Sometimes overlooked or misunderstood is the vitally important task of choosing a really good domain name when it comes to making the best use of your online assets. Choose a good one, and you’ll have a much easier time attracting the type and numbers of visitors that you are seeking. Do this wrong, and it’ll be awfully lonely at your place! Here are six things to consider when deciding on a domain name for your online business site.
1. The Shorter the Better! – Choosing the shortest domain name available has its advantages. It is easier to remember, easier to type in, and displays better on a web page. That said make sure you get what you need to in that domain name (see next item).
2. Keywords – It is very useful to have your primary keyword for your site in the domain name. It helps SEO, helps trust, helps you rank for your keyword just by virtue of being there. This one is non-negotiable. You may have to get creative to do it, but get it done.
3. Top Level Domain Extensions Only! – Make use of only a .com, .net or .org domain name extension. Anything else may put the veracity of your site into question, and hurt your rankings.
4. Nothing Vulgar – Don’t make the embarrassing mistake of registering a domain that can be easily misconstrued as something less than wholesome. (Unless that is your intent) A common example would be if you were trying to host the best pen site on the Web, and chose Pen Island as the name of your site, and bought the corresponding domain, as this unfortunate did: http://www.XXXNSFW.COM
5. Make It Easy To Remember – This can be an art, coming up with a keyword rich, short, easy to remember domain name not named after your anatomy. Remember, though, this is your business, and you need to give as good an effort as possible here.
6. To Hyphen or Not To Hyphen? – It’s probably best not to have a hyphenated domain name, but if that the only way you can work your keywords and other essentials in, then go for it.
7. Branding – Your domain name is a great opportunity for you to do some branding of your company. Your company name + keyword may be the ideal combination for you. Think about it.
8. Avoid Other’s Brands – In their zeal to promote their latest product about how to master Amazon or eBay, many fledgling webmasters register domains with trademarked terms in them. This will get you a letter from those companies insisting (correctly) that you take down your site you’ve spent the better part of the last several months getting up. Don’t chance it.
Using these tips will help you get a good start on finding the type of domain name that will help to create your online persona. Make sure to allot the time to properly research and check out available names, and to run them by others before you make your final decision. You will be living with this decision hopefully for some time to come!
