- \n
- Pick Correct Domain Extension<\/a><\/li>\n
- Make it Easy and Foolproof<\/a><\/li>\n
- Make Sure It\u2019s Registered in Your Name or Business<\/a><\/li>\n
- Make a Memorable Impression<\/a><\/li>\n
- Use Keywords<\/a><\/li>\n
- Make It Long-Term<\/a><\/li>\n
- Know Your Market<\/a><\/li>\n
- Be Creative<\/a><\/li>\n
- Keep It Safe<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Don\u2019ts\n
- \n
- Use Certain Characters<\/a><\/li>\n
- Be Complex, Long, Bland, or Hard to Type<\/a><\/li>\n
- Be Trendy<\/a><\/li>\n
- Try to Be Like Someone Else<\/a><\/li>\n
- Buy All the Extensions<\/a><\/li>\n
- Skip On Checking Backlink History<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
After reading this article, you should know… wait for it… what to do.<\/p>\n
<\/a>Dos<\/h2>\n
Pick Correct Domain Extension<\/h3>\n
Deciding upon the perfect Domain Extensions<\/strong>, aka TLDs<\/strong> (top-level domains), will affect your online presence and overall business.<\/p>\n
Beyond .com, there are numerous other domain extensions available. Everything from .edu, .gov, .blog \u2013 and plenty more. Each extension can be used to associate with your brand (e.g. .org is great for organizations).<\/p>\n
Pick a domain extension related to your business, organization, or personal site \u2013 whatever it may be. This lets readers know what your website is about from the very beginning.<\/p>\n
A safe bet is typically .com if you can\u2019t decide on other extensions that might be more beneficial. It\u2019s the most popular extension and is recognized universally.<\/p>\n
However, go with your niche if you want to be more specific.<\/p>\n
Make It Easy and Foolproof<\/h3>\n
Don\u2019t go crazy and make a domain that\u2019s hard to type or not easy to remember. Be sure to make it foolproof<\/strong> because, well, typos happen to the best of us.<\/p>\n
If you choose a domain that\u2019s different or painful to type, it will hurt your business and brand.<\/p>\n
Misspelled domains lead visitors to the wrong site, 404 errors, and frustration. If you\u2019re lucky, they may try again to find your website. But, chances are, they\u2019ll give up and you lose a visitor.<\/p>\n
Avoid slang (\u201c4\u201d instead of \u201cfor\u201d), and don\u2019t use words with numerous spelling options. Don\u2019t mix numbers with words, avoid abbreviations, and don\u2019t use homonyms (e.g. \u201cwrite\u201d and \u201cright\u201d).<\/p>\n
In a nutshell, use common vocabulary, and make it easy to spell and type \u2013 without the user having to think about it too much.<\/p>\n
Make Sure It’s Registered In Your Name or Business<\/h3>\n
When registering domain names, you often don\u2019t second guess the registration process and may overthink what name to put it under. However, it\u2019s essential to put it under your name or business<\/strong> — depending on your purpose.<\/p>\n
This ensures that you\u2019ll have control over it for the long term. You can keep or sell it as long as you want.<\/p>\n
If it’s under someone else, you may have to buy it from an individual or company. It’s best to ensure you’re in control right from the start.<\/p>\n
Make a Memorable Impression<\/h3>\n
Making a good first impression is important and easy to do with a good domain. There are just a few things you should do. After all, your domain will be out there in the ether with millions of others, so it’s important to be seen amongst the competition.<\/p>\n
One is to make it unique \u2013 so it stands out. Whatever your domain is, having it be unique and memorable<\/strong> is a key factor. Something catchy is especially important (e.g. boredpanda, JoeKnowsCoffee).<\/p>\n
Think of one of your favorite websites. Does it have a catchy title? Chances are, it does.<\/p>\n
Also, it\u2019s best to keep a domain as short as possible; however, if a longer domain makes yours stick out and \u201cpop\u201d, it may be worth doing.<\/p>\n
Use Keywords<\/h3>\n
Like domain extensions, Keywords<\/strong> in your domain name help tell visitors what your website is about.<\/p>\n
An example might be if you run a WordPress development agency, insert \u2018agency\u2019 and \u2018WordPress\u2019 (or \u2018wp\u2019) somewhere in the name.<\/p>\n
If you need assistance with coming up with a domain name, there are tools like Zyro<\/a> or NameStudio<\/a> to help generate a name for you. They work by simply inputting keywords and then coming up with names.<\/p>\n
Also, a lot of domain providers offer ideas for a new domain. For example, when you enter a new domain<\/a> with us, we give you some suggestions for what you might want to use.<\/p>\n
![\"Domain](\"https:\/\/wpmudev.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/suggested-domains-1050x929.png\")
These are just a few examples.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Whatever name you choose, keep in mind that keywords can help show what type of website you are, making it more likely that a visitor will be interested in stopping by.<\/p>\n
Make It Long-Term<\/h3>\n
Considering your website and domain are for the long-term, it\u2019s important to contemplate a domain name and not rush it.<\/p>\n
After all, you\u2019ll use this for your brand and SEO for years! So, choose something relevant to your business that will continue to work down the road<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
A good example of what NOT to do would be to name your company BobsFurniture2023.com or something with a specific time stamp.<\/p>\n
Your domain should define your business, so ensure your domain has lasting appeal.<\/p>\n
Know Your Market<\/h3>\n
If you know your target market<\/strong>, coming up with a domain name is easier.<\/p>\n
This is another example of keywords \u2013 choose words that relate to your audience. For example, do you have a pet shop in Palm Springs? Maybe PalmSpringsPets.com. It’s relatable for the audience you\u2019re after, memorable, and simple.<\/p>\n
And the more specific, the better.<\/p>\n
Be Creative<\/h3>\n
Get creative<\/strong> when choosing a domain. Why? Because you\u2019ll be more memorable and attract visitors.<\/p>\n
Wordplay, synonyms, and catchy combinations can do a lot to make your website stand out. Think of some of the most popular websites \u2013 like YouTube, TikTok, or DuckDuckGo. Each one has a creative edge to it that is memorable.<\/p>\n
So, get creative and create unique words, phrases, and ideas when deciding on your catchy domain.<\/p>\n
Keep It Safe<\/h3>\n
Finally, in our Dos — when registering a domain, use a reliable domain provider, lock your domain name, and activate domain privacy. Be safe.<\/strong><\/p>\n
You can do much to keep your domain protected from being hijacked and taken over. Read our Ultimate Guide to Domain Name Security<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n
Now that you know what to do, it’s time for the…<\/p>\n
<\/a>Don\u2019ts<\/h2>\n
Use Certain Characters<\/h3>\n
Using unnecessary characters, such as hyphens, symbols, and numbers is a death knell for some websites.<\/p>\n
These often make for a sloppy longer address that doesn\u2019t come across as professional. Also, they\u2019re hard to type and pronounce. So, don’t use certain characters<\/strong> (like the ones mentioned).<\/p>\n
That said, IF you need to use a special character, try to limit it (one would be best).<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re using numbers, try to make them sequential (e.g. 123) or recognizable so that it’s easy on the eyes of visitors.<\/p>\n
Special characters, complicated numbers, and symbols can frustrate a user trying to type it in, and they may bail on getting to your website sooner rather than later.<\/p>\n
Be Complex, Long, Bland, or Hard to Type<\/h3>\n
We mentioned long domain names could be okay if they\u2019re relevant but don\u2019t make them complex, bland, or hard to type<\/strong> (which we also touched on).<\/p>\n
A good example is if you\u2019re, let\u2019s say, a physicist. \u201cPhysicist\u201d isn\u2019t exactly an easy word to spell if you\u2019re not used to doing so, so you\u2019d probably want to avoid a domain name like \u201clocalphysicist.com\u201d or something like that.<\/p>\n
If it\u2019s not clear by now \u2013 the easier, the better. Long domains can work but have a good reason if going that route.<\/p>\n
Be Trendy<\/h3>\n
It might be tempting to use buzzwords, but they often don\u2019t have staying power. Things can rapidly go from the hottest trend to nothing tomorrow. Just think about viral videos, songs, shows, etc. One minute they\u2019re hot \u2013 the next, they\u2019re not.<\/p>\n
So, don\u2019t be too trendy<\/strong> with your domain, even though it might seem cool and mainstream at the time.<\/p>\n
Try to Be Like Someone Else<\/h3>\n
Once in a while, someone tries to make their domain similar to a popular one to ride on their success.<\/p>\n
This tactic is usually pretty obvious (e.g. if you name your site Bamazon.com \u2013 or something like this) and it will ultimately hurt your reputation and brand. Plus, it gets old \u2013 fast.<\/p>\n
This is your time to shine with your unique domain, so don\u2019t try to ride someone else’s coattails<\/strong>.<\/p>\n
Buy All of the Extensions<\/h3>\n
Owners of businesses want to protect their brand, and buying up almost any combination of extensions for a domain can be tempting. It helps ensure no one else will grab them.<\/p>\n
But don’t buy all the extensions. <\/strong>As enticing as that is, it\u2019s not necessary.<\/p>\n
This can cost you thousands of dollars, and the benefits are few. There is practically no way you can buy up all the extensions, so you might as well not even attempt it.<\/p>\n
Your brand will be fine with your chosen domain, and, more than likely, no schmuck will steal your thunder by choosing another TLD with your name attached.<\/p>\n
Skip On Checking Backlink History<\/h3>\n
If you\u2019re buying a new domain name or one used before, you should check out the backlink history<\/strong> completely. The backlink history of a domain is important because it can affect how it will rank.<\/p>\n
If there are hesitant backlinks in the past, search engines might remember them and negatively impact rankings. The backlinks could\u2019ve been blocklisted for spam or other bad activity.<\/p>\n
- Be Complex, Long, Bland, or Hard to Type<\/a><\/li>\n
- Make it Easy and Foolproof<\/a><\/li>\n