How To Pick A Domain Name - 8 Tips

For the many who don't know what a domain name is, it is the online address or the URL of a website. It is the string of characters a web surfer types into the search bar of the browser to arrive at your site. It acts as the identity of your website and therefore choosing the right one is of great importance whether you're setting up an online business website or a personal one.


If you've spent the last few days struggling to come up with the right domain name, struggle no more. We will help you in your quest for the most appropriate and practical one with the following tips.

1. Include Keywords:

Keywords are the secret ingredient in the world of the internet. Hence, it is hard to dispense without them be it website content or your domain name. You should incorporate keywords that are relevant to your business niche. Create interesting combinations using the right keywords.

2. Steer clear of alternative spellings:

There are many words that have alternative spellings (they are spelt differently in different language varieties). This includes words such as Color (Colour), Disc (Disk), Analogue (Analog) and Collectable (Collectible) and many more. Words like these used in your website URL could create confusion and could result in many of your visitors landing up on a competitor's page only because of a minor difference in spelling.

3. What follows the dot:

Many of us take for granted that all domain names will end with "dot com". This is not true. Organizations prefer to use ".org" while websites that cater to a particular geographical locations use "co.UK", ".in" or ".us". There are more variations like ".net" and ".edu". Most web hosting experts suggest using ".com" as it is the most common and also easy to remember.

4. Simple yet distinct:

Short and simple domain names are easy to remember and are easier to type and hence are your best bet. However, at the same time, avoid going for something that is too common. Choose a domain name that is slightly unique.

5. Avoid unnecessary characters:

Hyphens are the most commonly used characters in a domain name particularly when the name you are looking at is already taken. In many cases, a website visitor remembers your URL but forgets to insert the hyphens (or other characters if any) or inserts them in the wrong position. The result is that they land up on another website with a similar name, probably a competitor. You should also avoid numbers in your URL.

6. Same as your company name:

You can keep the domain name the same as your company name. This helps a lot with branding. Another added benefit is that company names tend to be more meaningful and self-explanatory in relation to your business.

7. See what is taken:

Make a list of at least 5-10 domain names you have your eyes on. There are many web hosting companies online where you can check the names that are already taken and those that are still available. If there is something that is already taken, you can try variations in the suffix such as ".com or.org or.net".

8. Don't choose copyright names:

Using copyright names and terms even by mistake can land you in the stickiest legal battles. Avoid using words that are trademarked or copyrighted.



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