Choose Your Domain Name
Your domain name is a key part of your brand and most importantly it is the first impression of your website that a visitor gets. Make sure you choose it carefully!
Update (21 July 2008): Domain names with .info extensions may be slightly deprecated now. As the cheapest domain names available and therefore a favorite with spammers, Google may start to be penalizing them and now ICANN has approved a new policy allowing the registry service, Afilias, to disable abused .info accounts.
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR DOMAIN NAME
Your domain name is your identity
1. What is a domain name?
* Your unique internet address
* Can be registered for a minimum of one year
* Registered as yours through a domain registrar
2. IDEAL Scenario: www.theingots.org
Domain name is:
* The same as your business or a keyword related to your field
* Short
* Memorable
* Easy to spell
3. REALITY: www.bestnamesalreadytakenimaginationrequiredtofindagoodname.com (Best names already taken so imagination required to find a good name)
4. How to test domain name availability
* Test by typing directly into your browser address bar
* Only use a registrar’s search box when you are ready to buy
* This will prevent unscrupulous parties stealing your domain name ideas
5. Time to get imaginative
5.1 Come up with a domain name
Use a brand name?
* Easy to find an available domain
* Can be short and easy to remember But, without promotion no one will have heard of your brand and will not be searching for it
Use keyword filled name?
* Keywords in the domain name help people identify the purpose of your website
* Using keywords in your name will boost your ranking for searches of that word. But very hard to find anything short that is available
Use a combination?
* Using keywords in your name will boost your ranking for searches of that word
* Allows people to identify the purpose of your website but lengthens the name, and may appear tacky
Use hyphens?
Originally: gurupower.com
Now: guru-power.com
* Use hyphens to divide up the letters differently
* No clear difference from search engine optimization point of view but hyphens are harder for people to remember
Use a clever subdomain? e.g. del.icio.us
* Del.ico.us has registered icio.us and then created a subdomain “del”
* Subdomains are provided by your web host and should be unlimited at no extra cost but knowing where to put the dot can be hard to remember
5.2 Choose a domain extension
Generic Top Level Domain (gTLD)
* Some extensions have prerequisites, e.g. .edu or .gov, but most are open to anyone
* Appears to be no difference in search engine ranking between extensions
* People’s reaction to extensions are different – may prefer local extension, and/or .com
Country Code Top Level Domain (ccTLD)
* Some countries have strict prerequisites, e.g. .ca (Canada), .fr (France)
* Use a ccTLD if your market geographically targeted ? You will benefit in local search engines e.g. Google.co.uk
5.3 Poll your target market
Get feedback from your market:
* How do they react to the suggested domain name?
* Can they remember it?
* Do they misspell it?
* Which extension do they expect to use?
* Rethink if the reaction is not positive
5.4 Consider registering multiple domain names
Multiple domain names
Misspellings: www.mybusness.co.uk
Variations: www.mybusinesses.co.uk
Other extensions: www.mybusiness.com
* Can send additional direct traffic from misspellings of your domain
* Prevent competitors benefitting from misspellings
* Register .com if available – people will use .com if they’re guessing
* Don’t go overboard in buying all potential variations
5.5 Choose a domain registrar
A good domain registrar Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers
* Is ICANN accredited
* Has a low price with no hidden fees (e.g. for transferring a domain name, changing contact details)
* Offers an easy-to-use administration interface
* Provides good customer service
* Allows easy transfer of a domain to another registrar
5.6 Register your domain!
Register your domain for more than 1 year, so
* You won’t lose it after forgetting to re-register
* Search engines will give greater authority to your domain
6. The domain you choose will be the first impression of your website. Make sure it’s a good one.
7. You’ve now seen how to choose a domain name.
8. Need Help? Ask the experts at guiding you through website development.
You can also check the reference here.
