7 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Domain Name

Choosing a domain name might seem like the easiest task in the world when it comes to owning a business that also operates online. But this actually couldn’t be further from the truth. Choosing a domain name is actually one of the hardest and longest decisions a company owner has to make because it has to be ‘right’.

It’s the very thing that will stick with your business through its lifetime, unless you rebrand or take on a different name. As such, it’s paramount that you choose a domain name that undoubtedly represents your brand, your business and what you do – easier said than done, we know. That’s why we’ve come up with some tips for choosing the perfect domain name.

Choose one that’s short, simple to type & easy to pronounce

Having a long, complicated and difficult to spell domain name is one mistake many people will make when choosing a domain name. Perhaps they want their own name in it or the products they sell. Maybe they want it to depict the services they offer or the topics they write about. While this is a good thing, it doesn’t do you any favours if that domain name is, whilst relevant, long, complicated and difficult to pronounce.

What would you say to people in the street who asked for your URL? Think about how easy, or not so easy, it would be to tell them and for them to remember it. If it’s short, sweet and easy to both pronounce and spell, you’ll be onto a winner. Not only will it be far more straightforward for you to tell someone what your URL is, it’ll then also be easier for that person to pass that information onto their friends or family. Which, in turn, means more publicity for you.

Stick with .com

This ties in with the previous point, slightly, about simplicity. This is because .com is far easier for people to remember than even .co.uk, .org, .gov, .net or even .blog, for example. The go-to ending for a URL is, typically, .com, so keep it as that if you’re able to. If you cannot get .com, then go for the default .co.uk as a last resort.

Add some keywords

Keywords play a major role in website copy, research and, believe it or not, domain names. The more relevant your domain name is, the easier it will be for someone to stumble across your website. For example, let’s say you’re a mobile tyre fitter and someone in your local area is searching for “mobile tyre fitters near me” and your domain name is ‘mobiletyrefitters.com’, then there’s a high chance that someone will come across your website over your competitors. But again, make sure your domain name isn’t too long or complicated, regardless of how relevant your keywords might be.

Make it memorable

Memorable domain names are key to retaining website visitors and a steady stream of online traffic. If it’s memorable, they won’t have to crawl back through their search history to find something that they saw on your website. Nine times out of ten, someone isn’t likely to bother spending their time doing that in the first place, so make things easier for them by making your domain name as memorable as possible.

Like with our mobile tyre fitters example, ‘mobiletyrefitters.com’ is memorable because that’s exactly what that particular business does. Someone who has used them before will remember to type that domain name in again because it’s short, simple and memorable. Some tips for making a memorable domain name include:

• Use a catchy phrase 
• Use a ‘call to action’ (CTA)
• Use a modifier (essentially an adjective that describes a head noun)
• Try a domain name generator for ideas or inspiration
• Try a rhyming name
• Play around with syllables

Avoid hyphens, numbers & double letters

A good domain name should never include hyphens or numbers. Search engines will often see a hyphenated domain name as spam and so you’ll end up not appearing in the search engine results pages (SERPs) at all. Numbers, on the other hand, just confuse the search, mainly for people who are actually typing your domain name straight into the search engine. 

Double letters will increase the likelihood of a mistake occurring when someone types your domain name into the search engine. This will then result in an error message and people will then just give up trying to find your website. Another possibility is, if one of those double letters are missed out, it could take someone to a competitor site instead of yours. 

The same letter elsewhere in the domain name is fine, but never side by side. For example ‘sophiesflowers.com’ would be fine but ‘jakesshakes.com’ would be a no-no. Just keep things simple by avoiding hyphens, numbers and double letters altogether.

Protect your domain name

Once you’ve found the right domain name for you, make sure you protect it immediately so that other people can’t use it. As such, it’s also recommended that you buy up similar domain names, even those with hyphens, numbers and double letters, so as to avoid confusion if someone is looking for your website. Let’s say your domain name is ‘foodtogo.com’ then make sure you buy, for example:

• Foodtogo.co.uk
• Food2go.com
• Food-to-go.com

This then stops competitors from buying similar domain names and confusing your website visitors, thinking they’re on your website when, in fact, they’re on someone else’s. Don’t let that happen – buy similar domain names as a way of protecting your brand.

Act before your competitors

If you’ve found a domain name you like and it’s right for you and your business, then make sure you buy it as soon as possible. Don’t wait for a few days or a few weeks because it could well be gone by that time and you’ll have to start all over again. Save yourself some time and keep things simple by striking while the iron’s hot. 

Kumo Digital has an experienced team of SEO specialists, PPC experts and content-writing professionals at the helm of our business. We work tirelessly to ensure our clients are given the best possible service every single time. Whether you need a new website, require excellent copy or simply wish to drive traffic to your site, look no further than Kumo Digital for help. No matter what you require, we’ll catapult your business into the spotlight. For more information about how we can help you today, get in touch with a member of our dedicated team – we’re always happy to hear from you.