Choosing the appropriate domain name for SEO purposes is critical to its success. If you choose the wrong domain name, it can be challenging to change it later without harming your brand or search rankings.
That is why you must select the best domain name from the start.
When you first start out, it can be difficult to come up with catchy business name ideas with a perfect domain name.
In this article, we’ll go over all of the resources and advice you’ll need to generate domain name ideas, so keep reading and lay a good foundation for your online business!
Why Is Choosing the Right Domain Name Critical
A domain name is the address of your website. It is a component of the larger Domain Name System (DNS) that allows internet users to enter a string of words rather than a long string of numbers.
Your domain name serves a very practical purpose, but it is much more. Your domain will often be a customer’s first impression of your brand. Whether you are a freelance photographer, a small business, or an international corporation, this is true. As a result, your domain name is almost as important as your logo and brand name.
Customers may perceive a long URL as a red flag. Furthermore, users may be less likely to return to your site if it’s difficult to remember. As a result, your domain name should be brief and memorable.
It should be noted that changing your domain name can be difficult. It is not impossible, but it can result in undesirable outcomes such as traffic loss and unnecessary downtime. With this in mind, you should think about your domain name carefully from the start.
How to Pick the Best Domain Name
Now that you understand why choosing the right domain name is critical let’s go over some key tips to assist you in doing so. Remember that you can check for domain availability in a variety of places, for example DreamHost Domains.
#1 Select a Top Level Domain Extension Carefully
A Top-Level Domain (TLD) extension is the final part of your URL that follows the name of your website. TLDs such as.com,.org, and.net are among the most popular.
Among all TLDs, .com is frequently chosen. If .com is already taken, it’s not the end of the world’s end.
Other popular top-level domains (TLDs), include .xyz, .shop, .club, .online, .art, .inc, and even .party. TLDs such as .marketing and .technology allow you to choose a domain name that is more relevant to your industry.
The use of ccTLDs (Country Codes) is another popular option. In recent years, more technology startups have used domain extensions such as.io (Indian Ocean),.ai (Anguilla Island), and .co (Colombia). Finally, select a domain name extension that is consistent with your website and conveys credibility.
#2 Incorporate Keywords into Your Domain Name Search
Keywords are very important in a domain. By including keywords in your domain name, you inform search engines about the nature of your website. As a result, keywords in your domain, along with quality content and a positive user experience, can help you rank higher on Google.
It’s extremely difficult to find a good domain with your target keywords that aren’t already taken.
You must be creative and combine your keywords with other words to make your domain stand out.
#3 Think about using “niche” keywords that are relevant to your website.
Our website is primarily about web development or assisting people in creating a website. As a result, we chose a name that encompasses everything – “website.” Obviously, website.com (or.org,.net) was no longer available, so we went with “WebsiteSetup.”
Keywords can help you improve your SEO, but tread carefully! If you try cramming keywords into your domain, it will come across as generic (like we discussed before).
If you decide to use keywords, place them at the beginning of your domain. That’s where they’ll be most effective for your ranking.
Keyword tools such as Google Keyword Planner and Keywordtool.io can help you find relevant keywords.
#4 Prioritize the long term over the short term
Are you ready to tie the knot with your domain? You should be because it will be one of the most important factors defining your company and brand for years to come.
If you decide to change your domain later, you will lose money, branding, and SEO rankings. In a nutshell, it’s a huge pain!
#5 Consider the long term when selecting a domain
For instance, if your company assists businesses in optimizing their websites for SEO, you could select a domain such as “OptimizedSEO.com.”
If you believe you might expand to more general digital marketing services in the future, such as email marketing, PPC, and so on, you should reconsider your domain name.
You don’t want to limit yourself to a specific niche if you think you’ll be able to expand beyond it.
As a result, when selecting a domain name, keep your long-term vision in mind.
#6 Ensure that your domain name is easy to pronounce and spell
You most likely want your domain name to be unique and memorable. However, novelty is not always desirable. You may confuse your audience if you change the spelling of a common word to obtain the.com extension (or simply to be cute).
While word-of-mouth marketing is effective, it only works if people can pronounce your domain. This also makes the name more memorable, increasing the likelihood that people will visit and share the site with their networks.
In recent years, more businesses have chosen four-letter domain names that are easy to pronounce. This is due to the ability of domains to hold aftermarket value and be extremely memorable. In other words, if the company fails, the domain(s) can still be sold. Snap and Meta both use the c-v-c-v (consonant-vowel-consonant-vowel) four-letter pattern.
#7 Avoid the use of hyphens and double letters.
Using hyphens may appear to be a creative way to get the domain name you want, and it is still used in some European countries (www.deutsche-bank.com). But, unfortunately, they are difficult to express verbally (imagine saying “dash” or “hyphen” aloud). They also make typing the domain more difficult. This can lead to a negative User Experience (UX) from the start, leaving the user frustrated. Worse, they might give up entirely and end up on someone else’s website.
While there are exceptions, it’s best to avoid anything that isn’t a letter when brainstorming domain name ideas. This includes replacing letters with numbers, which makes it much easier for people to mistype the name.
The same is true for doubled letters: it invites typos. Doubled letters are difficult to read and even more difficult to type correctly. If you make enough mistakes, you might end up with someone typosquatting and stealing your traffic.
#8 Keep Your Domain Name as Short as Possible
Short domains work better for a variety of reasons. For starters, they are easier to remember and type faster. As a result, they are more likely to support a positive user experience.
This is especially important as more people use mobile devices to access the internet. A short domain name means fewer chances for mobile users to be caught off guard by autocorrect.
Furthermore, an excessively long URL is another way to turn off visitors. Your users may become suspicious if you overcomplicate your domain with unnecessary keywords.
#9 Keep it distinct and brandable
Your blog domain name must be distinct in order for you to stand out in the minds of your readers. It’s a good idea to look into other blogs in your niche and see what domain names they’re using.
You don’t want to inadvertently use a trademarked name or be accused of plagiarism by another blogger.
You can also choose a more recognizable domain name
Brandable domain names are distinct, memorable, and catchy. “Amazon.com,” for example, is a much more brandable name than “BuyBooksOnline.com.”
#10 Select a Versatile Domain Name
Your domain name is one area where you don’t want to put yourself in a box. While you should be specific enough to attract an audience, you don’t want to be so specific that your website can’t grow.
For instance, “shutter.photography” could be ideal for a photography blog. If you decide to write about other types of art in the future, you’ll be stuck with an incorrect domain name.
As a result, it’s a good idea to think about how your site or business might grow over time. You should approach this decision with a long-term perspective.
#11 Examine the Domain History
You might be looking for a completely new domain. However, there is a chance that the domain you want to buy had a previous owner.
It’s best to look into the domain’s history because it could impact your site’s search engine rankings. Wayback Machine and Whoxy are two tools you can use to look up previous owners.
This is important information to have. For example, you wouldn’t want to purchase a domain name from someone who was previously running an unethical business because it could harm your reputation.
#12 Look up Social Media Accounts
If you intend to interact with your visitors or customers, you should probably set up social media accounts that are linked to your domain name and website. As a result, it’s a good idea to check your favorite social media sites to see if your domain name is available in handle form.
You can also check to see if a variation of your domain name is available. This is a common occurrence.
If you don’t intend to use a lot of different social media networks, you can do this manually. If you need some assistance, https://www.namecheckr.com/ is a great way to see all available social media handles at a glance.
This handy tool can provide you with useful trademark information. It can also assist you in managing a large number of social media accounts.
#13 Act quickly before it is taken by someone else
Thousands of new domains are registered every day from all over the world. If you like a domain name, don’t wait too long to register it.
Domain names are similar to real estate. Therefore, thousands of people are actively looking for good brandable domain names to register at a lower cost in the future.
If you do not act quickly, someone else may register your domain idea.
Because domain names are relatively inexpensive, we always advise our readers to act quickly. You can simply let it expire if you change your mind later.
#14 Use Multiple Domains to Protect Your Brand
Even if you successfully obtain a coveted.com address, you should consider purchasing other TLD variations and setting up redirects. You can even go a step further and purchase common misspellings of your domain, ensuring that you don’t lose traffic due to “user error.”
This strategy is also applicable to social media. Even if you don’t think you’ll use Twitter, you should get a good handle if one is available. That way, you’ll be prepared if you ever decide to tweet, and no one else will be able to use that username.
Final Thoughts: Choosing a Domain Name for SEO Strategically
Your URL provides an opportunity to make a good first impression. As a result, a strong domain name is critical for the SEO success of your website. So, if you’re ready to find the perfect domain name, keep these helpful hints in mind and click below to begin your search immediately.
