May 7, 2019

Tips On Creating A Good Domain Name For Your Website

The domain name is the address users type on their web browsers to access your site. It’s an alphanumeric combination of letters, numbers, and words used in conjunction with domain extensions. It may seem like common keywords, but the domain name is a defining point of the entire website. Here are five tips to help you devise the ideal domain name for your site.

Find the Right Domain Registrar

Before anything else, consider the domain registrar for your website. Domain registrars are web hosting services offering domain name registrations to the public. One misconception about these domain hosting services is they sell domain names. Site owners pick their preferred string of numbers and words for their URL. Next, check if the domain name you choose is still available from a domain registrar.

The following are factors to consider when choosing a domain registrar:

  • Pricing
  • Negative online reviews
  • Hidden charges
  • Real-time monitoring
  • Domain privacy and protection

Go for the .com

A majority of websites on the Internet use the .com extension. Still, there are other URL extensions out there like .net, .org., and .edu. Even though a few of these site name extensions are tempting, it’s ideal for sticking with the classic .com. Your custom domain name can rely on the .com extension for two reasons:

  • Many people on the Internet are already familiar with .com domains than other site extensions.
  • W3techs.com states in a report that about 46.7% of the entire Internet use .com domain extensions.

If another user already took your preferred .com domain, consider altering it slightly. You may also want to do further research in this regard. Many site owners abandon their domains but leave it registered. As a result, you can’t create your website under your preferred URL even if the other site owner already deserted their site.

You can contact the current site owner to see if they’re willing to sell the domain to you. A word of caution because this option may be expensive.

Keep It Short and Simple (K.I.S.S.)

Short domain names are ideal than a long string of characters. For example, you’re trying to create a website that sells computer keyboards. A user might find it daunting trying to type thebestcomputerkeyboardsontheplanet.com on their browser’s search bar. Conversely, it’s possible to make your domain name stand out more if it went with something like topkeyboards.net.

It’s an excellent option to consider a concise domain name over long-winded URLs. Try to keep shorter than 17 characters. If you already have an established brand name, then use that instead. Also, don’t forget to add the location of your target users. For instance, if you have a business establishment in the greater Los Angeles area, consider a domain title like LAKeyboards.com.

Be Mindful of the Keywords

It’s a good Search Engine Optimization (SEO) practice to use keywords in page URLs. If you’re trying to rank for a specific keyword string, then the additional characters may find it cumbersome for users. Also, your URL may look like you’re trying too hard to rank.

Instead, use your keywords on the URLs of your website’s inner pages instead of the main page. Going back to the keyboard store example, a domain name like TheBestLostAngelesKeyboards.com might look too unnatural. A site name like mechkeyboards.com with an inner page focusing on selling to Los Angeles may be a preferable option. Hence, it would look something like mechkeyboards.com/Los-Angeles.

Think of the Long-Term

The domain name you choose will be your site’s URL for a long time. You can still change domain names in the future while keeping the overall integrity of your website. Still, it may not be an ideal move since you’ll have to consider the SEO of the site and its inner pages.

Choose your domain name according to your plans. For example, if you’re creating a site selling SEO services prioritizing on keyword research, you may not want to stick to a URL like keywordsearch.com. Instead, opt for a domain title that will let your customers see a brief overview of your future goals. With that in mind, choose a URL like digitalbranding.com. It’s short, easy to remember, and future proof.

Take your time during the creation of your site’s domain name. The URL you choose will have a significant impact on the success of your upcoming website. Put plenty of thought in choosing the right domain title with the help of these five tips.

About the author 

Imran Uddin


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