How to choose a domain name

January 25, 2010

Here are some tips to remember when choosing a domain name:

  1. Go with .com (as opposed to .net, .info, etc.). With the exception of .org for non-profit organizations, .com is generally assumed when looking for a website. Having a .com domain makes your site easier to find and remember. It might be a challenge to find one, but be creative.
  2. Make it easy to spell. Not just for you, but for the average Joe/Jane trying to find you.
  3. Make it easy to pronounce. Not just for you, but for the average Joe/Jane trying to find you.
  4. Choose a phrase. Most one-word domains are taken (or on sale for large sums of money). Experiment with phrases that have 3 or 4 (short!) words (67 characters is the limit). If the domain you want is taken, try adding a word like “a” or “the” to the beginning (MomInHarlem.com vs. AMomInHarlem.com) or something like “writes” to the end (MomInHarlemWrites.com).
  5. Make up a word. There are plenty of made-up domains out there that are now well-known. As long as it’s easy to pronounce and spell, who knows, it might just be a hit!
  6. Consider using your real name. Unless you have a very common name (like me), it’s probably still available. Personal branding (i.e. yourself as the brand) can be powerful and effective. This also solves the expandability problem below.
  7. Make it expandable. Avoid using life-stage-specific terms in your domain like MyCollegeCareer.com, because…what happens when you graduate? Think ahead. Give yourself room to grow.
  8. Choose something you won’t mind becoming your “name.” Your domain name often becomes the name people know you by, so make sure it’s a name you want to have. Case in point: if you were to see her on the street, would you say, “Oh look! It’s The Pioneer Woman!” or “Oh look! It’s Ree Drummond!”
  9. Avoid strings of words. Unless the string is well-known (ex. LionsTigersBears.com), a domain like ButtonsPinsBaubles.com is confusing — “Is it PinsBaublesButtons…or ButtonsBaublesPins…oh, I can’t remember…” click and their gone.
  10. Consider using keywords in your domain. If yours is a niche site targeting a specific audience, this can be a wise SEO move.
  11. Avoid hyphens. Hyphens dilute the power of a domain name, particularly verbally. “Lollipops rock dot com” is a lot easier to say and for the other person to remember than “Lollipops hyphen rock dot com.” Remember, the goal is for your name to spread easily.
  12. Make it punchy and memorable, but not too long or overly complicated.
  13. Take note of what your domain looks like with words squished together and no spaces. Pretend you are a WWII buff and want to start a site called “Is Hitler Dead dot com.” (Go ahead, try it.) :)

Once you choose a domain, you need to register it. Your registration must be renewed annually. There are many domain registrars from which to choose. I personally use GoDaddy.com .

What are your domain choosing tips?

Related posts:

  1. How to start a self-hosted WordPress blog

Category: Blogging & the Internet, Blogging How Tos

Comments

7 Responses to “How to choose a domain name”

  1. Alicia
    January 25th, 2010 @ 12:49 pm

    Great tips, Amy!

    My tips:
    Don’t use a numeral if at all possible. I have the worst time remembering which are spelled out and which are numerals. They also look less professional.

    No cutesy spelling! Even harder to remember.

    Before you hit that submit button, write and type it out. Look at it closely. Do the wordsh run together? An artist friend’s website is Feather’s Ink. Cool name, right? Well, when you look at it with no spaces, it reads Feather Sink.

    Make it easy to remember. A local business is named Kaleidoscope. Their website is now kscope4fun.com, and is heavily advertised on the radio. Not my type of place, but the radio commercial drives me nuts!

  2. Carrie Isaac
    January 25th, 2010 @ 1:35 pm

    Great tips! I especially like the one about having your chosen keywords in your domain. This helps a TON with SEO, and is something I wish I’d thought more about when I started.

    The Phoenix Real Estate Guy was super smart when he chose his domain name (phoenixrealestateguy.com), because nearly every time someone links to him, he gets his keywords “Phoenix Real Estate” in his backlink. Plus, he doesn’t mind being known as the Phoenix Real Estate Guy!
    .-= Carrie Isaac´s last blog ..Reminder: Dutch Bros $2 Tuesdays =-.

  3. How to start a self-hosted WordPress blog
    January 27th, 2010 @ 7:14 am

    [...] One: Register your own domain You simply need to choose a domain name (read how to choose a domain name) and then register it with a registrar. I personally use GoDaddy.com and have not had any problems. [...]

  4. Tami
    March 6th, 2010 @ 12:02 pm

    Wish I would’ve read this before I chose my domain name: BooksGiveawaysandPriorities. I’m thinking it’s too long, but it encompasses what I write about. Also, I hope nobody confuses the order of the three.

    Your input?
    .-= Tami´s last blog ..Giveaway: Mother Daughter Duet & Dancing With My Father =-.

  5. Judy
    March 16th, 2010 @ 10:38 pm

    I’m with Tami in that my blog name is long and confusing, and I hate typing it out. It seemed cute at the time I chose it :(
    Should I stick with it now because I actually have followers, or should I change the name/url to make it easier to find/remember?
    How much of a hassle would it be?

  6. Amy
    March 17th, 2010 @ 3:26 pm

    I’d say that if you’re firmly established with a lot of followers, stick with it. If, however, you think you want to change, it’s always better to do so sooner rather than later.

  7. Amy
    March 17th, 2010 @ 3:29 pm

    I think it’s up to you. If people know you pretty well, I’d stick with it. Also, if you’ve gained a lot of “Google Juice” that’s another good reason to stay put. For established blogs, I wouldn’t recommend switching unless there is a good reason such as a major blog redesign/overhaul, change in blog direction, etc.