Things to avoid when registering domain names
Depending on how long you pay for the registration of your domain, it may be the name of your website for several years. In most cases you cannot change it once it has been registered. Pay attention to how you set up your website, so you avoid embarrassments or errors later.
Too long to type
You do not want a domain name that takes too long to type. Even if your company has an excessively long name, it is better to condense it for internet use. A company named “Bob’s Coffee House and Internet Cafe” would be too long; it could become “BobsCoffee.com”, or an abbreviation such as “BCIC.com”. Once visitors are on the website, you can show the full name of the company.
Play on words
Some domain names have innocent intentions. However, domains do not separate the words inside them, and a name can be read as something else entirely. A website for pens named “penisland.com” is the classic example, and “ExpertsExchange.com” is read differently by many people. If you can avoid this kind of word play, it is better for your site.
Improper TLD extension
The top level domain extension matters too. Although the most common TLDs end in .com, .net or .org, there is a wide list to choose from. Some extensions have requirements. .asia, for example, expects a presence in Asia, and many people associate the extension with what the website delivers: .org with organisations, .gov with government.
Names which are too focused
Generalising what your business does may be more useful for the people looking for your content. If you serve award-winning chicken, you may be tempted by “BestChicken.com”, but you then alienate the guests who came for the steak. If you serve many dishes, “CookedDelicacies.com” describes you better, and using the restaurant’s own name is usually better still, because it helps with branding and marketing.
Brainstorm other ideas
Before you register, brainstorm variants. This helps if the name you want is taken. A thesaurus is useful here, because similar words can produce a unique name. A short list saves time and gives you options better than the automated suggestions of a registrar.
Spellcheck
Before you submit an order, always spellcheck. Website owners often register a name with a typo in it, then buy a second domain to fix the mistake. Take a moment and make sure the name is spelled exactly as you want it.
Hyphens
Although domain names can use hyphens, it is best to avoid them. Many professionals believe a hyphen makes a site look cheap and unorganised, and studies have found that hyphenating a domain to add keywords had no real effect in search engines. In fact, those sites performed worse than the same name without a hyphen.
What to look for when setting up a domain name
Planning the strategy of your website before registering a domain improves your chances later. Marketing, keywords and the name itself all play a part in how well the site performs.
Social marketing
If your website matches a social media handle, you can cross-market more easily. The Twitter handle “@google” belongs to “google.com”, and matching the two strengthens the online reputation of the site.
Keywords
Try to use at least one keyword in your domain that describes what you do. It may not play a part in optimisation, but it helps people identify your content. A domain named “ChadsFishEmporium.com” tells visitors to expect fish.
Site preservation
People sometimes use another site’s name with a different extension to ride on its success. If a visitor types the .net version of your .com name, the other owner can take that traffic. This is why many owners buy the other extensions and redirect them to the main site. “google.net” redirects to “google.com” for exactly this reason. If you can afford it, buying those extensions protects the site from people cashing in on your success.
The integrity of your domain name plays a prominent role in how well the site performs on the internet. Take the time to choose a name that is effective and logical for what you want to achieve.