A good domain name can make the difference between creating a successful web presence for your business and getting lost in cyberspace.  Having a registered domain name will add credibility to your business, and choosing a name that matches your company will reinforce your brand, making it easier for customers to remember and return.

But how do you find a name that not only fits your business, but is also easy to find and promote?

 

Here are my top tips to help you find that perfect domain name…

 

 

1. Pick a .com or .co.uk extension

In most cases, .com is the best choice. This is because it’s the standard: most users assume a company’s website will end with .com. If your site uses a domain other than a .com you could have visitors remembering the domain name but not the extension! If it is not available then choose the country of your location ie. .co.uk

If you are a charity or social enterprise opt for a .org  there are also now hundreds of domain extensions (they are called gtld – techy name is Generic top-level domains)  and they include things like.photography .love  .business (the list goes on) these are usually more expensive so it’s important you get it right and as I said where possible get the  country of origin and the .com!

2. Make it easy to spell

Finding a domain name that’s easy to spell is critical to online success. Steer clear of difficult spellings, commonly misspelled words, slang, hyphens and numerals, as these will only make it harder for customers to find your site. If you do use these, make sure you register the different variations to be safe.

3. Use keywords

Make use of keywords or popular search terms wherever possible; this makes sense to your customers and can improve your rank on search engines.

4. Keep it short

The longer and more complex your domain name, the more chance there is of customers misspelling or mistyping it. Consider that the top 100,000 websites have on average only 9 characters in their domain names. Keep it short – ideally no more than 2 words.

5. Be relevant

Your domain name should communicate your desired message: Think about the meaning your name conveys and make sure it’s relevant to your business!

6. Make it memorable

In a virtual sea of millions of registered domain names, you want to be a fish that stands out! Make your domain name catchy and easy to remember.

7. Be unique

If you want your brand to be distinct and to stand out from your competitors, choose a unique and distinctive domain name! Go for something original and individual instead of something generic and unremarkable. Brainstorm with the help of a thesaurus to find words that may not readily come to mind.

8. Do your Research

It might be tempting to use words or names of companies similar to your business, but using domain names that infringe copyrights, trademarks, or names of existing trading companies could result in a huge and very expensive legal mess. Do your research!

 

Choosing the best domain name for your business requires a lot of thought and consideration. Take the time to make sure that it’s relevant to your business, is short and easy to spell, memorable and unique. Once you have researched and decided on your domain name, shop around for a good price: we recommend Heart Internet but there are many to choose from. You will also need some web hosting, which you can undertake yourself or get your web designer to host for you.