Rules for Choosing the Right Domain Name

The world wide web is no small place. In fact WordWideWebSize.com estimates that there are currently at least 2.38 billion web pages online. With so many websites online today, a great domain name makes you stand out and identifies you or your brand. However, choosing the right domain isn’t always easy. 

So to get you on the right track, here are some tips for choosing the right domain name for you.

What Extension?
As you probably know, .com is the most popular domain extension on the web. However, there are currently over 20 extensions available, including .net, .biz, .org, and .mobi. If you have a domain name in mind, then get .com if it’s available. But if it’s not available, other extensions are just as good. At one time, .net and .biz were seen as second-rate choices, but now that the internet has gotten bigger and more established, these are also viable choices.

Keep It Simple
Everyone knows Google.com and Expedia.com, partly due to the simplicity of these names. However, they’re not only simple, but memorable. For best results, make your domain name something that’s easily memorable. Even if it’s true that you run a craft and floral shop in Denver, MarysCraftandFloralShopinDenver.com could use some simplifying.

To Dash or Not to Dash?
It’s not really necessary to add dashes to separate the words in your domain. If you keep your domain name short as suggested above, then dashes aren’t necessary. However, if you absolutely have to have more than four words in your domain name, then dashes might be appropriate to keep it from looking like gibberish.

Already Taken
It can be rather disappointing when you think of a great domain name, only to find out that someone else has it. When this happens, try using a different extension or adding dashes if necessary. If that doesn’t work, then you can choose to be notified when that particular domain name comes up for sale again. When you buy a domain at GoDaddy.com, you can choose to be notified via email or RSS feed when the domain you want becomes available.

Make it Easy to Remember

Remember that word-of-mouth and SERPs dominance marketing (where your domain consistently comes up for industry-related searches) both rely on the ease with which the domain can be called to mind. You don't want to be the company with the terrific website that no one can ever remember to tell their friends about because they can't remember the domain name.

Keep the Name as Short as Possible

Short names are easy to type and easy to remember (the previous two rules). They also allow for more characters in the URL in the SERPs and a better fit on business cards and other offline media.

Reject Hyphens and Numbers

Both hyphens and numbers make it hard to give your domain name verbally and falls down on being easy to remember or type. I'd suggest not using spelled-out or roman numerals in domains, as both can be confusing and mistaken for the other.

Though choosing a domain name isn’t rocket science, you should put some thoughtful planning into the matter. Try not to worry too much about whether you’re choosing the right one or not. When you do find the right name for you, it will just feel right for you and your brand.