When it comes to building a blog or any site, most people start with the domain name and go from there. The better way to approach the choosing of your domain name is to decide what your website should be about and then work on a domain name that matches the subject matter.
Of course, more often than not, the perfect domain name will already be taken!
Here are a few tips to help you choose that perfect domain name for your website without having to compromise (much):
1. Consider buying a .net or a .org domain name. Often .net and .org are cheaper than .com but just as respectable.
2. Spell things correctly whenever you can. While a site named MiOpinyonz might be okay for a teenager’s website, it is not okay for a person trying to set up a serious political site. In fact, the use of the letter “z” in place of “s” is generally seen as unprofessional unless you are putting together a site for a much younger audience.
3. Get out that Thesaurus and find some synonyms. “GoodCats” might be taken but “GreatFelines” still works for the cause and means the same thing (though, admittedly it sounds a little more porny than “goodcats”).
4. Keep your audience in mind. Going with the cat theme from tip 3, a site about cats might not fare well when named “Pretty Kitties” or “the Cat House.” Beware of the unintentional innuendo.
5. Keep it short whenever possible. While “thisismyperfectdomainname.com” is certainly easy to remember, “perfectname.com” is easier to type.
6. (and most important) Never ever forget what your website is about! Would you name a site about politics “windowshades.org”? No. Would you name a site about crafts “househunting.com”? No. You want to make sure your domain name reflects what your site is about!
Good luck!
{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
I’d also add to make sure the domain is easy to remember and spell. If it’s easy to misspell you could lose a lot of direct traffic and branding.
I go for one-word domain name. It’s easier to remember.
wonderful suggestions. i already bookmarked u.
Yeah Hafiz is right…Misspelling oftenly cause me visit wrong site.
Also when buying and promoting your domain – remember to use your upper and lower cases to the max… myperfectblog.com does not scan well, but MyPerfectBlog.com is alot easier to read and remember.
Also when buying and promoting your domain name – remember to use your letter cases to the max. myperfectdomain.com does not scan as easily as MyPerfectDomain.com.
The best domain name is the name where you are using your own name of sirname doest metter. Depends if your name is cool
I meen your real name in real life!
People really need to listen on the simplicity point… consider the fact that people will be typing this into their browsers. It’s like a phone number.
Just think of how difficult it is to remember a 10 digit phone number sometimes, or a license plate of a car, if your website is difficult to remember and your search engine positioning isn’t great then people will have a tough time finding you.
A nice simple list to choose the right domain. But, I like to make my domain sound kind of cool. I think that domains are better when they are catchy.
This is very interesting! I have enjoyed reading this very insightful post. Very engaging and informative. Thanks for sharing.
yes.. choosing the domain is a very important step.. because once you buy it and you start using it you can’t change it, so you must think before pressing the order button
It was a nice tip for choosing the right name for a domain. I have already been screwed when I bought a domain, the name of which has nothing to do with the materials in it. Nice suggestions. Hats off.
As you mentioned the domain name must reflect the topic you are planning on covering while remaining original.
These are some greate tips on how to choose a good domain name, but what should you do when there aren’t left any good, suitable domain name for your website?
A nice simple list to choose the right domain. But, I like to make my domain sound kind of cool.
choosing a short-name domain is good way, but unfortunately it’s a hard thing to to do, because maybe almost of them had been owned by someone else. Another choice to choose domain to buy is buy an established domain which already have PR and traffic. For example you can buy a domain at tdnam.com, this domain I bought from tdnam http://www.theflippingmagazine.com
easy to remember and spell, and furthermore buy all the common misspellings.
I have different thoughts about this domain name thing. In my opinion, the first things come up beside the name should be easy to remember, is to target a .com TLD with all your blood, tears and sweat instead of others. If you run out of name ideas to be registered with a .com, then start looking for .net, .biz.
A .org domain name will fit better for organization sites.
@ Laarni:
While a one worded keyword name seems better, things are pretty much different now with billions of sites in the internet. The alternative is to choose a long tail keyword as a domain name, which will result in a more targeted traffic to your site.
Or alternatively, you can choose a brand of your own, like digg, google, bukiki or else. The downside is it takes longer to build a brand awareness. But once it’s done, you can end up being like google or adobe in popularity!
@Hafiz:
If there’s a possibilit to mispell your domain, you can buy those domains to and redirect them to your original domain name. That way, you won’t lose traffic.
Or if you want to make an extra bucks using your mispelled domains, just park them
.
@Nantucket Art:
Yeah, I agree. Capitalizing certain letters draws people’s attention and boosting CTR in PPC programs.
People really need to listen on the simplicity point… consider the fact that people will be typing this into their browsers.
but I failed to like any domain which I want. the are already taken.
Chosing a good domain is very important. Its about brandin + seo, or which one you should go for.
keep it simple, pick something easy to remember
Currently I’m having trouble finding out a good domain name for a site that I want to use for multiple purposes.
Thats a very wonderful suggestions. i already bookmarked u too.
you are right in each point! ehm.. I’ve read it too late :/
You can always change your domain name.
very nice point! I also consider that. Like typing the name in just one hand, either right of left.
like having a domain name like
edgar.com
look, i just type the name with my left hand. I hope you got point. lol.
I also think that one word domains are better for the viewer.
You can choose a short-name domain but with an unpopular tld such as .ro, .md, .ua, etc.
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