How to Choose Your Domain Name

Monday, May 5th, 2008

Your domain name is a key part of your brand and most importantly it is the first impression of your website that a visitor gets. Make sure you choose it carefully!

Update (21 July 2008): Domain names with .info extensions may be slightly deprecated now. As the cheapest domain names available and therefore a favorite with spammers, Google may start to be penalizing them and now ICANN has approved a new policy allowing the registry service, Afilias, to disable abused .info accounts.

Transcript

Slide 1: HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR DOMAIN NAME

Step 5: Your domain name is your identity

Slide 2

Step 1: How to set your website goal
Step 2: How to identify and target your market
Step 3: How to write your content
Do you need a web designer?
Step 4: How to choose a web designer
Step 5: How to choose your domain name
Step 6: How to choose your web host
Step 7: How to launch your website
Why completing your website is not the end
Step 8: How to promote your website

See the complete guide at www.realfreewebsites.com/website-plan

Slide 3

What is a domain name?

Your unique internet address
Can be registered for a minimum of one year
Registered as yours through a domain registrar

Slide 4

IDEAL Scenario: www.ideal.com
Domain name is

The same as your business or a keyword related to your field
Short
Memorable
Easy to spell

Slide 5

REALITY: www.bestnamesalreadytakenimaginationrequiredtofindagoodname.com
Best names already taken Imagination required to find a good name

Slide 6

How to test domain name availability

Test by typing directly into your browser address bar
Only use a registrar’s search box when you are ready to buy
This will prevent unscrupulous parties stealing your domain name ideas

Slide 7

Time to get imaginative

Slide 8

1. Come up with a domain name

Slide 9

Use a brand name?

Easy to find an available domain
Can be short and easy to remember But, without promotion no one will have heard of your brand and will not be searching for it

Slide 10

Use keyword filled name?

Keywords in the domain name help people identify the purpose of your website
Using keywords in your name will boost your ranking for searches of that word But very hard to find anything short that is available

Slide 11

Use a combination?

Using keywords in your name will boost your ranking for searches of that word
Allows people to identify the purpose of your website But lengthens the name, and may appear tacky

Slide 12

Use hyphens?
Originally: expertsexchange.com
Now: experts-exchange.com

Use hyphens to divide up the letters differently
No clear difference from search engine optimization point of view But hyphens are harder for people to remember

Slide 13

Use a clever subdomain? E.g. del.icio.us

Del.ico.us has registered icio.us and then created a subdomain “del”
Subdomains are provided by your web host and should be unlimited at no extra cost But knowing where to put the dot can be hard to remember

Slide 14

2. Choose a domain extension

Slide 15

Generic Top Level Domain (gTLD)

Some extensions have prerequisites, e.g. .edu or .gov, but most are open to anyone
Appears to be no difference in search engine ranking between extensions
People’s reaction to extensions are different – may prefer local extension, and/or .com

Slide 16

Country Code Top Level Domain (ccTLD)

Some countries have strict prerequisites E.g. .ca (Canada), .fr (France)
Use a ccTLD if your market geographically targeted ? You will benefit in local search engines E.g. Google.co.uk

Slide 17

3. Poll your target market

Slide 18

Get feedback from your market

How do they react to the suggested domain name?
Can they remember it?
Do they misspell it?
Which extension do they expect to use?
Rethink if the reaction is not positive

Slide 19

4. Consider registering multiple domain names

Slide 20

Multiple domain names
Misspellings: www.mybusness.co.uk
Variations: www.mybusinesses.co.uk
Other extensions: www.mybusiness.com

Can send additional direct traffic from misspellings of your domain
Prevent competitors benefitting from misspellings
Register .com if available – people will use .com if they’re guessing
Don’t go overboard in buying all potential variations

Slide 21

5. Choose a domain registrar

Slide 22

A good domain registrar Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers

Is ICANN accredited
Has a low price with no hidden fees (e.g. for transferring a domain name, changing contact details)
Offers an easy-to-use administration interface
Provides good customer service
Allows easy transfer of a domain to another registrar

Slide 23

6. Register your domain!

Slide 24

You won’t lose it after forgetting to re-register
Search engines will give greater authority to your domain

Slide 25

The domain you choose will be the first impression of your website. Make sure it’s a good one.

Slide 26

You’ve now seen how to choose a domain name. This is the fifth step in the process of good website design. See the complete guide at www.realfreewebsites.com/website-plan

Slide 27

Need Help? Ask the experts at guiding you through website development: www.realfreewebsites.com

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One Response to “How to Choose Your Domain Name”

How to Plan a Website: a Complete Guide Says:
May 12th, 2008 at 12:18 pm
[…] A transcript is also available: How to choose your domain name. […]