A domain name is your virtual address on the Internet; much like your postal address helps people find your house, a domain name helps people find your website.
Picking the right domain name is the first step to any sucessful website, whether your website is for your business, yourself or your local sailing club.
So, what makes a good domain name?
Choosing the correct tld (Top Level Domain)
The top level domain (tld) of your domain name is the part at the end, such as .com, .co.uk or .org.uk. Choose which one is best for your or your business. Here’s some handy tips on each to help you choose the best one for your site:
- .com is often use for companies, but is great for any type of website.
- .co.uk is great for UK bases companies and businesses.
- .org or .org.uk are for general use, but mostly for non-profit organisations.
- .me.uk is good for personal websites and are a good choice if your .com or .co.uk domain of choice is registered.
- .eu is a new tld, now the third most popular in europe. This tld is great if your a european business or group.
How well does it represent you or your business?
Your domain name needs to tell your potential visitors what your site is about even before they even type it in. If your website is for a business or club then your business/club name is often the best option. If it’s a personal website your making, try using your name.
Vague domain names can often up off potential visitors, so try and be specific without making your domain name too long. You may want to include the city your business operates in, such as plumbing-sheffield.com.
Is it memorable?
The best domain names are snappy and memorable, even if you only hear them once or twice – think google.com, bbc.co.uk, and the popular bit.ly URL shortening service. Some of the best domains are simply one word, however you’ll be hard pressed to find one that isn’t already taken!
A general rule of thumb is no more than 3 words, less than this if those words are long. A domain name like anvilhostingwebsolutions.co.uk may describe our business well. However it is long and hard to remember.
Is it easy to spell?
We’ve all been told a name over the telephone and been unable to spell it without help, even after reading it aloud several times.
Names like cheeseelectronics.co.uk will prove difficult for some. If you have to explain how to spell your domain name, it’s likely not a very good one! If you must pair similar words or letters then use a hyphen (-) to break up the domain name; cheese-electronics.co.uk.
Is is already taken?
If the domain name you want is already registered, try searching for variations of your domain name by inserting hyphens or numbers. Try widening your search to include other tlds you hadn’t selected in your first search.
If someone owns your perfect domain name and is using it there isn’t much you can do (unless it contains a copyright or trademark you own) as they are unlikely to want to give it up.
If the domain is parked (the domain is registered, but not being used) you could try using a domain marketplace service such as Sedo to purchase the domain name from the current owner. Be warned though, premium domain names often sell for 3 figure sums and more.
If the domain name is registered but not being used, the final option is to wait for the domain name to expire. Make a note of when the domain is due to expire and keep checking back to see if it’s available.
One thing to note, however, is that a domain name does not become available to purchase as soon as it expires. Most domain names must go through a lengthy process before they are released to be bought again, lasting up to 90 days.
We hope this short discussion will help you in choosing the best domain name for your website. If you have any questions please post a comment below.