Choosing the right domain name is of fundamental importance if you are contemplating launching a website. It will not only help to define your website and its nature; it will also play a key role in bringing awareness of your website to the cyber world at large.
How to start? Well, there are a number of paths you can choose for helping you to arrive at a domain name that will do what you need it to. The first thing you can do is to research the keywords that are trending in the market or niche in which your website is to appear. Another option is to use one of the many website name generators such as GoDaddy.com.
The importance of coming up with a great domain name for your website
Once you’ve decided on a domain name, the time and effort you put into creating, launching and maintaining your website will be significant. You can’t afford to throw that time away by having to change the name of your domain. Do it once and get it right. Here’s why.
- When you arrive at a domain name that is really relevant, it will resonate with visitors and help them to find your website again and again with ease.
- If you get the name right, it will straight away tell visitors (or web bots and spiders) what to expect from your website.
- It will also have a significant effect on your SEO (Search Engine Optimisation).
Don’t begrudge the time. Ending up with the perfect domain name will help to determine the success or failure of your web presence.
There are no strict rules regarding how best to go about deciding on a good name. However, we have a few suggestions for you, starting with:
Selecting a keyword or keywords that relate to your website
You want to make it easy for people to connect with your website both in their minds and on the internet. A strong keyword in the name will really make a difference.
When people are searching the net, they will use their browsers. These browsers will select pages to show searchers relevant websites based on search engine findings. It’s all about keywords and their ranking. Choose the right ones, and you’ve just about got it made.
Using a keyword search tool
One of the best-known research tools for keywords is Google’s Keyword Planner (you’ll need a Google Account). This tool and others like it can help you to discover keywords that register a high number of searches. They will also tell you what the competition is like for them.
Check your options with a domain name generator
With a few keywords in mind, your next step will be to brainstorm various options for the best domain name. We say “brainstorm” because that is likely what you will have to do. You might have several ideas you thought were original, but you’ll no doubt be surprised. There are millions of people out there all doing the same thing. Originality is priceless. Work at it.
Use simple criteria to arrive at the best domain name
Most people will compile a shortlist of the domain names they want to check out. The more options you have, the more chance of finding the best one for you. Here are some tips to help you on your way.
- Try to pick a name that is clear and concise. The longer the name and the more potentially confusing; the harder it will be for people to remember. It also invites the opportunity for mistyping.
- Originality creates memorability. The more original your domain name, the more likely it is that potential visitors will remember it.
- Keep it as simple as possible. Make it easy to read and to pronounce. Don’t include any numbers or special characters. These can be confusing and are not easy to remember. It’s always a good idea to bounce any potential names off trustworthy friends.
The last thing you will need to consider will be your top-level domain.
The top-level domain is basically the bit that comes after the dot; i.e. .com, .org, .im, .uk etc. Although it will usually be more expensive, .com is the prime choice as this is the one that most people come to expect and will remember.
But because .com domain names are so popular, they are getting more increasingly difficult to find. What it all boils down to is that if you come across a domain name you feel is really suitable, use a non-.com suffix if you have to.
That’s all there is to it
That is really all there is to it. Once you’ve decided on your domain name, you now need to go ahead and register it and sign up with a hosting plan that suits your needs.
Finding the right domain name is exciting but can be frustrating. Just bear in mind that getting it right from the beginning can determine how successful your domain name and website will prove to be. Good luck.