Many people seem to spend time discussing what happens after you have a domain name and website ready to go. After all, these issues—management, analytics, advertisers, unique content—are the most complicated parts to owning a website. However, sometimes the easiest aspects of business are actually the most frustrating, and this rings true for owning a website. Finding a domain name that works for your personal or company website is not, contrary to popular belief, all that easy.
It seems that most people have a domain name in mind and then move right along to other aspects of planning to own a website. When it comes time to buy the domain name, they realize that it is already taken. This causes a HUGE wrinkle in the perfectly pressed plan, and many wonder where to go next. The questions usually start to surface: Is an abbreviated version okay? Does the extension matter? Did I really even want that domain name in the first place?
How to Make Sure You Have a Great Domain Name
While some people find that the domain name they wanted was taken, others aren’t sure where to begin. In both situations, you will find yourself wondering what makes a good domain name. Your domain name will be associated with your company or with your personal brand forever, so this is not a decision to be taken lightly. While website themes and content can be changed and removed at will, a domain name sticks. If you don’t get it right the first time, you’re stuck re-branding and spending more money on a new domain name. Consider some of the things to keep in mind:
Step #1: Think about the meaning of the potential domain name.
If your company has a specialty, try and put this into your domain name. It is always easiest to create a brand when the name has something to do with the product or service. On that same note, companies succeed because they have great customer service, great content, a great product, etc. The meaning of your domain name is not everything. Try and aim for something connected, but if you’re ready to work a little bit harder getting your name out there, do not let the “meaning” stop you.
Step #2: Consider Length and Accessibility
The general rule of thumb for a domain name is the shorter the better. If your company name is very long and complicated, it might be best to think of an abbreviation or only using the first half of the company name as the domain. You also want to think about the accessibility of the name. It should be easy for customers and clients to remember, so you want to stay away from anything too generic or too jumbled. For example, five random letters put together is not going to be easy to remember—even if it makes sense to you.
Step #3: Check Out the Competition
If you have a domain name in mind, you will want to check to see if that domain name is already taken and successful. It may seem obvious, but many try and switch up extensions on a domain name and then compete with an already profitable website. If it is a great website (well maintained, reader engagement, etc.), you may want to think of a new domain entirely so as not to cause any conflict.
Step #4: Consider the Extension
This is probably the biggest problem that people run into when choosing a domain name. It seems that all of the “good” domain names with a .com at the end are taken. The first thing you will want to do is see if you can buy the .com extension. You can learn more about this here. If this is not possible, it’s time to consider a different extension. The extension absolutely DOES NOT matter when it comes to SEO, but people are more likely to click on a .com over a .net or .biz. Nonetheless, many companies have proven successful with an extension other than .com. I would recommend finding a .com or a .net extension, and if neither are available to keep thinking of a new name.
Ultimately choosing a domain name is completely up to you. If you follow all of these steps and find a name that works, but you just don’t like, then don’t pick it. Remember that unless you’re willing to pay it, a domain name is stuck with you and your brand for a very long time. Make sure that the domain name makes sense to you, and ask the opinion of others to help you build confidence. Once you’ve settled on a name, don’t second guess yourself. Take pride in the website you have created and get started on the fun stuff!
