With millions of registered domain names on the internet today, standing out may seem like a mission impossible. A memorable and unique domain name that works for your business can help you differentiate from the others and stick in your target audience’s memory.
Look at it as your identity on the web. It has to be catchy, easy to find, and promote. To get there, you will need to put in plenty of thought and consideration.
Since a domain name can hugely impact your business’s success, choosing the right one from the start is crucial. The wrong domain name can spell disaster, or even lead to reputational damage if you don’t think carefully about how it could be misinterpreted.
If you are looking for tips on how to choose and buy a domain name, read on!
Opt for a Brandable and Unique Domain
A creative, unique, and brandable domain will help you stand out from the competition. In contrast, generic domain names are unmemorable and usually stuffed with keywords.
The main difference between brandable and generic domain names is that the former ones stand for something and stand out.
Think about Amazon or Facebook– these companies’ domain names differentiate from the competition. Still, they have also developed domain trust and loyal, passionate customers.
A thesaurus can help you mine for interesting words that reflect your brand perfectly. If you are feeling creative, you can even make up new words. Google and Yahoo did just that – invented new, catchy words for their businesses.
Choose the Right Domain Name Extension
Although .com is the most popular domain name extension in the world, there is an abundance of newer extensions worth exploring. When it comes to the end of your website name, go with the extension that fits your business.
Getting a short and memorable .com domain name can be next to impossible, so do your research on new top-level domains like .me, .app, .photography, and others.
Attention-grabbing .me TLD domains are the most personal domain extensions on the market. They are the go-to option if you are looking to build a personal brand and create a community around your brand.
Both Spotify and PayPal went with .me domains to personalize their services.
Make Sure It’s Easy to Spell & Pronounce
The most popular websites in the world have one big thing in common – they are all easy to spell and pronounce. Confusions about the spelling and typos lead to traffic loss, so it is extremely important to choose an easy to spell and easy to pronounce domain name.
It may be more difficult for your customers to find your website if you use slang or words with multiple spellings.
Your website name is a branding opportunity, so make sure to consider it carefully.
When your domain name is easy to pronounce, you can share it by word-of-mouth and rest assured knowing that the other person will be able to find it.
The Shorter – the Better
When it comes to the length of your domain name, keep it short. Most of the website names are 12 characters long, according to some analyses.
The general advice is to keep your domain simple and under 15 characters. If possible, it is best to aim for 6 – 14 characters.
Long and complicated domain names are hard to remember, but they are also at higher risk of mistyping or misspelling. This leads to a loss of traffic, which you want to avoid.
If all the shorter domain names you can think of are taken, go for a brandable one.
Steer Clear of Numbers and Hyphens
Numbers and hyphens make your domain name more difficult to spell and pronounce. And not only it leads to more typos and traffic loss, but the use of dashes can also be a sign of spam domains, so make sure to avoid them at all costs.
Also, the dashes get easily misplaced or simply forgotten, so users may end up on your competitor’s website.
When choosing the domain name for your website for a smooth and punchy name, and leave out hyphens and numbers.
Consider Using Keywords
When it comes to search engine rankings, keywords play a huge role. Having a keyword in your domain name can help you rank your website higher in Google as they tell the search engine what your site is about.
Don’t just stuff your domain with keywords, but instead aim for keywords that people enter in search engines when looking for your products or services.
To improve your SEO, place the keywords that reflect your business, your website, or describe your business offerings, at the beginning of your domain.
Out of Ideas? Try Using Domain Name Generators
When looking for a catchy and brandable domain name, you can use the help of domain name generators. These tools start with your initial keywords and domain ideas and identify unique and memorable domains.
With so many organizations, businesses, and groups having an online presence today, it is critical to be memorable and stand out in an overcrowded market.
Before going any further, make sure that the domain you chose isn’t already used and that it is available on social media.
