Truth be told, a good domain name can make or break a business.
It can help you go far as you’ll be starting on the right foot.
Out of 200 million registered domain names, only an estimated 5-7% are premium enough to resonate with many people.
Stats have shown that a good domain name can significantly impact your website traffic and brand recall.
For the fact that the internet is already a crowded place, it is obvious that choosing a name can be overwhelming.
Fortunately, the amount needed to build up a blog or website isn’t pocket draining. So, let’s get started.
5 Elements to Choosing a Good Domain Name
To simplify the process, here are 5 quick tips to help you select a super good domain name.
Make It Usable As a Branding Tool
When you mention some world-leading domain names, don’t you always feel like there’s a feel to it?
Think about sites like Google, Yahoo, etc., they have been used as the most important branding tool of those companies.
Based on stats, branded websites are the 3rd most trusted advertising source for internet users, tied with editorial content.
For example, Eliotsblog.com reports that man domain investors weigh the value of potential for brand development higher than the value of current traffic or revenue.
Dogwalker.com sees about 10,000 visits a month with 20-25% of visits from direct navigation.
So, think about your domain as an important marketing and branding tool.
Make It Short, Catchy and Memorable
Think about domain names like twitter.com, facebook.com, Businessinsider.com, etc. They’re short, catchy and memorable.
Being easy to say and spell is very important in increasing the pass-along rate. Anyone should be able to pronounce your domain.
Out of 200 million registered domain names, only an estimated 5-7% are premium enough to resonate with many people.
So, ask yourself; does the domain pass the “radio test?” Is it nearly impossible to mistype it after hearing it?
Take for example our website; “Owogram.com” it’s simple, catchy and memorable.
Research by Mckinsey & Company shows word of mouth is the primary factor behind 20-50% of all purchasing decisions.
Make It a.Com Extension
Did you know that nearly 84,000 domain names are registered per day?
In 2012, more than 250 million domains were registered.
102 million (48%) of the huge figure are .com domain extensions.
14 million are .net domain name extensions.
10 million are .org extensions
8 million were .info while .co were 1.2 million.
So, the .com domain extension is the most ideal because mos internet users who remember your domain are going to assume to use. om
One option is to purchase several extensions (.net, .info, .com, .biz) and direct them all to the same site with 301 redirects.
Another tip is, if you’re planning to do business in a specific country, you should consider a country-specific domain such as .ng, .co-uk, etc. depending on your country.
Be Creative
Most single-word domains are taken, try these creative approaches to finding a domain name that fits your brand.
It could be blending parts of two words, using a phrase, tweaking a word, compounding two whole words, etc.
- Micro & Soft – Microsoft
- Flight & City – Flight City
- Travel & City – Travelocity
Avoid Hyphenated Domain Names
Hyphenated domain names have no branding and have little SEO value. They detract from credibility and can act as a spam detector, making it difficult to earn links.
They also negatively impact word of mouth because they’re difficult to say without spelling it out. More so, people don’t recall hyphens or hyphen placement.
Check Availability On Social Media Sites
A good rule for making yourself discoverable is to keep the same name across platforms. Check that your domain is available on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
You can use a tool like KnowEm.com that allows you to check for the use of your brand, product, personal name, or username instantly on hundreds of social media websites.
Now, How Do You Register Your Good Domain Name?
Well, you have some choices:
- If you don’t have a website and don’t plan on getting one soon, I use and recommend Namecheap to register your domain. Just type your desired domain in the box and hit “Search” to get started.
- If you want a website, follow the instructions in this post on starting a blog and your domain will be baked right in.
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