Choosing a domain name for your website might seem simple in theory, but in fact it can be a huge decision. Much like when you decided the name of your business it represents who you are and your brand. If you choose the wrong domain name and decide to change it down the road, it can be a huge hassle. Not to mention the issues it may cause for your search rankings.
Below are a few general tips and guidelines that you should follow when choosing your domain name.
Short And Sweet
If given the choice between “SyracusePizzeria.com” and “FredsFamousPizzaInSyracuse.com” which domain would you pick? Better yet which domain are you more likely to remember? Chances are you said the first domain and you’d be correct. Nothing against Fred, but a domain should be something that your customers are going to remember. We recommend keeping your domain name under 15 characters.
Using Keywords
When you use keywords in your domain name you are telling search engines what your website is about. Let’s go back to our previous example. “SyracusePizzeria.com” tells search engines that you have a Pizzeria in Syracuse NY. If you want to have your business in the domain name like our second example: “FredsFamousPizzaInSyracuse.com” I would change it into “FredsFamousPizza.com”. The keyword “pizza” can still be found and we have other techniques to make sure you show up in the Syracuse area.
Use .COM when possible
Did you know there are tons of domain name extensions out there? Niche extensions like .blog or .Pizza are ready to be purchased. But that doesn’t mean you should. Your customers are going to be more likely to remember you by going with a .com name. This also makes your business look more credible and established.
Avoid Hyphens
Make a list of the websites you’ve visited that use hyphens. Your paper probably looks pretty blank. That’s because hyphenated website are more likely a sign of spam than an established business. You don’t visit “Face-Book.com” it’s simply “Facebook.com” and it’s much more effective.
Research Is Important
Even if you’ve come up with the perfect memorable domain that’s ready to purchase, you still want to do your research. Performing a trademark search can confirm that no other business is using this name. Not doing so could find you in a legal mess that you want no part of.
Don’t Wait
I get it. Moments ago I told you how creating a domain is a huge decision and one that requires thought and research. Now I’m telling you to hurry up. This isn’t to say that you should make a decision within an hour or even a day. But don’t wait forever because there are millions of other people thinking about their domain too. And if you wait too long there’s a chance someone else might purchase it.
Where To Buy
There are many different places where you can purchase a domain name. My first domain was purchased on Godaddy.com and I still use them to this day. Other companies I would recommend include Namecheap.com and Siteground.com.
Most companies charge the same price for a domain name and I’m not going to tell you which one to choose. Instead you should think about what else you might be doing. For example if you plan to get your Web Hosting from Siteground it might make sense to go with them for the domain too.
Thayer2Design also offers domain names. Best of all when you purchase from us we take care of everything. We purchase the domain and connect it to your web hosting, email, or anything else you might need. This is a great option for people who don’t want to be bothered with the whole process. And if this sounds like you then you can contact us any time and we’ll be happy to help!