your marketing strategy, this can heavily influence your decision.
Maintaining brand consistency across the web is key for client retention and brand recognition. So while it isn’t always possible to get your domain’s exact match everywhere, it’s something to strive for.
7. Use keywords (optional)
Years ago, brands used to add keywords to their names as part of their SEO strategy. That’s no longer something to worry about too much!
Google Webmaster Trends Analyst John Mueller has revealed that “keywords in domain names no longer play a role in determining search engine results rankings” (source).
From a UX perspective, however, incorporating niche-related words in your domain can be a good idea, since it tells potential visitors what to expect from your site. Just avoid stuffing too many keywords, as that can make your domain name sound spammy and unprofessional.
8. Register a unique and memorable name
Your domain name should stand out and reflect your brand or business. It’s important to choose something that is unique and memorable.
That will make it easier for you to build a community of followers who recognize your content and come back for more, time and time again.
9. Plan for growth
Avoid domains that are too specific to the type of products or services you currently offer. This can limit the potential growth and expansion of your business in the future.
For example, if you sell shoes now, but could expand into other fashion items in the future, choosing a domain name like “bestshoesforteens.com” may not be suitable. It can jeopardize your long-term development!
10. Avoid numbers and homophones
My final piece of advice for you today is this: avoid using numbers or homophones at all costs.
When it comes to numbers, you’ll always get the question — is that “5” or “five”?
Similarly, you might want to steer clear of words that sound the same, such as “cell” and “sell”. Using these types of sounds will only confuse potential clients and/or readers and can result in a loss for your business.
Most commonly asked questions about domain names
Does my domain name impact my website’s SEO?
Using keywords for your domain used to be one of Google’s ranking factors. But, as we’ve seen above, that’s not the case anymore. Simplicity, length, and branding are far more important these days.
According to Search Engine Journal, “Using keywords in your domain doesn’t help in terms of search ranking; if not done correctly, it could even hurt your SEO.
But, if your branding is heavily focused on a particular service or product, including a keyword in the domain could help users understand what you’re about at a glance”.
Is .com the best domain extension?
.com is the most popular and widely recognized top-level domain (TLD), but it may not always be the best choice for your website. Depending on your target audience and location, a different TLD such as .co.uk or .ca may benefit your business.
Are you building a local business? Or trying to reach a global audience? Asking yourself these questions can help you decide.
How can I check for availability and register a domain?
My favorite domain registrar is NameCheap. The search functionality is simple, they offer plenty of extensions to choose from, and their support team is fast to respond.
If I don’t get a domain name with the website’s hosting plan, or if I decide on a name before I start building the website, I tend to register it with NameCheap and then point it to the website’s host later.
Should I secure additional extensions for my domain name?
Whether you should secure other extensions apart from the one you will use for your main domain name really comes down to budget. While registering other domain variations won’t make a difference in terms of ranking, some brands opt to pay for several extensions as a way of protecting their brand name.
The number of scammers online increases by the minute, and securing various extensions can be beneficial in safeguarding against copycats or phishing scams.
That being said, your best bet yet would be to trademark your band name, which would help in case of a dispute.
What else should I consider before registering a domain name?
It is important to do thorough research on the name you’ve come up with. A simple Google search will give you results for any other companies, products, or services using the same (or a similar) name.
If you find any companies using a term that is too closely related to yours, you might want to consider going back to the drawing board!
On another hand, if it seems like the name you’ve shortlisted is a distinctive one, I would suggest that you also take a look at trademark databases to avoid potential legal issues down the line.
Can I change my domain name later if I change my mind?
Yes, you can certainly change your domain name if you feel that it isn’t the best fit or in case your business outgrows the name you have initially picked. However, keep in mind that changing your domain name requires some technical knowledge. And, even when done correctly, it can still have a significant impact on your website’s search engine rankings and brand recognition.
It’s best to choose a domain name that you plan to stick with for the long run.
Conclusion
Choosing a domain name requires careful consideration and research. It is important to pick a unique and memorable name that represents your business well.
Remember, it is an essential part of your online identity, so take the time to choose wisely!
AUTHOR BIO
Sofia is a content creator, front-end web designer, and digital marketing professional, passionate about all things blogging and entrepreneurship. At Blogging She Thrives, she helps new bloggers navigate WordPress, understand SEO, and build profitable online businesses.
Choosing a good and suitable domain name is one of the most important step of starting a blog so it’s so great that you’ve mentioned these important points here.
Informational and helpful, thanks for sharing 🙂
Great info to consider. I have done alot of research myself on this topic and it is an important decision.