Naming a domain is not always an easy job. It is a lot like naming your child. Sometimes a name may come into your mind automatically, while at other times it is like a fight that seems tough to win.
You can’t just choose any name for your domain. This is something that creates the first impression of your brand in the minds of your customers. It is something that sticks with you forever. It is like a gateway to your online business. There are many things you need to consider before deciding on a name for your domain and these include:
Uniqueness
It is very important to have a unique name for your domain if you want it to stand out in the crowded marketplace of today’s world. Straightforward names do not work today. You have to add that creative spin to your domain name no matter how simple your subject matter is.
The .COM Advantage
Although there are many domain extensions today like .ORG, .IN, .UK, .US, .LY and so on, the .COM grain still dominates the online world. In fact 52% of the websites in the world use .COM and there are a few browser address bars that automatically add this ‘.COM’ to their queries. As much as possible, try to go in for a ‘.COM’ extension for your domain.
Finger-Friendliness
People hate typing long domain names that they find difficult to remember or verbalize. You have to make sure the domain name you choose is easy on their eyes and fingers. Try not to use too many consecutive letters as they are quite prone to making spelling mistakes while typing. Make your domain name as snappy as possible so that it sticks to your brain.
Using more of letters
Domain names that contain hyphens or numbers are difficult to memorize, type or even verbally communicate. Therefore, it is always better to use letters. Such names may even come across as scammy, spammy or unprofessional.
It should be Brandable
As you establish your brand, your product becomes inseparable from your brand and so does your domain name. Therefore, it is very important to make sure your domain name is properly aligned with your brand. You can buy brandable domain names from sites like – Nameperfection.com. Give it a try.
The domain name you choose should be available on social media
Once you have a website, you are sure to promote it on social media. Therefore, it is always better to check if the domain name chosen is available on social media before you buy it. Duplications can cause confusions which can lead to misinterpretations of your brand image.
Checking for Trademarks if any
There are many brands out there that may not have domain names; yet are trademarked. It is better to check for such trademarks before zeroing in on a domain name. If you fail to do this you may be sued against trademark infringement. You can check out gov/trademarks to find out if there is a trademark on the name that you have chosen for your domain. You need to make sure:
- The domain name you choose is not identical or very much similar to a name that has been trademarked
- You have no interest or legitimate right on a trademarked name
- You have not registered your domain name in bad faith
Your website is not all about the domain name you choose; but a badly chosen domain name can surely break your website. There are many websites such as Teacherstalking.org, Effoff.com andChoosespain.co, which were functioning at one point and time and had to shut down their shops because of the unfortunate domain names that they had chosen. Take all the precautions necessary while choosing your domain name and make sure you don’t give them a reason to forget, ignore or make fun of your website.
