Choosing the right domain name is the first step to building a successful site or brand. The right name can help you stand out from your competitors, communicate your message more effectively, and make it easier for people to find and remember your brand.
In this post we’ll cover everything you need to know about choosing a domain name that’s going to help you attract new customers and grow your business. So sit back and enjoy!
What makes a good domain name?
A domain name is a critical part of your online presence. It’s your website’s address and a way for people to find you on the internet. Your domain name should be easy to remember, relevant to the business or brand that you are trying to promote and different enough from competitors so that it doesn’t get lost in search engine results pages (SERPs).
If your domain name has one of these issues, you need help from an experienced company like [company].
1. Keep it short and simple
Your domain name should be short and simple. Aim for one or two words, if possible. This will make it easy to remember, and it’s easier to read than a long string of letters or numbers. You should avoid using hyphens (the word “happy-handyman” would not be a good choice) but you can use dashes (like in the word “happy-handyman”).
You also don’t want to include any numbers or special characters in your domain name unless you have a specific reason for doing so — for example, if you’re offering software for sale online, then including something like “software” in your name could be useful because people searching for “software” would see your website immediately when they search instead of having to scroll through pages and pages of results on Google first before finding what they’re looking for!
2. Easy to spell
Here are some tips to help you choose a domain name that’s easy to spell:
- Don’t use abbreviations. An abbreviation may be fine for your business name, but it doesn’t work when it comes to the domain name. If you have a domain name with an abbreviation in it, people will have trouble remembering what the word is and how to spell it. You want people to find your site easily when they type in the URL, so make sure they can remember what letters go where—and don’t use an abbreviation!
- Don’t add hyphens or numbers. Some companies will add a hyphen (-) or number (#) between two words in their company names as a way of separating them into different sections of their brand identity—for example: “Google” vs “YouTube.” However, this isn’t possible with domains because each TLD (top level domain) has its own structure rules that make all domains unique from one another; therefore adding hyphens or numbers within one would not allow us here at GoDaddy® enough flexibility for registration purposes. Instead try using something like “@” sign instead which we do allow!
- Don’t include punctuation marks (except apostrophes). Your site should be easy enough for anyone without any special training who wants access through search engines like Google® Search Results Pages (SERPs), Bing®, DuckDuckGo®, etc., so avoid using punctuation marks unless absolutely necessary–for example if there isn’t room left over after removing everything else!”
3. Use keywords
You should use keywords that are relevant to your business, the services you offer, your target audience and market.
Your domain name should be able to incorporate:
- Keywords (a word or phrase that describes what your site is about)
- The name of your brand/company
- The city where it’s based in
4. Avoid numbers and hyphens
Avoid using hyphens and numbers in your domain name. Domain names with hyphens are not allowed in some TLDs, so it’s best to avoid them altogether. Also, since the average human being is pretty bad at remembering things that contain numbers, it’s a good idea to avoid those as well.
5. Be memorable
- Keep it short and easy to spell. If people can’t remember your domain name, they won’t be able to find you.
- Avoid hyphens, numbers, and other characters that are difficult to remember. Even if people know what a hyphen or number means when they see it, the chances of someone coming across your website by accident are low unless there’s an obvious connection between those terms and your business (like “www.exemplarybarbershopandsalon”)
- Make it unique! You don’t want people mistaking you for another business with a similar name elsewhere online.
6. Consider your top-level domain (TLD)
As you’re building your site and making sure the content is in order, it’s important to consider the top-level domain (TLD) of your URL. A TLD is the last part of a web address, like .com or .edu. The most common TLDs are .com and .net, but there are many others like .info or even one that ends with a country code (like in Germany).
When choosing a TLD for your business name or product, make sure that it represents who you are and what you do. For example: if I were selling baby clothing online, I might want my company name to be something like “babyclothesonline” instead of just “babyclothes.” This way I’m able to communicate exactly what products my store offers without confusing potential customers by using too generic a term like “kids clothes” which could lead them astray when looking for age-appropriate wear!
7. Research it (in the real world)
The first thing you need to do is check if the domain name is available. This means checking if a website with the same name exists, and if it’s already being used by someone else.
To do this, you can use any of the many online tools that are available for this purpose (like Domain Tools). You can also try Googling your desired domain name and see what comes up.
In addition to making sure that no one else has registered or purchased your desired domain name, it’s also important that you check whether or not it’s possible for you to register this specific TLD (top-level domain). For example, some TLDs are reserved for governmental agencies and/or organizations only—so even though this particular word might be available on other top-level domains like .com/.net/.org etc., it may not be possible for anyone except those entities listed above to register those names using certain top-level domains such as .gov/.mil etc..
8. Protect your brand
The process of registering a domain name is straightforward, but there are some things to keep in mind. You need to register your domain name with a registrar or domain name registration provider, which will also provide you with proxy services for the company you want to protect. The cost of registering your patent may vary from $150-$1,500 depending on where you live and the length of time it takes for the application process.
However, if you have any questions or concerns about trademarking your business name or brand, we recommend consulting with an attorney first before moving forward with registration efforts so as not to waste money on unnecessary fees or paperwork requirements that could otherwise be avoided through professional advice from experts in this field such as ourselves here at [Company Name].
Conclusion
We hope that our tips and advice have helped you find the best name for your website. Just remember, it’s not about getting something perfect on the first try—it’s about finding something that works for you now and will continue to grow with your brand as time goes on!
