How To Come Up With A Good Domain Name

Dont Be Too Hasty To Register It

When you learn how to find the perfect domain name and come across that perfect name, youll just know it but dont be in a hurry to buy it you have time. You might think that someone is going to snatch it up if its still available right now but thats just not true. That was back in 2001 when there were lots of good domain names available. The game has changed since then but thats really good news because theres a better way to choose a domain name now.

So when you think of one thats good and if its available, then write it down and build a list because you might come across one a little later thats even better. That has happened to me many times before.

Why It Pays To Put Some Thought Into Your Domain Name

Your domain name is your websites home address on the Internet. And while its not the only thing that affects your sites success, there are tons of reasons its important to choose a domain name carefully:

• A unique, memorable name is more likely to stick with visitors and encourage them to return.
• Your domain name can immediately give new visitors an idea of what your site is all about.
• Domain names have an impact on Search Engine Optimization .
• Changing your domain name after creating your site can lead to time-consuming complications.

Names have power this is as true for a website as for anything else. Picking the right domain name should therefore be a careful process, and youll want to consider all of your options before settling on a winner.

Register Your Domain Names For At Least 10 Years

If you just register a domain name for a year or two, Googles going to see that and see that your domain name and website might not be around too long. So instead, broadcast your intentions to have a solid, long-standing brand and register it for at least 10 years. If you cannot afford to register all your domain names for 10 years, at least register the main one that long. Later, you can register the other ones longer once youre making good money.

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Always Go For The Com

Let me say this again: Wherever possible, always go for a .com domain. Exhibit A: This site.

Technically speaking, the .com is just one of many domain name extensions that are available . Some of the other popular options include, .net, .org, .co, .edu, .biz, or even things such as .shop, or .blog.

And while all those fancy TLDs are tempting, getting the classic .com is nearly always the right thing to do. Two reasons:

What all of this means is that if your perfect .com is taken, then perhaps you should either forget about that name entirely or try contacting the current owner to see if theyre willing to sell the domain to you. Warning! This could be expensive.

Clear The Legal Field Before Registering

Youve registered your domain namebut lo and behold, a few weeks later you receive a cease and desist letter from the law offices of someone who makes five times as much money as you every thirty seconds.

Its not a pretty picture, but its not an uncommon one, either. Making sure your potential domain name isnt trademarked is an absolute must if you want to avoid getting caught in unwanted litigation.

Fortunately, its pretty easy to check. For websites that will operate in the US, you can check for trademark status by searching the United States Patent and Trademark Offices website.

That said, its a good idea to check a secondary source, as well. Navigating the USPTO system isnt as straightforward as alternative sources like Trademarks411 or WIPO.

And when it comes to legal bases, it never hurts to cover them twice, right? Especially when faith can be a deciding factor in domain name case law, as Bloomberg discovered.

Other things to keep in mind when considering trademarks is consumer confusion. If your domain name could reasonably be confused with another domain it competes with then you could have a losing arbitration on your hands.

What about a website all about WordPress? Here is what the WordPress team has to say about it:

Simply put, dont take the risk.

Additionally, if your website will operate outside of the US, now or in the future, youll want to get familiar and check trademarks in those respective countries, as well.

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What Makes A Good Domain Name

The making of a good domain name

Its a good idea not to exceed 2-3 words. You want people to remember your domain name and type it accurately. Complicated or uncommon words or names may be hard to remember and spell correctly. Relevant words help users find you in a search and recognize what you do at a glance.

How To Perfect Website Name Ideas

Now that you have brand names planned out, you just need to make it into website name ideas. It is common to use your brand name as a website name. However, if your brand name is long and hard to remember, you might want to alter it a bit to be shorter and more concise.

If you do not want to use your business name as a website name, you could use keywords of your products and services instead. For example if you offer catering services in Thailand, Your domain name could be cateringinthailand.com or something similar. This trick will help future customers find you easier and faster.

Also, in the domain name, you should not use hyphens and numbers. Since it is associated with spam websites. I can also confuse the customers and make them go to the wrong website as well. Another thing to do in coming up with website name ideas is avoid the double letters. Double letters are one thing that will confuse people the most.

Domain endings are also an important part as well. You should consider domain ending as well. As we discussed, the .com domain is the most popular domain. It has the most credibility and the most competition. So it is always good to use a .com domain. However, you can still use other domain endings as well. If the name you want is taken on a .com domain, you can always switch to .net or other domains.

Recommended Reading: How To Become A Domain Name Registrar

Make Sure Your Domain Is Easy To Pronounce And Spell

You probably want your domain name to be original and memorable. However, novelty isnt always a good thing. If you modify the spelling of a common word to get that .com extension , you might confuse your audience.

While word-of-mouth advertising is powerful, it only works when people can actually pronounce your domain. This also makes the name easier to remember, increasing the odds that people will visit and pass the site along to their networks.

In recent years, more businesses have opted for 4-letter combinations of easily pronounceable domains. In addition to being incredibly memorable, this is also due to the ability for domains to hold aftermarket value. That is, if the business fails, the domain can still be sold. One very popular 4-letter pattern is c-v-c-v , exemplified by Snap and Meta.

Still Stuck Use A Thesaurus Or Tools

Finding synonyms for a certain word can help you find a good domain name thats open. Ive done that many times.

Here are some websites that can help you find good domain names:

Some of the services above will want you to register your domain name with them. You dont have to. You can register it where you want.

Read Also: How To Get My Own Website Domain

What Makes A Great Domain Name

Your startups identity should do justice to all the effort youve put into establishing it. So, when you start the hunt for a good domain name, keep in mind all the qualities that make for a great domain name.

A great domain name is:

• Meaningful, relevant, and definitive
• Devoid of any linguistic or grammatical errors
• Descriptive of what you sell and the industry you belong to
• Unique and puts you in the spotlight

Append Or Modify If Need To

Tried everything but couldnt get the perfect .com domain? Dont worry, youre not alone.

Instead of giving up on your favorite name, adding a modifier word or two may do the job. Or the other option would be to try out a different domain extension. Though make sure it fits with your brand and audience.

For example, after lots of brainstorming, youve found the name Teaclassy.com that matches your brand, but its taken away already. Then the best option would be to add modifier words to the domain name. MyTeaclassy.com, ThisTeaclassy.com, or any other may be available and ready to register.

Also, you can check out 120 Domain Name Modifiers so that you can add to your domain to find an available name. You may be unaware, but many top businesses have applied this trick and have been successful as well. So you can too!

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Pick A Domain Name Thats Flexible

Your domain name is one area where you dont want to put yourself into a box. While you should be specific enough to attract an audience, you dont want to be so precise that theres no room for your website to grow.

For example, shutter.photography might be perfect for a photography blog. However, if you decide to write about other art forms in the future, youll be stuck with an inaccurate domain name.

Therefore, its smart to consider how your site or business may expand over time. Youll want to make this decision with a long-term vision.

Add A Cute Animal To Your Brand

This is a tried and true tactic that works well for the very website youre on right now, as well as a number of other memorable brands.

Adding an animal to your domain name doesnt just help you create a brand name thats unique, it also automatically provides a clever branding opportunity. You can create a cute logo and mascot for your brand thats memorable and inspires goodwill from your audience.

A lot of brands use this tactic . Think Firefox, Burts Bees, and FoodPanda. Brainstorm a list of animals you like and see if any seem like a good fit to round out your domain name.

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It’s Okay To Append Or Modify It

If your domain name is not available, it’s okay to go out and add a suffix or a prefix. It is okay to use an alternate TLD extension, like we talked about previously, and it’s okay to be a little bit creative with your online brand.

For example, let’s say my brand name is Pastaterra. Maybe I’ve already got a shop somewhere maybe in the Seattle area and I have been selling pasta at my shop and now I’m going online with it. Well, it is okay for me to do something like ThePastaterra.com, or PastaterraShop.com, or even Pastaterra.net.

With these rules in mind, I would love to hear from all of you about your domain choices, domain name biases, and what you think is working in 2016. Hopefully, we’ll see you again next week for another edition of Whiteboard Friday. Take care.

Video transcription by Speechpad.com

Try Using Niche Keywords That Reflect Your Brand

Keywords are a primary method of improving a websites SEO. However, stuffing keywords that apply to your industry is no longer a valid SEO website strategy and youll end up with an extremely long URL.

If you do use a keyword, put it at the beginning of your domain name where it will be most effective at impacting your SEO ranking.

Use keyword research tools such as Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush or Ahrefs to find the most searched for and most valuable keyword that applies to your niche.

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Make Sure Its Easy To Remember

Your domain name should not be complicated. You shouldnt have to explain things like dashes and numbers. You should be able to say the name once and it should make sense. So this tip goes along with the next two, which I sort of already mentioned.

And my example above, KalaShoe doesnt actually work too well because people might not know if it starts with aK or a C when they hear it. So that one is out and I did that on purpose for this example.

The name you choose should only have one possible spelling.

The domain name should make sense, too. You dont have a strong brand right now because youre starting out. Brands like Google, Nike Monster.com and Zillow have had to pay extra in marketing dollars to get people to understand what they do. On the other hand, websites like CareerBuilder and AutoTrader have domain names where you instantly understand what they do. They essentially pay less to get their brand out there as they dont need to overcome the hurdle of educating their audience about what they do.

Develop Some Original Ideas

Always start simple! Grab a piece of paper and start writing a few ideas. Then brainstorm more ideas using related keywords, synonyms, etc. Mix and match these names to create a complete list of ideas that may work well with your business. Finally, you can use this list with name generators to create your ultimate name ideas.

However, sometimes there arent just enough words in the whole world. So, if youre feeling stuck in developing your first ideas, here are over 20 essential ways to get started:

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Plan For The Long Run

Many website names and ideas, such as Google, have outgrown their original purpose and become a part of everyones culture. Always remember that ideally, youll reach the ultimate level of success when your brand represents all businesses in its niche and grows roots within every language and culture.

However, many names dont offer such potential. So make sure to invest some time in finding an idea that can provide such advantages over time.

Dont Panic If Your Domain Name Is Taken

If your domain name has already been purchased by someone else, you still have a few options:

If the domain is parked and not in use , then its very likely a squatter bought the domain just to sell it. If theres no contact information immediately apparent, you can normally use the who.is database to pull up the owners email.

If theres an established site on the domain, theres a small chance you can still purchase it.That said, often the owners are very invested in the properties theyve built. Its a snowballs chance in a sauna theyll let it go, but theres still a chance. Again, you can use the who.is database again if no contact info is readily apparent.

If the domain is a total ghost town where it doesnt even seem parked, or being used, you can search domain-flipping hotspots for potential leads. Places like Flippa, Sedo, SnapNames or even GoDaddys domain marketplace are all possibilities.

Be prepared to shell out some serious cash to get your hands on a domain owned by someone else.

Its not uncommon for would-be purchasers to spend upwards of $1,000 in locking down a domain from an auction house.

And if youre going for a big fish, youll need some seriously deep pockets like the ones which funded Sumo.coms $1.5 million dollar domain acquisition.

Recommended Reading: How To Find All Domains Owned By A Company

How About Free Domain Names

Is there such a thing?

Yes, there is such a thing as free domain names. However, most free domain names are either generic or have restrictions on them. For example, the term free domain names usually refers to domain names that are available for registration without any cost or fees.

However, most free domain names come with restrictions, such as being able to transfer them only to other web developers or being able to use them only for a specific period of time.

Others also require you to first get a paid service such as a hosting account before getting the free domain.

Then there are free domains offered by website builders like Wix. These are domain extensions such as example.wix.com. However, if you are looking to build a serious business online, a free domain wont help you.

How Do I Protect My Domain Name From Cybersquatters

A domain name is your unique identity on the internet. Itâs how customers find your website, and itâs how you build brand recognition online. So itâs no surprise that cybersquatters ââ¬â people who register domain names to sell them to the highest bidder ââ¬â constantly look for valuable domains. Fortunately, you can take a few steps to protect your domain name from these unsavory characters.

First, make sure you register your domain name with a reputable company. This will help to ensure that your domain is adequately protected from squatters.

Second, keep your contact information up to date. If a squatter does manage to register your domain, youâll need to be able to get in touch with them to resolve the issue quickly.

Finally, consider registering your domain name under different extensions like â.incâ or â.io.â This will make it more difficult for squatters to register your domain name and give you more options if your primary domain name is unavailable.

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