Choosing a domain name for your blog is probably one of the most difficult decisions you will make during the set up process. Finding a reliable web host will be a breeze compared to choosing a domain name.
A domain name sets the groundwork for your blog. It helps establish brand identity and it can help with search engine rankings. You can change your domain name later on, but it is a good idea to spend a bit of time getting this part right, as changing it later can really set your blog back.
How to choose a domain name?
The main options you have are as follows
- Keywords in your niche
- Your name
- What the blog is about
- A made up word
- Words and numbers
- Numbers
Your first option should always be to register a domain that has the keywords for your niche. If you are blogging about blue widgets then you should try to acquire the bluewidgets.com domain. This will help tremendously with search rankings.
If you have a marketing budget that allows promotion away from search engines this won’t matter so much. My guess is that you don’t have the backing of an angel investor at this time and you want to get as much free help to get your blog off the ground as you can.
If the .com option is unavailable, the next best option is .net. This extension doesn’t have the same clout as .com, but it is no less effective when it comes to search rankings
One important factor to consider when researching domain names is your target audience.
I live in the UK so I will use that as my example.
If I were to set up a blog about a subject very specific to the UK and wanted to reach a UK audience, the domain at the top of my list would end .co.uk, and not .com. I would probably buy .com if it was available, but I wouldn’t worry too much if it wasn’t.
The reason for this is search engine traffic.
Buying a .com domain would mean competition on a global level. A country specific domain cuts out a lot of that competition and would allow me a fighting chance of ranking highly for my chosen keywords. Domains with country specific extensions can still be ranked in the .com search engines, but they will often rank better locally.
Is it available? Probably not
The chances of your keyword rich domain name (in its simplest form) being available are pretty slim. Trust me. I have purchased a few domains over the years and I’ve often had to settle for a domain that wasn’t what I wanted.
When this happens I usually think of words that add further meaning without compromising the rest of the domain. In the case of this blog I have added the word ‘the’ onto the start of the domain. The meaning isn’t lost, and I still get the words I wanted into the domain. On other occasions I have used, or have considered using, the following words – my, i, e, get, guide, book etc.
Strange, made up or misspelled domain names
No doubt you will have noticed the internet is full of websites that have strange, made up or misspelled domain names – Google and Digg spring to mind without thinking too hard. And although the meaning isn’t immediately clear, once you know what the sites are about, the meanings behind the domain names becomes very obvious.
Let’s look at Google. It comes from the word ‘googol’, which was originally coined in 1938 by Milton Sirotta and means ‘the number 1 followed by 100 zeros‘. Think about how that relates to search.
Digg has two meanings for me. The first is to dig something as in like, and the second is to dig something as in find through the act of digging. Digg is probably the perfect name for a site like Digg.
If you want your site to stand out from the crowd making up a word to act as your domain name is a good place to start. Creative companies are particularly fond of this type of domain name and they work very well for sites that have global aspirations. But, if you’re a local Bob the builder or Joe the plumber, you might prefer to think about something much more practical that describes what you do and where you do it.
Do I really need keywords in my domain name?
Having your keywords in your domain helps when it comes to search engine rankings. It is also easier to ask people to use your keywords in any link back to you (this is known as the anchor text), thus making your site stronger for the keywords within the link.
For example, say I have the domain name www.mydomainnamecollection.com but wanted the link provider to have the words “Domain Names” in the visible part of the link, he (or she) might object to this request and prefer to use the words in the domain name instead, ie “My Domain Name Collection”. This is quite acceptable, but it would dilute the link back to my site because of the extra words.
Hyphenated-keyword-strong-domain-name
As most of the best domain names have already been snapped up, the next best alternative could be the hyphenated alternative (blue-widgets.com). Whilst these domain names can serve a purpose with search engines, the long, hyphenated name can also look a little unpleasant. They are often used on websites created to rank well in search engines well for the words within the domain name. For example www.pick-a-trade-and-location.com (www.cheap-locksmith-new-york.com).
You have to decide whether you like the idea of hyphens in your domain name. Personally, I do not. I would rather have a .net domain than a hyphenated .com domain name.
Numbers in domain names?
Some people have issues with numbers in domain names. Again, personally, I am not very keen on them, but I do understand there use. As it becomes harder to buy good quality (fresh) domain names, the likelihood of domains including numbers becoming popular, increases.
Choose a domain name that is easy to remember
Try to choose a domain name that is easy to remember. The reasons for this are obvious. Not everyone will find your website through a link and you will have to tell people you meet in the offline world what your domain name is. If you want those people to visit your website, they will have to remember the domain.
Avoid trademarks in your domain name
If you don’t want to have dealings with company lawyers, you should check if your potential domain name will infringe any registered trademarks. Some companies are heavy-handed when it comes to using trademarks in domain names. I suggest you steer well clear from doing so when possible. A company happy to have their trademarks used in a domain today may not have the same outlook in a couple of years. If you are not sure, check with your local trademark office. Here are two links for you : UK and USA.
If I haven’t convinced you about this, try performing a search for something like “domain name trademark infringement” to see what others have to say.
The choice is yours
Now that I have given you advice on how to choose a domain name, I hope you manage to find the name you want. A couple of related topics that I have not discussed here are buying expired domains and buying a domain from a speculator. These are viable options, but cost could be prohibitive.
The next step is registering your domain.
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