Selecting the perfect domain name is an essential step in setting up your online presence. Your domain name is your digital identity, which plays a crucial role in SEO, branding, and user experience.
As domain experts working with thousands of domain names every day, we collect a list of the best practices on how to choose the best domain name for your site.
Choose a Short And Simple Domain Name
To make it more memorable, we advise you to choose short domain names between 6 and 14 characters. A long domain name is challenging to remember and can harm the popularization of your brand.
Make Your Domain Name Easy to Pronounce and Spell
Your domain name should be easy to share, whether you’re saying it out loud or writing it down. You never know when you’ll need to tell someone your domain in person.
If you plan to use it for a professional business email, it must be simple and clear for anyone to understand and spell.
Your Domain Name Should be On-brand and Align With Your Site’s Purpose
To choose the right domain name, you need to have a well-defined strategy for your website’s purpose.
- A large authoritative site focused on the entire niche – these sites have the potential for increased traffic and a higher resale value. The disadvantages are that it will require a larger investment and will be more difficult to rank in the top positions.
- A small website that targets a micro-niche – these types of sites have a strong start but often face limited profit potential.
To understand more clearly, we’ll give you an example:
If your site is petfood.com, it could target food for all kinds of pets, but if it’s catfood.com, it would only target cats. It may be easier to start and start to rank, but it would be much harder to expand to other pet foods, both from an SEO and customer’s perspective.
Also, always keep your business name and what you sell or do in mind when choosing a domain name. Dive deep into your niche to ensure your domain attracts the right online audience. Additionally, when picking domain names, make sure they directly relate to your site’s content. This way, your target audience can quickly understand how your site can benefit them.
Learn more about branding in our article about brand marketing.
Avoid Hyphens and Numbers in Your Domain Name
Avoiding the use of hyphens and numbers can reduce the risk of people mistyping your domain name. For example, using ‘4’ instead of ‘for’ can confuse users trying to find your site. I recommend reading our article https://quirk.biz/do-hyphens-in-domain-name-affect-seo/.
Avoiding numbers and hyphens also makes your domain name more mobile-friendly. When typing a URL on a phone, switching between letter and number keyboards can lead to more mistakes and user confusion.
It’s a good practice to avoid the following:
- Mixing numbers and words
- Including hyphens
- Using excessive abbreviations
- Doubled letters
However, there’s an exception: if your brand name includes a consistent number across branding, social media, and merchandise, it can work, as it maintains brand recognition and minimizes user confusion.
While exceptions exist, it’s generally best to start with a user-friendly domain name to optimize your online presence.
Use a .com Extension for Your Domain Name
The most popular domain extension is .com, with other commonly trusted options like .org and .net. However, there is a wide range of extensions available, from .xyz to .co, .cafe, or .pizza. It’s important to be cautious when considering less common extensions, as they may not bring a professional or trustworthy image.
If .com is available, it’s often the best choice. If the .com version of your desired domain is taken, you can choose from the alternative options.
For example, .io is a great option for technical and software websites. You can read more here: https://quirk.biz/are-io-domains-good-for-seo/
Check for Alternative Top Level Domains
When the desired domain name is unavailable with the .com extension, there’s no need to worry. You can use other TLDs that reflect the nature of your site. For example:
- .io: Ideal for tech startups or technology-focused websites.
- .ai: Suitable for websites related to Artificial Intelligence or AI technology.
- .crypto: A universal TLD with potential use in various crypto-related fields, from cryptocurrencies to blockchain technology.
- .city: If your content is about a particular city or you’re aiming to reach people from that city, consider using a TLD, like .london or .nyc
If your target audience is in another country, like the UK or India, consider exploring country code TLDs (ccTLDs).
Use SEO keywords in Your Domain Name (Optional)
Using a relevant keyword in your domain name helps search engines understand your website’s focus. When combined with a great user experience and quality content, this can improve your chances of ranking higher in Google search results.
To create a distinctive domain name, use the formula:
[brand name] + [broad keyword] = [domain name].
Limit your selection to one or two keywords to avoid overwhelming users and potentially driving them away from your site. For example, a domain like bestcarpetcleanersinlondon.co.uk may help your SEO, but it will be hard to create a well-established website and business with this name. Also, such a name would (probably) help you to rank for carpet cleaning in London, but it limits you to one location and one service.
Take Inspiration From a Domain Name Generator
If you are stuck with choosing a domain name, you can always use some inspiration from a domain name generator.
Here are some that you can check out:
- Nameboy
- Instant Domain Search
- Wordoid
- Looka
- IsItWP
Research Your Domain Name
Before registering a domain name, it’s crucial to check if a business with the same name already exists. You can take these steps:
- Look for similar or identical trademarks to avoid legal issues.
- Perform a Google search and check social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to confirm the name’s availability.
Having a similar name can lead to confusion and legal problems, which can be costly. Once your website is running, you can explore trademarking and copyrighting your site name and logo for protection.
Another crucial step is to check for stronger websites with a similar name, including both singular and plural versions, but with different TLDs. (Example: you choose [name].com, while there is a powerful site on [name].net. ) We recommend avoiding these situations because they can cause some problems.
You should know that there are also SEO strategies that involve using a domain name to draw in branded traffic from a strong competitor. That’s why it’s important to build a clear and well-planned strategy before choosing a domain name.
We recommend you read our article about GoDaddy Domain Appraisal to learn how to check your domain’s value.
Research Social Media Handles
When you have an online business, your domain name isn’t the only important factor. In the digital age, a strong social media presence is crucial.
Your social media handles should match or closely resemble your domain name. While you’re checking domain name availability, make sure to see if corresponding social media handles are also free.
Protect Your Brand With Multiple Domains
To expand your online reach, consider buying other domain variations and setting them to redirect to your main site. You can also secure common misspellings of your domain to capture traffic from potential user errors.
Apply a similar strategy to social media by securing matching handles, even if you don’t plan to use them immediately. This safeguards them for future use and prevents others from taking them.
Conclusion:
In the digital world, your domain name is your digital identity.
By keeping it short, relevant, and memorable, you set the stage for a powerful online brand. Avoid complexity, secure social media handles, and consider alternative extensions.
By following the expert tips from quirk.biz, you can effortlessly craft a domain name that will help you achieve your SEO goals successfully.
