10 Tips for choosing a domain name

Choosing a domain name is difficult. Whether you’re looking for a good domain name for your blog or a new business; the name is an important choice that contributes to the success of your company. In the search for a domain name you must take several factors into account. Use the 10 tips in this infographic to choose the right domain name.

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1. Domain extension

The extension you choose depends on your ambitions. Are you already certain that you want to break through internationally and want to offer your product or service in different countries? Then choose a .com extension. Are you going to offer your services only in your current country? Then choose the top-level domain of that country, like .co.uk or .de.

2. Easy to remember

Choose a domain name that you can remember easily. One or two syllables are preferred. Avoid difficult to spell words and unusual letter sequences. Examples of websites with an easy to remember domain name are: Apple.com and cnn.com.

3. Unique

Choose a unique domain name. This sounds logical, but unique and distinctive domain names are more memorable and eye-catching. Examples of unique eye-catching names are: flickr.com and nouncy.com.

4. Easy to type

Choose a domain name that is easy to type. In short, a logical sequence of letters that eventually form a word with or without meaning. An abbreviation that is easy to remember also works.

5. As short as possible

Choose a short domain name. A short domain offers several advantages. In general, short names are easier to remember. In addition, a short name easier to use, because it takes less time to copy them.

6. Expectation management

Choose a domain name that matches expectations. Make sure that the name you choose matches your brand or product, and says something about your company. Examples of this are weather.com and carinsurance.com.

7. Copyright

Choose a domain name that is not sensitive to copyright infringement. Make sure your domain name contains no registered trademark. A domain name that infringes the trademark law is a waste of your time and effort.

8. Numbers and hyphens

Avoid the use of numbers and hyphens. A domain in which the words are written together is in most cases better. Numbers can cause confusion.

9. Use keywords

A keyword in your domain name can be good for your organic rankings. Despite the fact that Google doesn’t find this as important as it used to be, it can still have a positive effect.

10. Don’t pay too much

As great as a domain name may sound, it’s worth nothing without you actually publishing a site on it that makes money. Although there are several domain names sold for millions ($35.6 million was paid for insurance.com), it’s not advisable to pay a lot of money for a ´normal´ domain name.