How to choose a domain name
Figuring out how to choose a domain name is similar to figuring out how to choose a company name — it requires a lot of thought and consideration. Your domain name is your identity on the web; you want to make sure you choose a domain name that not only fits your business, but is also easy to find and promote.
How to choose a domain name
Follow the steps below to help you pick the perfect domain name. And if you want to learn even more about domain names, check out “What is a domain name” for in-depth information.
Choose a domain name that is easy to type:
Choosing Domain Name KeyboardChoosing a domain name that’s easy to type is critical to online success. If you use slang (u instead of you) or words with multiple spellings (express vs. xpress), it might be harder for customers to find your site.
Keep it short:
If your domain name is long and complex, you risk customers mistyping or misspelling it. Short and simple is the way to go.
Use keywords:
Try using keywords that describe your business and the services you offer. For example, if you want to running a android os related website then you can pick nicsales.com
Include the keywords that people enter when searching for your products or services.
It helps improve your rank on search engines (which increases traffic) and just makes more sense to your customers.
Target your area:
Choosing Domain Name Target AreaIf your business is local, consider including your city or state in your domain name to make it easy for local customers to find and remember. Example: careerbd.net.
Avoid numbers and hyphens:
Numbers and hyphens are often misunderstood — people who hear your website address don’t know if you’re using a numeral (5) or it’s spelled out (five) or they misplace or forget the dash. If you need these in your domain, register the different variations to be safe.
Be memorable:
There are millions of registered domain names, so choosing a domain that’s catchy and memorable is essential. Once you’ve come up with a name, share it with close friends to make sure it sounds appealing and makes sense to others.
Research it:
When you choose a domain name, make sure the name you’ve selected isn’t trademarked, copyrighted or being used by another company. It could result in a legal mess that could cost you a fortune, as well as your domain!
Don’t forget to research the value of your possible domain.
Choose a domain name extension that fits:
Extensions are suffixes, such as .com or .net, at the end of web addresses. These can have specific uses, so make sure to choose one that works for your business. The .com domain extension is far and away the most popular, but it can be tough to get a short and memorable .com domain name because it’s been around for so long.
A bevy of new generic top-level domains — like .app, .photography, .nyc and .guru — offer a great opportunity to register short and highly relevant names. And here are some other top extensions and how they’re often used
- .co : an abbreviation for company, commerce, and community.
- .info : informational sites.
- .net : technical, Internet infrastructure sites.
- .org : non-commercial organizations and nonprofits.
- .biz : business or commercial use, like e-commerce sites.
- .me : blogs, resumes or personal sites.
Protect and build your brand:
To protect your brand, consider purchasing various domain extensions, as well as misspelled versions of your domain name. This prevents competitors from registering other versions and ensures your customers are directed to your website, even if they mistype it.
Act fast
Domain names sell quickly. Thankfully, many domain names are also inexpensive, so register your favorite domain names as soon as possible. If you’re having trouble finding an available name, maximum domain registrars will suggest alternate names during your domain search to help you find the perfect domain name.
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