Domain Name: When you want to start a website or blog, you need to choose a domain name. This is a bit like choosing the name of your website, but there’s more that goes into it.
After choosing your domain, you will be able to register it (if the name you’ve chosen is available) and start uploading content. At this point, it’s very difficult to change your domain and can cause all kinds of branding issues if you try to change it.
It’s best to choose the right domain from the beginning.
Below, we are going to cover what you need to know about choosing the best domain name for your website. Of course, it can simply be your business name, but this may not always be available or the right choice.
Domain Name Basics
Before you start looking into the right domain, it’s important to understand some of the basics of choosing a great domain. The domain name can be anything you want it to be, as long as it’s available.
Most of the generic words or common personal names will be taken, but you may be able to get these domains with a different extension.
The .com extension is the most sought after and the best choice for your domain. However, if it’s not available, you may want to consider a .co, .net or .org domain name extension. Of course, you can also choose a different domain name to get the .com extension.
It’s important to understand what type of content you will put on the site and what your goals are for the site. You should also understand your audience before you start looking for a domain. When you understand your audience and your goals, choosing a domain name becomes much easier.
Keywords in Your Domain Name
While you may read that getting a domain with your keyword in it is very important, this is only one strategy.
Many of the most popular brands don’t use this strategy and have no issue ranking well. Think about some of the most common websites you use and you will quickly realize, they don’t have a keyword in their domain.
Create a List of Possibilities
Before you start searching for your new domain, you should brainstorm a long list of possibilities.
For example, if you’re starting a personal blog, you may want to start with your own name and variations of your name. You can also add creative names having to do with the type of content you plan to blog about to the list.
The longer your list, the better because some will not be available and will cross themselves off the list.
Domain Quick Guidelines
You’re almost ready to do your domain name search, but you need just a few more guidelines to follow:
Make sure to get a .com, .net or .org extension.
The domain should be easy to spell and remember.
Numbers should be avoided when possible in the domain.
Don’t use brand names and be careful with copyrights.
Use these guidelines as you create your list and do your search for the perfect domain name.
Searching your Domain Possibilities
Before you choose the best domain name for your new website, go through the list you created and start looking at which ones are actually available. Go to one of the many domain registrars and simply search for your domain name. Make a note of whether the .com, .net or .org is available and move onto the next.
Go through your entire list and cross off any that are not available. This will give you a suitable list of available domain to choose from when it comes to making your final choice.
A Great Domain Doesn’t Equal Success Online
While your domain name is important, it’s not what will make your site a success.
You want to spend time using the tips above to choose a great domain, but even if your domain name is asdfjkl.com, you can find success online. While this would be hard to remember and not easy to spell as it’s not a word, it can still become a successful website with the right content.
The domain isn’t what will make your website a success. It’s the content on your website that matters.
Of course, a great domain does help with branding, especially with offline advertising. It should be easy to remember and spell, but you can find plenty of success even if you don’t have the best domain in the world.
Most websites start with the decision for a specific domain name. Spend some time making a good decision about your domain and it will help lead you to success. Understand your audience and choose a domain that makes sense with the content you plan to provide.
