How to Pick a Domain Name
When creating a website, one the the first decisions you must make is what your domain name will be. The domain name depends on the purpose of the site, the visitors you hope to attract, as well as availability. This article will examine the process of picking a domain name for a personal site and a business site.
Personal Website Domain Names
When picking a domain name for a personal website, one of the most common choices is a variation on your name. You may choose to use your first name if it is unique, or both your first and last names. Availability can be an issue, so you may choose to use a nickname.
If your website has a theme, then perhaps your domain name should reflect that. Sites such as blogs typically have a title, so your domain should include part or all of your website title.
You should also consider how easily you want people to find your website. Sometimes personal websites are meant to be just that—personal. If your site features personal information such as photos of your family that you intend to share only with a select group of people, it makes sense to use a more obscure name. However, if you hope to attract more readers to your site, use a catchy title that incorporates words or phrases that people typically search for, which is called Search Engine Optimization or SEO.
Business Website Domain Names
Domain names for businesses typically include the name of the business itself. Check the availability of your business name. There are several options for domain extensions beyond the most common .com, such as .biz for small businesses or .org for non-profit organizations. Research your options and check out sites that have similar names to those you desire. You wouldn't want potential customers ending up on a different website!
In some cases, it isn't possible to use your exact business name or you would benefit from choosing key phrases that reflect the services you provide. Potential customers are more likely to reach you if you employ carefully researched SEO techniques. Freelancers, for example, might benefit from using a word or phrase that describes their services, such as "romance writer."
Once you have a good idea of what domain name you'd like to use and have made sure it is available, consider a few final points:
- Is the name too long or complicated to type out so that people will easily forget it?
- The use of plurals, hyphens and underscores are easy to mistype, and could lead to misdirected traffic.
- Can you commit to staying with this name for at least a year or longer? While you can always redirect visitors to a new site, consistency is key to building up a regular visitor base.
