It’s simple, really. So many of us want our own little piece of the web to share everything from our creativity to our business savvy on. But, when it comes down to it, there’s a little more than meets the eye to choosing the domain to build your site around. Between search-ability and the sheer human nature of selecting an easy-to-remember name, there’s a bit of science and a whole lot of art to finding that digital sweet spot.
Choosing a Domain: What Do You Need to Know?
- Keep it short, sweet and easy to remember. Keep in mind, your domain is a reflection of you on the web, and making sure your audience can find you is essential.
- Brainstorm Keywords. Think strategically about the ideal way to describe the domain you have in mind. Once you have a handful of keywords, you can pair words until you find something with the perfect ring.
- Before you sign on the dotted line, check out copyrights by visiting www.copyright.gov just to be sure no one else holds the rights to your chosen name.
- Be Distinctive. The last thing you want is your site to be confused with another already-established brand, so think unique when it comes to choosing a domain.
- Stick with dot.com’s. If you’re working on building a solid web following, you can trust that most people still automatically assume your site will end with a dot.com. If you’re super tech-y and set on .org or .net, there’s always the option of a 301 re-direct, but that’s a whole different topic for another day.
- Check the availability. Of course you’ll need to be sure no one else is hosting a site on your chosen domain name.
- Make sure your domain aligns with your brand. Having a domain that’s not relevant to the rest of your brand will leave your audience confused and make you tough to find.
- There are lots of tools out there that were created to help, especially when you’re stuck. Check out Domainr or Dot-o-mator to get started.
