Choosing a domain name

July 5, 2019

Choosing the correct domain name for a business can be a daunting process and rightly so – for If you choose the wrong domain name, then it can be a hassle to switch later on without hurting your brand and search rankings.

 

Many of my clients often ask me the question, so I thought I would compile some tips for helping make this process easier.

 

Make it easy to remember – your business name is the most obvious choice as people won’t have to think too hard to remember your website address. However sometimes that might not be available – so in this case choose something that would be easy for your audience to recall.

 

Keep it simple – short and easy to type is ideal. You should be able to easily share your domain name when speaking as well as writing. You never know when you’ll be asked to share your domain name in person.
If you’re planning to use your domain name to create a professional business email address, then it definitely should be easy to understand and spell for any listener.

 

Avoid Number and Hyphens – Numbers and hyphens can easily cause confusion.

Imagine if your online business address was 1stwebsitedesign.com.au
People who heard your domain wouldn’t immediately know if you’re using a number or whether “first” is spelled out.

Hyphens can be a sign of spam domains which you do not want to be associated with. Hyphenated domains are also prone to typos. If you choose a domain name with hyphens because the domain you want is already taken, then your users will likely end up at your competitor’s site if they forget to type in the hyphen.

 

Use keywords – Keywords play an important role in a domain. By using keywords in your domain name, you tell the search engines what your website is about. This is a great place to get some gains with search engine optimisation – for example having the word “website” in Jemwebsitedesign.com.au didn’t just evolve organically- it was strategically placed for this very reason.
Together with quality content and good user experience, keywords in your domain can help you rank higher in Google.

 

Target your search area – using your city or state (if it makes sense) can again be a great advantage for SEO.

 

Use a domain extension that works for your business. 
For an Aussie business, I always recommend having .com.au over the the .com (you will require an ABN for this)

But all the good names are taken!

Be creative. It is very possible and most likely probable, that you will come up with the perfect domain only to find it’s already taken when you try to register it. Do not be afraid to go back to the drawing board. Use a thesaurus and look up similar words. Ask others for ideas. Mix words up or around. Use a tagline, a nickname or a phrase you say all the time.

Research Your Domain Name – Once you’ve decided upon a name – do some research, google it – look for variations with different extensions. Make sure the name is available on other social media sites –  If you use the same name on your website and instagram, Twitter, Facebook, etc., it solidifies your brand and makes it more memorable.

 

Now do a quick check – Once you’ve found the perfect custom domain name(s) for your online business, it’s easy to get excited and want to register it right away. But before you do, it’s important to check that the name isn’t trademarked or copyrighted by another company.

Trademark owners could attempt to sue you if your domain is similar to their trademark — even if you legitimately own the domain and use it for business purposes. So it’s best to avoid a legal mess later on that could cost you a fortune, as well as having to give up your domain!

You can check for a trademark here

 

 

That’s all folks. I hope this blog helped you understand how to choose a perfect domain name for your business.