A good domain name is one of the many important factors of running a successful website. It’s how people remember you and is part of your branding. So, how do you know what domain name to choose for your new WordPress blog? Today, I will be sharing with you five of the domain name tips.
Having a good and attractive domain name may make the difference when it comes to engaging your target customer.
1. Use a .com Name if Available
Think of any popular website out there. They use the .com domain name extension, correct? Although there are many different domain name extensions out there – not all of them are the best for each situation.
More often than not, anybody trying to reach you will use your WordPress blog name and then add a .com at the end of it. It’s a common suffix that has been around since the 1990s and is drilled into the minds of millions of people.
2. Use Keywords if Possible
You might not always be able to to work a keyword into your domain name. But if you can, then do it. Not only does it help explain what your WordPress blog is about, it also helps when it comes to search engine optimization.
The Internet is full of effective keyword tools to help you come up with alternatives for the domain. Some may even be better than your initial idea.
Here is an example situation. You lock yourself out of your car, pull out your phone and see two results for people willing to help you out. One of these is “LockedOutOfCar.com” and the other is “JohnSmith.com.” The first one sounds a lot more appealing to your current situation, right?
Keywords not only help for search engine optimization reasons. They also help people use common sense to see you should be the best source of information they are looking for.
3. Do Your Domain Name Homework
Before you grab a domain name, you should really do your homework and make sure it or anything similar is not being used by another company. You do not want a big business to come after you because your domain name is copyrighted, trademarked or is being used by someone else.
If you do this, make sure you are ready for them to come knocking at your door with a legal threat or two. Skipping this step and not doing your domain name homework could end up costing you in lost traffic, sales and legal fees.
You might also be wise to grab a few different domain extensions once you have gotten the .com version. This will keep other resources from starting up similar sounding websites. It could be a real concern if you become popular.
For instance, someone could use the “.net” suffix and cash in on your success while stealing your traffic.
4. Avoid Hyphens and Numbers in a Domain
To help your domain name stay memorable, you should not include numbers in it. Why? This is due to the fact that people will eventually be unsure if you want them to use the number or spell it out.
Was that a “5” or “five” in that WordPress blog about how to do this, that or the other? Erase the doubt in their mind and stay away from using numbers in your domain name. The same thing could be said for hyphens as well.
The reason this is a bad trait is that people do not know exactly where to put them. If you are telling a guy on the street about your amazing WordPress blog, you do not want to tell them a word, then hyphen, then another word, then another hyphen and so on.
Not only is it hard to say, it is very likely they stopped paying attention after the third or fourth hyphen mention in your domain name.
5. Make the Domain Short, Simple and to the Point
A domain name should not be too complex or complicated. Your best bet is to keep it short and simple. Why? It is easier for people to remember.
The longer you make a domain name, the greater the risk of customers misspelling or mistyping it. Think of the success from sites like “Google.com” or “Apple.com.” Simple, one-word entries that are easy to type and remember.
If your brand has several words, you can always use an abbreviation as your domain name and part of the brand. For instance, a business name like “BobsBarbecueChickenHutch.com” could be shortened to “bbch.com.”
Don’t Wait Too Long
You have to act fast when it comes to registering a domain name. Do not wait a week or even a few days to pick it up, especially if it is a good one. Whether you’re starting a new website or creating an addon domain, secure your name before someone else does.
This is some really good information about picking a good domain name. I like that you talked about how you should move on a name quickly. That does seem like the best way to make sure you get the name you want.
HI Ivy, I’m glad that you enjoyed the article.