We often get clients who are in the initial stages of starting a business or who are starting a new marketing campaign and realize that they need help choosing an appropriate domain name. Several years ago we went over the different options available for choosing a domain for your business in this blog post, it is one of our most popular blog posts and since it has been quite awhile since our last post on domains, we are updating the content for 2013!
We always stress the importance of choosing a domain name that is both simple and easy to remember and that is also in line with what you are going to be using the website for. A good domain name will be an important part of your marketing strategy if integrated properly. Listed below are some of the most important tips for choosing a domain name that will be the perfect match for your company.
Brainstorm Keywords
If using your company name is not the preferred option and you are looking for something different, take the time to sit down and brainstorm about 5-6 keywords or phrases that describe the business that you do.
Once you are happy with your keywords, visit a domain registration site (Like www.danipa.com/domains) and begin the search for available domains.
Prepare to be disappointed! You might think that your name is unique but chances are that someone has already thought of it and purchased the domain name. Don’t give up and mix and match using your keywords, eventually you will find an available name!
To avoid competitors purchasing similar domains it is also advisable to purchase domains in different extensions (e.g .com, .ca, .org, .net).
Keep it Simple
You want your customers to easily associate your domain name with your business or brand. If a domain requires a lot of attention to type correctly then you lose part of its marketing value almost immediately! Avoid Hyphens and numbers as they make it hard to verbally promote your website. This is important if you advertise through radio or over the phone. You do not want your customers to be unable to find your website simply because they have spelled it incorrectly.
Double Check
Once you have found the perfect domain name, take some time to check if it is available in social media accounts. If your name is already in use on Twitter, Facebook or other social media accounts than your brand recognition across channels will diminish. You should also take the time to see if there is a trademark or copyright on the name. Be very careful when registering names that have a copyright on them, or that are very similar to a trademarked name. You can be setting yourself up for a hassle if the licensee decides that you have infringed upon their trademark.
Pro Tips
1. Keep it simple and easy to remember
2. Avoid Hyphen’s, dashes and numbers
3. Use your company or brand name if possible
4. Avoid Slang terms – Not everyone understands what you mean!
5. Check if social media accounts are available to match the name
6. Register your name for more than one year
7. Choose automatic renewal – Never forget to renew!
8. Keep it short – Long names are easy to mistype!
In short, it is important to take the time to choose a domain name that will satisfy your needs for years to come. By taking the time to research available names you can be confident that your small investment will pay off in the long term in marketing and branding!
Get started with our easy to use domain name registration system. Buy your domain name today!