One of the very first steps in starting a website of any kind is to find a domain name. While you may think this is easy peasy, you would be wrong. The internet has been around for a while now, and millions of domain names are registered every year. In 2012, the total number of domains that had been registered so far was 252 million worldwide. This leaves the pickings slim for new websites. Not all hope is lost, however, and with the following tips, you can choose he perfect domain name for your new website.
Short and Easy
Keeping the domain name short and easy is a must, especially if you’re starting a commercial website. A long website that is hard to spell will only turn off costumers. In addition, complex domain names can lead to misspellings and mistypings, which keep potential clients from finding your site.
Keyword Rick
Businesses should use keywords in their domain name that describe the type of services offered or the type of business you have. For example, a computer tech company should consider the words computer repair or pc repair in their domain name. Not only do these keywords make it easier for consumers to find you but it can also improve your search engine ranking, which leads to an increase in traffic.
Promote Local
If the desired domain name is taken, consider incorporating the state or city that your business is in into the name. For example, a computer repair company located in Richmond, Virginia could use a domain name similar to Richmond PC Repair.
Forget the Hyphens and Numbers
Adding hyphens and numbers to the domain name only makes it harder for potential customers to find you. If you must have numbers or hyphens in the name, consider registering the various different variations just to air on the side of caution.
Which Extension
The extension is located at the end of the web address and there are numerous ones available. But which one should you use. The most popular extension is by far .COM. The popularity of .COM extensions means it will be harder for you to snag the desired domain name. Thankfully, the following are a few of the other top extensions you can use:
• .ORG – Used by non-profits, organizations and non-commercial sites
• .NET – Internet and technical sites
• .ME – Personal sites, resumes and blogs
• .CO – Abbreviation for commerce, community and company websites
• .BIZ – Commercial and business sites, including ecommerce
• .INFO – Informative websites
