Social Media Tool: Eight Tips for Choosing an Effective Domain Name

Website design By BotEap.comFinding your niche domain name is a major hurdle for many people, as many of the most popular domain names have already been taken. If you’re new to the Internet game, your domain is a unique identifier for a particular URL (Uniform Resource Locator). The URL is your web address and it becomes the center of your identity or personal brand.

Website design By BotEap.comThere are many things to consider when determining your domain name, as it becomes your brand and establishes a roadmap for your site. The best advice is to be actively creative and not get discouraged when looking for a name. Always keep in mind that your domain name represents both you and your company. It is extremely important that you choose your domain name carefully.

Website design By BotEap.comNailing your domain name

Website design By BotEap.comStart by thinking about your ideal domain name, and then eliminate as many words and word combinations related to that ideal name as possible. The key is to start thinking through a long list of possibilities and come up with something that is uniquely yours. Share some ideas with your friends, family, and anyone who wants to listen. If you’re having a hard time figuring out a name, use your dictionary and thesaurus on your computer and play around with the words. Sooner or later something will come to mind and you will find a potential domain name that might work for you.

Website design By BotEap.comBased on my research, the following are eight key things to consider when choosing your domain name:

Website design By BotEap.comGet a .com extension – The first question you’ll face when considering registering a domain is what ending or extension you want. The “.com” extension, in my opinion, is best if it’s for your main website. I have used the “.org” extension for a society website that I developed several years ago. Again, it all depends on what you are trying to achieve.

Website design By BotEap.comAs you do your research, you will notice other domain extensions such as: “.net”, “.biz”, and “.info”, just to name a few. There are some new country-specific extensions that can be an advantage if you’re marketing to a niche within a specific country.

Website design By BotEap.comFrom what I’ve learned, you should register a domain name with the extension “.com” for personal or business brand and “.org” for an organization, as most people are used to that site’s address web end. I used the “.net” extension for one of my websites. I found that the name using “.com” was not available and “.net” ranked just as well as “.com”. At this stage, it’s your choice what you want to do, based on what works best for your website or desired application.

Website design By BotEap.comEasy to remember – The key is to choose a name that when someone reads or hears the name of your website for the first time, they can easily remember the name. Of course, there is often a give and take between trying to come up with a name that is easily understood and one that is “markable”.

Website design By BotEap.comThe easier it is to type your domain into a browser, the better chance people will have of remembering it. Think “elevator talk.” Can you convey your message in a few seconds or at a glance?

Website design By BotEap.comAndrew Carnegie put it well when he said, “Quality is the most important factor in business.” A friend of mine says: “A picture in the head is worth more than a word in the ear.”

Website design By BotEap.comTry to make your domain relevant to your chosen keywords: If you’re trying to reach a particular niche, consider including at least one or two of your important selected “keywords” in your name.

Website design By BotEap.comOne way to do research is to determine which of the keywords or keyword combinations are being searched for most frequently. Several free and paid programs will allow you to perform this search. Knowing where your chosen keywords rank should make your selection decision a bit easier.

Website design By BotEap.comKeep the name short, if possible – Try to keep your name as short as possible and still convey your website’s message. (Not including the “http://www” suffix.)

Website design By BotEap.comConsider avoiding words like “best,” “top,” and “number 1,” and don’t use intentional misspellings. These can confuse and lower the rankings.

Website design By BotEap.comIf all desired domain names are taken, add a short word to make it unique. You can do this by trying different combinations of your chosen name. For example, add the word “my” in front of the domain name if applicable. You can verify domain names at the registrar of your choice.

Website design By BotEap.comTry to avoid hyphens and/or numbers: Some experts suggest that if you use hyphens and/or numbers, there’s a much higher chance that people will make mistakes when trying to enter the name into their browser. The person may forget to add the hyphens and/or numbers and will see the wrong place. Again, it’s your choice to decide what works for you.

Website design By BotEap.comWhat is your budget? You can usually register a new domain name for less than $10 – $15 per year.

Website design By BotEap.comOne May Not Be Enough: It may not be a bad idea to register several similar domain names, depending on your budget. If you have your “.com” you may want to register the “.net” or “.org” version so no one else can take it. The best advice is to only buy the domains you need, unless you intend to become a domain broker!

Website design By BotEap.comAvoid Trademarked Names: A trademark is “a name or symbol officially registered in the name of a third party and, unless otherwise specified, the owner of the trademark is the only party who may legally make use of a trademark.” trademark name”. This mistake is not made very often, but it can create potential legal problems.

Website design By BotEap.comTo ensure that you are not infringing on any copyrights with your domain name, visit the websites of the International Trademark Association or the US Government Copyright Office. It is good practice to search for the selected name before buying.

Website design By BotEap.comDon’t forget the new mobile names: you may consider registering a “.mobi” domain name. Once again, it all comes back to budget.
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