The power of domain names for any website is always a luring factor, the name in itself catches a person towards a site. Domain names, also known as URLs, do play a crucial role in your site’s brand-ability and credibility, and can even affect its ranking in search results. Your online presence is determined a lot by your domain name. Having a recognized domain name for your site reaps many benefits for you, such as having recognized professionalism, easy to remember and surf impacts your SEO ranking, etc.
9 points to keep in mind while choosing a domain name.
01. Use a domain name generator.
The domain name generator can facilitate your process of name searching in case you are stuck or confused. It can provide you with numerous choices related to your brand, and thereby give you a catchy name to go ahead with.
02. Keep it short and easy to type.
It is advisable to be short and precise with your domain names. Though the characters may be more, but that would be ill-advised, because of being tedious, and hard to type and remember.
A domain name should ideally be anywhere between 3 to 12 characters long, and the rule of thumb is not to exceed 2-3 words. Besides be clear with the names you choose, make sure the spellings and pronunciations are easy for all to remember and type.
03. Avoid numbers and dashes.
Unlike a password, your domain name shouldn’t be a string of characters that makes sense solely to you. Avoid using numbers and hyphens in your domain name that will make your web address look hazy. The usage of such terms will not only make it hard for you to remember but also for your customers. Avoid confusions and be simple yet profound.
04. Align domain and brand.
The brand and domain need coordination. Make sure you align your domain name with the rest of your marketing efforts like business websites, social media handles, etc. This will speak of a rhythm between your brand and domain. You can keep your brand and domain name the same or slightly vary the two with new the addition of new words. But always be sure to choose a name that will reflect the ‘brand’ character.
05. Include keywords.
The SEO increases your chances of visibility on search engines. One main strategy that can help you in this regard is the inclusion of relevant keywords that align with your businesses. But one has to be cautious that only ‘relevant’ keywords are used. If not, don’t force it, as an overly optimized domain name can come across as spam. Few examples to illustrate are: If you own a poke place called Aloha, for example, the domain for your restaurant website could be “aloahpokeshop.com.”Whereas if you’re creating a photography portfolio, adding the word “photography” or the location where you’re based to your name can be a plus—such as “jimsmithphotography.com” or “nycweddingphos.com.”
06. Pick the right domain extension
A domain extension, also known as TLD (top-level domain), is the suffix at the end of your domain name. It naturally speaks of the purpose your brand aims to serve. Some of the widely used domain extensions developed under the banner of web development, along with their usage are described below:
.com: Stands for “commercial,” this widespread domain extension is almost synonymous with the web. It is the most trusted and well-known TLD, and when in doubt, it’s usually the best option. The “.com” extension is associated with for-profit businesses. For example, amazon.com
.net: Referring to networks, this is the second most common extension and is generally used by service providers such as website hosting, databases, and collaboration tools.
.org: Short for “organization,” this domain extension is most often used for non-profit and charitable organizations. For example wikipedia.org.
.info: This extension is an abbreviation for “information” and is primarily reserved for informative or educational sites.
.me: An extension that’s highly fitting for an online resume, blog, portfolio website, or personal brand.
.edu: Referring to education. The extension is widely used by educational institutions or organizations aiming to provide benefits of education. For example Academia.edu
ccTLD: Country code top-level domains are domain extensions that show off your physical whereabouts and might give your local SEO a boost. A few examples include “.de” for Germany, “.fr” for France, “.co.Uk” for the United Kingdom, and more.
07. Avoid IPR issues
Before purchasing your domain name, ensure that you’re not indulging in Intellectual Property Rights issue. People think a lot, use their mental energy to think best for their brands, if you steal those names or use them out of ignorance it can be problematic legally. Therefore ensure deep research before you lead yourself into trouble.
08. Devise a long-term strategy.
If you expect growth in your brand’s future, or an upgradation of certain plans/infrastructural things, it is always advisable to be broad in your thinking. Purchase a few variants of your domain name to protect them from competitors, ensuring they remain in your hands.
These variants might mean different domain extensions (both the “.com” and the “.net”, for example), or similar options of the same name that can be confusing for users (such as with or without “the” at the beginning). This is especially useful as it’s possible to connect multiple domains to the same website. Furthermore, be wise enough to choose an extension that can encompass your future endeavors, without disturbing your main task.
9. Act sharply and quickly.
Once you are clear with your domain name and its finality, you should register it as soon as possible to ensure its claim. To do this, find an accredited domain registrar that will deal with the ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) on your behalf. They’ll protect your domain name and ensure that it remains yours for the entire duration of your purchase. The cost of the domain name can vary based on different factors like the domain extension and the terms you select (such as securing a domain for a longer period). However, many websites hosting platforms do include the option of free registration for the first year. The combination of a website host and a domain registration allows for an all-in-one business solution, where you can optimize the efficiency of your business, purchase your domain, and enjoy professional online tools, etc.
Conclusion
The adoption of a professional domain name is a mandatory point for your business to succeed. It naturally makes your website a visitors field who tend to surf and scroll because of the very first impression your domain name puts on the user. Investing in domain names therefore is a vital web development process that will not go waste, if done in the best way.
