Choosing the right domain name for your website shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you make a mistake, then it’ll be cumbersome to change it later on without hurting your brand & search rankings. That’s why it’s paramount you choose the best domain name from the start.
This article is a domain strategy inclusive of all the tools & tips you need to choose the best domain name; & will guide you in the right directions to register your new domain name as well as how to change it, if necessary, in the future.
Before we begin with the domain strategy, you can further refresh yourself on the importance of Domain Names here.
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11 Tips for Choosing the Best Domain Name
When starting a blog, choosing a domain name can be stressful because you already know how much a single mistake can cost you.
To make the process much easier, here are steps you can use to pick the best domain name for your website:
1. Stick with .com
It’s tempting to use new extensions with your domain names, however .com is still the most established, credible & thus memorable extension. Many users, especially the non-tech-savvy, will instinctively type “.com” at the end of every domain.
2. Use keywords
By using keywords in your domain name, you tell search engines what your website is about. Together with quality content & good user experience, keywords in your domain can help you attain a higher SEO ranking.
3. Shorten your domain name
While keywords are important, it’s better to have a short & memorable domain name. Longer domains are forgettable; leading to possible typos & traffic loss. Domain names must be under 15 characters.
4. Make it easy to communicate
You’ll be asked to share your domain name at any time. You should be able to easily communicate it; especially if you’re planning to use it to create a professional business email address.
5. Keep it unique & brandable
Proactively research other blogs in your niche & find out what domain names they’re using. You don’t want to accidentally infringe a copyright.
Aim for a brandable domain name that’s unique, catchy, & memorable. For example, “Amazon.com” is a much more brandable name than “BuyThingsOnline.com.”
6. Avoid hyphens
Hyphens can be a spam domain trait you’d want to avoid. If you choose a hyphenated domain name because the one you want is taken, then your users will likely end up at your competitor’s site if they forget the hyphen.
7. Avoid doubled letters
Domains with doubled letters heighten chances of losing traffic to typos, & impact brandability. For instance, a domain like Buyyams.com will be more error-prone & result in traffic loss.
8. Consider expansion
Always choose a domain name related to your business. It gives an idea of what your website is about. But you also don’t want to limit your long term options too much. For instance, a gourmand might choose a domain name like jerkchickenblog.com, but then they may want to start blogging about other foods besides jerk chicken. In that case, the domain might prevent you from attracting readers interested in other foods.
9. Research
Before you register a domain name, try to find out if it’s already in use. Similar names would not only cause confusion but could also have severe legal implications with financial penalties. Perform a trademark search to see if your choice or anything similar has already been trademarked. Also, use search engines to confirm the name’s availability on top social media websites like Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.
10. Use domain generators
Currently, there are millions of registered domain names; which paints the image of all the good domains already being taken. However, you can use domain name generators to search defined keywords to find hundreds of clever domain name ideas.
11. Act quickly
Thousands of new domain names are registered globally every day. If you found a domain name you like, don’t delay. Domain names are like real estate. Many people actively look for brandable domain names that they can register for better rates in the future. If you’re too slow, then someone may register your domain idea.
At Hosting.co.uk, we know the value of representing your business with a strong domain name. We offer everything from .com to .online, & we’re constantly adding more top-level domains for you to choose from.
You can view our extensive Domain Name list here.
Want to change your Domain Name?
Your domain name is integral to your brand, so you shouldn’t keep whimsically changing it. That’s counterproductive to your domain strategy. However, there are excellent reasons to change your domain name.
These include:
- A misspelling.
- Your domain being close to the name of a bad website.
- Receiving a “cease & desist” letter from another website.
- Wanting to switch to a country code domain like “.fr or .uk”.
- The old domain being a placeholder, & you’ve finally found the perfect one.
- Reading our list of dos & don’ts when choosing domain names, & you’d like a name that’s more user-friendly.
We’re aware that some domain names aren’t great from the very beginning, so we’ve made changing your domain name as easy as ever.
You can learn more about how to change your domain name here.
Rise in Domain Name Prices
Today, the importance of a great domain name is well understood. Companies fight hard to register domains that’ll attract customers & boost online business. However, it hasn’t always been like this.
In the beginning, domain names were free. This was until 1995, when a two-year registration of any domain was available for a set price of $100. However, people started understanding the real value of domain names; resulting in inflation.
Now, domain names can carry unbelievable price tags, with some of the most popular domains reaching prices in the millions.
Consider this in your domain strategy when you read more about it here.
To wrap up
If you are starting a website for the first time, then you may find our beginner’s guide to web hosting blog helpful because it breaks all the fundamentals down quite well for you.
That’s all. We hope this domain strategy article helped you understand how to choose the perfect domain name for your blog or business; & when you’re ready, you can get started here or contact our domain experts for advice to choose the best domain.
