When it comes to launching a website, you have to think about every detail. Choosing a good domain name is one of those details that can help you lure in internet traffic or prevent you from reaching your goals. Before you start a new site, consider these factors to help you choose a good domain name.
Your Name Here
If possible, use your company’s name as the domain name. Some website designers argue that general names work better than brand names. They argue that a domain name like books.com is better than barnesandnoble.com. That might be true in some industries, but most consumers know what store or brand name they want to find. If at all possible, use your company’s name as your URL to help you stand out from the competition.
If someone has already registered a site under your name, then consider breaking up the words with hyphens. It’s a little harder to remember hyphenated URLs, but it helps search engines locate the page.
Short and Memorable
Generally, you want to keep your domain name short. Shorter, however, is not always better. Consider a company named Beth’s Books and Music. In this instance, BethsBooksandMusic.com is easier to remember than BethsBandM.com. Never sacrifice memorable just to save a few letters. If people can’t remember your domain name, then you’ve already lost customers.
Domain Extensions
Most companies want to use .com in their domain names. That extension has been around for such a long time that it has become the default for any website. If someone has already taken the .com extension of your preferred name, then you should consider using another extension. .Net has become more reputable, as has .org. If you focus on a local market, then you can also feel free to use a country-specific extension, such as .uk or .au. If, however, your site targets a global demographic, you should choose a general domain extension such as .com, .net or .org.