Looking for that catchy, unique domain name for your business? Be prepared to look long and hard. Finding the perfect domain name to become your brand identity is very important to your website’s success, especially when your business is solely web-based. It is not easy, and there are many factors to consider to come up with that perfect, creative URL. But, with a clear vision of your business goals, some research, and a lot of hard thinking, you can still find a domain name that is just right.
Here are 4 Bits of Advice on How to Choose the Right Domain Name:
1) Start with keywords. What keywords best describe what you are offering? Mix and match the phrases that people would use to find you online with other catchy or relevant words and see what combinations you come up with. A domain name based on keywords will also help the visitor to know what to expect on your website.
2) Choose .com when at all possible. Even with the new domain name extensions that are available, most web and SEO experts would still recommend that you choose a .com name when you can. If you choose a .net or .org name, there is always the chance that a person may inadvertently go to the .com first.
3) Keep it simple for your audience. Shorter domain names are usually easier to remember, if they are meaningful. Think about your audience and how the name speaks to them. Keeping the name easy to type and easy to remember will help keep your brand easy to recognize.
4) Make it sound and spell nice. Even if the words look great in a browser, be aware of how it sounds when you say it out loud or how it would look on a billboard. All brands are going to be talked about offline as well as online. It should roll off the tongue nicely in real life too. Also, many experts suggest staying away from hyphens and alternative spellings.
Finding the ideal domain is an exciting part of starting a new business venture! Enjoy the ride!
To search for available domain names, try using SmartWhois to see the availability and/or who the owner is. Sometimes people are willing to sell the domain if they are not using it, so if you find the to-die-for name that someone else already claimed, you may still have a chance.
What other advice would you offer to someone who is in search of the perfect domain name? Do you have a story of domain name hunting you would like to share?
