The domain name
The golden rule is to keep it simple. A domain name should be easy to remember and easy to type. It also helps when it is easy to pronounce, and if a phrase, be able to roll of the tongue. It should obviously reflect your brand, or purpose, or you!
Shorter domain names are easier to remember and type, but unfortunately, they are already in short supply. Numbers and hyphens are not recommended, and neither are double letters since the chance of spelling and typing errors becomes greater.
Check that the domain name is available on social media platforms. Consistency across your website and social media handles can help with branding.
Remember to check that your wished for domain name doesn’t infringe on any trademarks, or could be misinterpreted and be perceived as something else completely different.
What extension (.com, .net, .org, etc.)?
The extension after the domain name is called the top-level domain (TLD). The choice of TLD is very important since it can help transmit aspects of your activity, sector, location. While .com is the most common and popular extension, other extensions like .net, .org, or country-specific TLDs can work well depending on your audience and purpose. Since the price of TLD’s can vary greatly, and popular domain names tend to go for a premium price, it pays to begin looking soon.
Consider whether new business areas would be handled as subdomains or need their own domain name. It may sense to secure the same domain for different TLDs at the same time at the “original” domain to avoid it becoming unavailable later on.
What if my preferred domain is not available?
If you have checked your preferred domain on all the relevant TLDs and it is not available, you may need to try some different approaches.
Assuming you are not going for a name or noun as a title, you can build your domain name using keywords. An example could be FitnessMagazine.com. Before diving in, it’s crucial to research how effective each keyword can be. Using keywords helps with SEO and makes your domain more descriptive.
If keyword domain names are taken it may be time to get creative with synonyms, prefixes, or suffixes. Alternatively, you may have to rethink the core concept from a new angle.
Remember to choose a name that will remain relevant even as your business and website evolve and think long-term.
