Selecting the Right Domain Name
Some of us have been there – we have a great business idea, a catchy name and now all we need is a domain name. When you look online, your business name is available so the choice is easy. But what if you have no idea, or the name you’ve picked for your new venture is not available. What then?
Picking the right domain name is essential for many reasons, not the least of which because it’s what people will look up to get to you and your company.
The first thing you need to do is find a name that is original, and not simply a play on another domain name. For example, if you are considering a business in dog grooming, and your name is ‘Al’s Dog Grooming’, then you need domain names reflecting this. However if ‘alsdoggrooming.com’ is taken, then ‘aldoggrooming.com’ is not a wise choice as some of your traffic might, through mis-typing, end up at your competition’s website (even though some of their traffic might end up at yours, you still need something unique). A domain name that’s too close to another is a recipe for disaster for your business. Also, you want to build a brand, something that’s yours and yours alone. Riding on someone else’s coattails won’t get you far, or guarantee long-term success.
Choose something that is easy – to remember, type and spell. Try typing the name yourself and see how it flows – is it easy to type? Do your fingers stumble over one another? And what about the spelling – is it easy to misspell or mistype? Typos are just as common as spelling mistakes. Words such as ‘they’re’ and ‘their’ are always confused, and could mean the difference between someone ending up at your website or your competition’s. Try saying the website domain aloud. Much like a physical address, you’ll get tired of spelling out a long-winded or commonly confused name. For this reason, steer clear of any odd characters like hyphens, underscores, roman numerals, and again, odd spellings of names. Think too of how it will look on a business card. Something simple will be better than a long intricate name. Is the name easy to remember – something short and catchy is better than a detailed name that is always ‘just on the tip of your tongue’.
Pick a name that will accurately describe your business. A domain name like ‘designers-r-us.com’ is ambiguous, and people won’t know whether you’re referring to interior designers, web designers, clothes designers or something else.
Domain name registration is important and should be dealt with as such. These days, you’re not in business until you have a domain name and a professional-looking website, so make it a good one and get traffic flowing today.