Tips and tricks on how to choose the right domain name
28. Nov. 2022 | Written by Daniela C.
Choosing a domain name, i.e., a site name can be one of the most critical steps to laying the foundations for a successful business. Therefore, before your future internet space name, think carefully — the domain name is what people will recognize you by to the network.
Although it may seem that choosing a domain name is simple at first glance, it will not be long until you realize that it requires a lot of thought and consideration. There are currently more than 360 million registered domain names, and there is a good chance that the name you want someone is already using. To make this process easier, we will reveal the steps you can take to choose the right name for your domain.
Why choosing the right domain name is crucial.
Choosing a domain name is just as important as choosing a name for your business. The domain is your digital address, and you certainly want visitors to be able to find you easily. And not only that — a domain name can affect the success of your website in every way, including site optimization and effective social media marketing.
That is why we emphasize the importance of choosing the best domain name right from the start. If you make the wrong choice at the beginning, you can hardly change it later without negative consequences for your brand and ranking in Google. It is certainly not impossible, but it can lead to unwanted outcomes such as loss of traffic and traffic jams. Changing the site’s name is problematic, and it is advisable to avoid such a challenge happening to you.
With this in mind, check whether the domain name you have chosen meets the following criteria, which we single out as key to successful online positioning.
Short, simple, and sweet. The shorter, the better.
Although the domain length is technically limited to 63 characters, it does not mean you should use them all. Ideally, the domain should contain up to 15 characters. The reason is simple: It is more difficult for users to remember longer domain names, and they may be more prone to making mistakes, which can lead to a loss of traffic on your site.
The most famous names in the online world – Google, Apple, Facebook, and Twitter – are linked by one common characteristic. They are easy to say and write because they are short. An excellent site at an address that no one can repeat because it is too long and complicated loses its commercial value. Of course, Google will find your address no matter what it reads, but will users?
Easy to write and pronounce
In addition to the fact that the domain name should be short, it must also be easy to write and pronounce. A short domain name is only helpful if it is easy to spell or pronounce, as users will likely make mistakes when entering your website address. You certainly don’t want to lose potential customers because of the spelling of your domain name.
Therefore, it is best to avoid often misspelled words or anything that requires double interpretation before speaking. Therefore, the domain name must be unambiguous — such that it rolls off the tongue and fingers easily. In recent years, more and more companies have opted for domain names of 4 easy-to-pronounce letters. A trendy pattern is c-v-c-v (consonant-vowel-consonant-vowel), such as Snap and Meta.
Without numbers and dashes
You should avoid numbers, dashes, and other special characters when choosing a domain name. In addition to being undesirable from the search engines and users’ point of view, domains with numbers and hyphens are also more susceptible to typing errors that users may make. Numbers often confuse users about whether to write them with numbers or letters (two or 2).
On the other hand, dashes are easy to overlook or often not immediately at hand on most mobile keyboards. In addition, if you want to share your web address with clients verbally, it is much more difficult to clearly convey a domain name mixed with hyphens, numbers, or double letters. While using numbers and dashes may seem like a creative way to develop your domain name, it can often do more harm than good. Therefore, leaving them out of your domain name is best.
Brand consistency and uniqueness
You should maintain the continuity of the brand and remain consistent and recognizable in that way. That will ensure that your online presence speaks the same language and sends the same message. The most common and logical is to match the domain name with the brand name. However, it often happens that the desired domain is already in use.
The solution in such situations is a mild and logical modification of the brand name as a domain name, for example, by adding some meaningful words. Marketing experts will always state that a brand name is worth more than a domain name and that if it cannot match, you should choose a name variation with an additional keyword. If you have yet to name your brand, make it clear, concise, unique, and explanatory to your business.
Be creative and practical simultaneously, and don’t hesitate to invent new words (remember the word Google). Potential clients will effortlessly come straight to your site if you have chosen an original and memorable brand name and domain — recognizable at first glance.
Keywords, but not at any cost
Think about which words describe the activity you are engaged in and choose a domain name based on which the visitor can conclude about the offer they will find on your site. Including relevant keywords in your domain name is one of the best SEO tips you can get.
That will help site visitors and search engine bots associate your website with your primary field of activity, contributing to a better ranking. In doing so, it is vital that you use keywords sparingly and only when they naturally fit into your domain name. So, keywords in the domain name are desirable, but not at all costs.
You can also not lease the desired keywords because similar domain names are already registered. Do not despair — instead of SEO rules, apply HEO (human eye optimization). It is people who will remember your domain name, not search engines. You can also use domain name generators. These free tools automatically search for your defined keywords and offer hundreds of ideas for your domain name. But remember: generic names rob your brand of identity entirely. Coca-Cola was never called “black soda.”
The correct choice of extension
The extension is the last part of your URL, that is, what is immediately after the name of your site. Some popular extensions are certainly .com, .org, and .net. However, trends are changing, and many new domain name extensions are available today. Many relate to specific professions, such as .pizza, .photography, .blog, and .academy.
Thanks to this, brands now have more options for creating a recognizable domain name that immediately reveals the site’s purpose and offers to users. Another advantage of these extensions is that short and unique domain names are often available. If you wonder whether such extensions harm search rankings, the answer is unequivocal: no. However, you should note that many people still have more confidence in .com or enter this extension by default when searching.
Additional advice: If you decide to experiment with the new extensions, also buy the .com version of your domain name. Don’t worry; it does not mean you must create a site for every domain. Just point all additional domains to your main website. When choosing an extension, your target market also plays a role.
If your business is globally oriented, .com is the undisputed extension — it stands for “commercial” and is almost synonymous with the web. It’s the most trusted and well-known extension, and when in doubt, it’s usually the best option. If, on the other hand, you prefer doing business locally, stick to the local, national domain extension.
Distance yourself from the competition
Domain name similarities can lead your potential users to a competitor’s backyard. And that is undoubtedly the last thing you want — your potential clients to end up on your competitor’s website. Regardless of whether your competitor is a highly profitable company or a start-up company, be sure that you have chosen a domain name that clients will not confuse with the name of your competition.
In addition, it is not too original to choose such a domain name. People will not recognize you or even think you and your competition are the same company. Also, check if the name is already registered to avoid legal disputes related to copyright protection. Just as anyone can register a brand name, so can a domain name.
Act fast
Every day, people register thousands of new domain names from all over the world. So make sure to find a domain name you like quickly. Tomorrow it might not be available. Since domains are relatively cheap, we advise you to act promptly and register as soon as you decide. If you change your mind later, you can let the domain expire. But always remember that a good domain is like real estate because you can resell it at a higher price later.
A strategic approach to choosing a domain name
Your domain name is your identity on the web. It has a direct impact on all areas of your online presence. That’s why you want to make sure that you choose the right one that suits your business and is easy to find online. So, if you are ready to choose the right name for your domain, remember these tips, collect ideas and play with words.
Written by Daniela C.