Are you planning to start a new website? Or maybe you are just rebranding an existing one? Either way, you need a domain name that will form the basis of your website's identity and make it stand out from your competitors. Choosing the right domain name for your website is vital for this. You might need to spend hours or days choosing the best possible name for your domain, but in the end, it will be worth it.

Remember, the wrong choice can damage your business. In addition to that, choosing the right domain name is very important, particularly if your website serves a commercial purpose.

To help you out, we have come up with the best tips for choosing a domain name! Let's take a look at what these are:

 

8 Factors to Consider for Domain Name Selection

Here are eight factors you need to consider for domain name selection:

 

1. Be Short and Specific

Technically, a domain name can stretch over to an incredible 63 characters. But choosing a domain name of such length is risky. The longer the domain name, the harder it is for users to search.

Instead, you need to have a short and specific domain. It makes it relatively easy for users to remember your domain name.

If your domain name isn't easy to remember, the audience might feel reluctant to give your business a chance, as well.

Ideally, a domain name between 3 to 12 characters and 2 to 3 words long is pretty decent. According to research, the most common domain name is approximately 12 characters long. If you have a longer name in mind, then it's better you cut it down a bit!

 

2. Go for The Right Extensions

Being unique doesn't always work when it comes to extensions. While some new extensions are available, getting ".com" is still the best option. It is easy to remember, and people are more familiar with it.

However, pick up something like ".net" or ".org" if you cannot get your hands on the “.com” option. With that being said, you need to ensure that you acquire the .com once it becomes available.

It's true that the .com is just one of several available extensions from a technical perspective. There is no doubt other domains may be tempting too, but it is always better to go for the .com extension.

 

3. Brand Your Domain

Your domain name is the face of your company in the form of a URL. Therefore, you need to ensure that it essentially sounds like a brand.

So, what do you do now? It's simple. You need to approach it with simplicity and novelty. Avoid putting up numbers, hyphens, or anything that makes it complicated and unnatural.

For instance, take a look at Pepsi.com. That domain name shows the true face of the company better than options such as “Pepsi-cola.com” or “Pepsi-2-drink.com”.

 

4. Make it Easy to Type

What comes to your mind when you think of some of the biggest and most popular websites, such as Facebook, Instagram, Google, Twitter, etc.? One thing noteworthy here is that all these websites are easy to spell.

You need to make sure that your visitors do not face problems while typing your domain name. If you have to clarify the spelling more than one time to make your audience understand it, it’s too complicated!

Moreover, you don't want your visitors to mistype your website name and land on a different webpage. You could lose a potential customer if this happened!

 

5. Include Keywords Sensibly

Including some keywords in your website domain name is a decent tactic. However, it's not necessary to use exact match phrases. It can damage your brand if you do so!

Google considered it a spammy strategy, so it eliminated keyword matches in URLs from its ranking criteria.

Besides, many consumers have developed the sense that such sites are of low quality and spammy in nature. Here is an example; Which of these two domains of men's sports shoes seems more trustworthy and professional to you: SportsDirect.com or BuyMensSportShoes.com?

If you want to use keywords, make sure you avoid using generic keywords. Instead, you can include keywords that are related to your niche.

 

6. Stay Away from Trademark or Copyright Infringement

Your domain name should never clash with another brand or site name. This could lead to a copyright strike from the brand or site, and that's the last thing you want.

You might also have to give up your domain if you're found guilty of trademark infringement. So, before registering your domain name, make sure it doesn't violate any trademark or copyright infringement laws.

While this mistake isn’t very common, it can destroy even the biggest companies if it's taken lightly.

 

7. Try Domain Name Generator

Trying to think of a good domain name can be difficult. A domain name generator serves as a great tool here.

You can find many domain name generators online. All you have to do is write your business-related keywords, and they will provide you with a list of domain names.

This technique can help you choose a more appropriate domain name - perhaps one that your mind isn't able to provide.

You can check some of the best domain generators here.

 

8. You Need to Act Fast

Once you've made up your mind and sorted everything, try to register your name quickly before it is taken by someone else. You need to get an accredited domain registrar who can register the name on your behalf.

In addition, they will keep your domain protected and ensure that it is yours for the duration of the purchase.

If you’re confused about domain name costs, remember that prices vary on the basis of factors such as domain extension and the words you have selected. However, you can find many platforms that offer free domain registration for the first year.

 

Final Thoughts

And that brings an end to our discussion on how to choose a domain name. You need to ensure that your domain name is specific, precise, and has keywords in it. Be proactive, and remember you can always use domain name generators if you're having trouble. We hope this blog helps you choose your domain name correctly!