Tuesday 12 July 2011

Creating A Domain Name That Is Unforgettable!!

Domain names can be a critical part of your online business, so here are a few special rules to keep in mind when deciding on a name.
 
1. Don't use words that are uncommon.
 
Use words that are easy to understand, remember and spell. Do Not use words that only the Queen of England will understand or know the meaning to. Say the domain name out loud when you are considering it, and if it takes a while to sink in or have even a slight impact on you, then forget it.
Try use words that are often used in day to day conversation that have a high impact factor, and by that I mean, they will stick in your mind the very first time you hear it.
 
2. Pick a URL that is easy to spell and flows off the tongue.
 
In the past, and even now, people use mis-spellings of words to swipe traffic away from established and popular websites. So if you are building a business with great potential, you don't want to lose customers or give your clients away because of a mis-spelling. Even the word "misspell" is tricky as people would most likely forget an "s" or even add another one.
 
Try stay away from Hyphens. This is an outdated practice and isn't looked upon favourably by Google and other search engines. None of the big Fortune 500 Companies use hyphenated names, so why should you?
 
3. Pick a name that reflects you or your product.
 
It is often better to name your website after the product or service you are selling or giving away ie, dogtrainingclinic.com. This quite simply is easy to spell, remember, and distinguishes your product. People also use their own name as a URL, and although I don't go against their choice, my personal opinion on this is that unless you are a household name, are on magazines and books, are on tv, or you have your name plastered all over the place, then starting out with your name as a URL would not be the best choice.
 
4. DO NOT include a Big Brand Name in your URL.
 
Placing names such as Facebook or Amazon in your URL is dangerous. You have no time for legal battles, headaches and lawsuits. Always be careful and stay clear of well known trademarks. Stay on the lookout for copyrighted material. Research your name wisely.
 
5. Extensions to try and avoid.
 
Where possible, always use a .com url. This just makes sense as people distinguish it as a business. Avoid .org as this is used by non profit organisations. Don't use .biz or .net as these are generally used by technical websites or are internet related. Where possible, if you cannot get your hands on a .com, then go with the extention that reflects your country such as .co.uk.
 

No comments:

Post a Comment