How to Choose Your Domain Name

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!

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

Register Register your domain for more than 1 year, so

• 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

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

Related Articles

• How to Choose Your Web Designer
• Do You Need A Web Designer?
• How to Promote Your Website
• Why Completing Your Website is Not the End
• How to Launch Your Website

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