Selecting an appropriate website domain name is vital to an online business. This article will outline ways to choose a domain name that will help you gain customers and market your business.
When choosing your domain name, try to come up with more than one or two options. Often, common domain names are already taken. Have a brainstorming session, alone or with others, and try to come up with several names. This way, you won’t feel discouraged when some of them are already taken. Think of your brand and think of what will help people remember what it is that you do or sell. Come up with memorable names that represent your brand message. Choose a name that is short and easy to spell. Customers tend to get frustrated when they feel like your website is too confusing to remember. Choose something straight to the point and not too long.
Do a keyword search. Get on your internet browser and search for a tool that helps you find out what customers in your specific target are searching for. For example, if you are in the business of selling paintings, type in “paintings.” What will show up next are results that tell you what customers who are looking for paintings are literally searching for. It could be that these customers are searching for “unique paintings” or “painted canvas.” It is best to know what your target customer is using as their search terms so you can match them in your domain name. Your website is more likely to rise to the top of search results if you use words that your customers are likely to search for!
Try to think of generic names that are not yet taken. These are names that might be so obvious that people have not tried using them. This is not to say that your brand is generic! Think, for example, if you were looking for coffee cups. You wouldn’t search “Isabellita Caffeinated Beverage Mug Cup Formations.com.” This might be a great and creative title but there are many problems here. No one is going to search for this. No one is going to remember this. Now, if a domain name like “caffeinatedbeverages.com” or “pinkmugsandcoffee.com” isn’t taken, jump on it! Those are more likely to be searched! Also, they are a bit unique. People don’t usually call coffee “caffeinated beverages” and the color “pink” in your domain name makes you stand out against the rest of your competition. Be unique but don’t be unsearchable.
Try not to add in extra things like “.it, “.vu,” and “.net” because these make you less searchable. People often assume that a website ends in “.com” and many browsers also assume that this is the case. You want to avoid any hurdles that your domain name might cause. If you would like to incorporate your business name in your domain, keep it simple. Try not to include, for example a “3″ instead of an “E” or a “1″ instead of an “I.” This complicates things quite a bit and this trend was more effective in earlier years. There really isn’t much of a place for it now.
Domain names are cheaper than ever. This can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how long you wait to try and claim your name. Don’t wait too long! Many people are buying domain names that they feel are popular or will be popular. They then hold on to these names and sell them for higher prices to people who desperately want them. Also, be sure that you check the spelling before you buy a domain name because, often, companies will give you an alternative and you won’t notice a subtle change in the spelling! Make sure to pay attention so that you don’t later notice you bought something you are not satisfied with.
Some search engines categorize results in alphabetical order at times. If you are trying to decide between two different domain names, you may want to consider going with the name that starts with a letter closest to the beginning of the alphabet. Also, try to avoid domain names that start with odd letters like “X’ and “Z.” They are usually, for whatever reason, not as searchable as other domain names.
It is also a good idea to buy domain names that have similar wording as the one you have. This is a good way to be defensive about your brand. It is easier for customers to find you, and only you, if you own domain names that sound very similar to yours. It might be difficult if someone buys a domain name that is one or two characters away from yours. Customers might find themselves on the wrong website and assume that they are looking at your services and products!
You want to choose a domain name that is appropriate. This means that you want a name that you won’t be embarrassed of should you want to print it on flyers, mugs, or stickers. Some go so far as to print their domain name and stick it on their car. Often, people pay others to stick domain names on their cars and drive them around in order to generate business. Imagine your domain name on a larger scale and see if you are still comfortable with it. This will be a good tool and a telltale sign that you are willing and ready to purchase your domain name.
Avoid choosing names that will remind customers of other more popular and well known businesses. Customers will be frustrated and unsure whose website they are on in this case! Choose a name that helps you stand out as opposed to a name that customers might link to another already existing company. Some might think that choosing a name that is similar to an already popular name might help business. It doesn’t. That business already has their branding set up for them. It is time for you to set yours up in your own way!
Creating an effective domain name will let people know that you are a credible business. If you have a domain name that appears ridiculous or difficult, people will associate these characteristics with your business as a whole. It is the same idea as judging a book by its cover. Your domain name is your online storefront so be careful and creative in choosing your presence.
