Considering the number of websites on the Internet, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to choose the best domain name for a website. With the crucial role that a domain plays in representing your site and ensuring optimization in search engines, taking time to pick the right one is more than worthwhile.
Generally, the better the domain name, the higher the chance of a successful site. While most people know the importance of choosing the best domain name, few know how to identify one. Below are some characteristics of a good domain name.
Most domain names consisting of three to four letters are already purchased, while those with five letters are in high demand. While there is no specific number of characters you should aim for, short domain names are generally better than longer ones. They are easier to remember, concisely describe the website, and present little to no chance of a misspelling.
Most Internet users don’t use bookmarks, instead opting to memorize the domains of their favorite websites. Make it easy for people to visit your site by having a memorable domain name. It should be catchy and easy to spell so that users can share links to the site easily. Research whether the name you want to use is available and avoid using names that are similar to those of your competitors.
It goes without saying that a good domain name should be unique. Since most of the shorter domain names are already taken, you will need to be creative if you are to come up with a unique one.
This may mean combining two words, modifying an existing word, or coming up with a new word. A unique domain name will help you stand out from the competition, giving you the advantage you need.
There’s a good chance that the majority of the people visiting your site will do so via direct links or through search engines. Having a descriptive domain name will ensure visitors have an idea of what the site is about even before they visit it. This will go a long way in peaking the interest of prospective visitors and helping to increase traffic to the site.
Brand awareness and recognition play a critical part in the success of any organization. A good domain name should help your visitors to associate the name with the website and its content.
While some domains do not have to be descriptive, they should have an interesting combination of letters, have a nice pronunciation, and have an appealing visual effect. Choosing a name that appeals aesthetically to visitors will help you create and build your brand image.
A good domain name should complement your SEO strategy and help drive more traffic to your website. Instead of choosing a domain name based on the keyword for which you want to rank, you should consider using your brand name as your domain name. Search engines will then associate your brand name with the keywords on your website, helping to increase your online visibility.
Matching your domain name with the site niche will help web surfers know what they will be browsing. If you are hosting a fitness site, you will want your domain to let users know that before they ever visit your homepage.
Most importantly, you will want your domain name to project a positive image of your organization. As such, you should ensure that it does not contain awkward spelling mistakes or irregular words.
A great domain name is often a delicate balance between your personal preference and your industry’s trends. Do some research on the ranking domain names in your industry and see what sets them apart. Finally, while the above traits are not exhaustive, they are certainly a great place to start when shopping around for a domain name.
