10 Tips to Choosing the Perfect Domain Name
A domain name is one of the most important parts of a website. It is what identifies the business and allows people to find the website. But, choosing the perfect domain name isn’t always easy. This is due to the large number of websites already online with similar names, domain names and offerings.
What is a Domain Name?
A domain name is a “unique name that identifies a website” (TechTerms). This unique name will be what identifies your business in search engines and on social media. Domain names impact everything from brand visibility to SEO and click through rates. A domain can be purchased for a minimum of 1 year and a maximum of 5 years.
Domain names are purchased through domain registrars such as CuroHosting. The domain will need to be renewed if you would like to continue to own that domain name.
When choosing your domain name the suffix also needs to be taken into account. These can include the common options of .com and .co.uk. More recently extension options include suffixes such as; .info for informational sites, .org for non-profit sites and .biz for business or commercial sites such as e-commerce sites.
10 Tips to Choose Your Domain Name:
Tip 1:
First and foremost, when you are choosing a domain name be sure to take into account copyright and trademark infringement. Choosing a domain that infringes on a trademark can lead to brand confusion and even legal action.
Tip 2:
Try to keep the domain name as short and simple as possible so that it is easy to type and easy to remember. Around 10 characters is recommended. However, we suggest not abbreviating a long company name as this will make pronunciation and spelling unnecessarily difficult.
Tip 3:
Make the domain name pronounceable. Even though users will be typing your domain it is good to take into account things like radio advertising and the cognitive bias that humans have towards remembering things we can pronounce.
Tip 4:
Ensure the domain name is brand relevant, unique and intuitive. The domain name needs to tie in with your brand name. In addition, it needs to be relevant to what the company does to avoid a high bounce rate. Using keywords in your domain name will also help Google to determine what your website is about which can lead to improved SEO.
Tip 5:
Consider the domain extension. Some people believe that .com is still preferred. However, there are a number of top level domain extensions available as well as more specific ones such as country specific ones. If your perfect domain name is unavailable we suggest trying it with alternative extensions.
Tip 6:
If possible choose an exact match domain (EMD). This is where your domain name is identical to a relevant search term. For example, if a search term relevant to your brand was animals the EMD would be “www.animals” followed by your chosen suffix. If this isn’t possible you should consider a partial match domain (PMD) where your domain partially features a relevant search term.
Tip 7:
Consider the language used. Your domain may mean something different in another language to yours. Check that a double entendre is not possible with the domain name.
Tip 8:
Take social media into account. You will need to check if your domain name is available as a social media handle on the relevant channels.
Tip 9:
If you have settled on a number of final domain name options try to get input from a few members of your target audience. Go through a process of elimination based on them pronouncing the domain name and their immediate feelings towards it and associations with it.
Tip 10:
Finally, once you have chosen your ideal domain check that it isn’t blacklisted by using the WayBack Machine. Once these results come back clear make sure to claim it quickly. There are many web-users out there searching for the perfect domain name that may well be the same as yours.
Get Your Perfect Domain Name Today!
Once you have followed your tips you are ready to purchase your domain name. You can do that through our domain name register quickly and easily.
If you have any questions about how to choose your perfect domain name please feel free to contact us via hello@curohosting.com or on 01952 727 774.
