How to Choose the Perfect Domain Name
If you’re ready to get a website, choosing a domain name is your first step. This name is more than just an address—it’s the digital doorstep to your online space and an essential part of your online identity.
Choosing a domain name that’s both catchy and true to your brand is everything. It’s all about making it easy for people to find, trust, and remember you. And because the internet’s a vast and crowded place, your first choice might not always be up for grabs.
But don’t worry! Here’s the lowdown on how to get creative and nail the perfect domain name.
Understanding domain names
A domain name is like your website’s unique identifier. When someone types it into a web browser, ta-da! They’re whisked away to your site. After deciding on a name, you’ll register it with a domain registrar (like us) to make it officially yours.
This process also involves the Domain Name System (DNS), which acts like the internet’s phone book. The DNS tracks domain names and translates them into IP addresses so browsers can load the correct site. Once you’re registered your domain, it’s off the market, ensuring you’re the only one who can use it.
Picking the perfect domain name
A great domain name is both simple and unforgettable, but it also needs to resonate with your brand for years to come. Investing time and resources into your website is a long-term commitment, so here are some tips to keep in mind when you’re brainstorming domain names.
Keep it short and simple
Think about your favorite websites. Chances are their domain names are concise and to the point. You rarely see domains cluttered with numbers or hyphens, and there’s good reason for that. Short domain names are easier to remember and to type. The goal is to avoid any confusion or typos that might lead someone astray. Though these succinct names are high in demand (and often trickier to snag), finding that unique gem can pay off.
Make it sticky
Ask yourself what makes a domain name stick in someone’s mind. Besides being short, it needs to pack a punch in terms of uniqueness and brand alignment. Take “Wikipedia.org” – it’s specific and memorable. On the other hand, people might struggle to recall something more complex like “free4me-encyclopedia.com.” Your domain should capture the essence of your brand or virtual persona in a way that sticks.
Use keywords wisely
A keyword is any term someone searches to find information on the internet, and incorporating them into your domain can be a bit of a balancing act. You want your domain to stand out, but you also want to boost your SEO to help people find you. So the challenge can be finding a domain name that’s effectively unique… and somewhat generic.
The trick is to blend your brand with relevant keywords seamlessly. For instance, instead of opting for a generic “homecleaners.com”, something like “miraclecleaners.com” can add a touch of brand personality while still being SEO-friendly.
Future-proof your domain
Thinking long-term is also an important consideration when choosing a domain name. Your domain name should be versatile enough to grow with your brand or business. You want to avoid using dates or specific locations that might limit your future expansion. For example, “shawnsknitwear.com” offers more flexibility for growth than “shawnsbluemittens2019”. Make sure your domain name will still serve you in the years to come.
Pick the right extension
While “.com” is often the most popular go-to, there’s a whole world of domain extensions (TLDs) out there that can add character to your site. Whether it’s a quirky “.ninja” or a professional “.ai” or “.net”, these alternatives can help to showcase your brand, website purpose, industry, and location. They’re especially good options to explore if your desired “.com” is taken.
Pro tip: registering multiple extensions for your domain is a savvy move to protect your brand online.
Say you want to register the domain name “buffburgers.com” for your website. You might also register “buffburgers.net” and “buffburgers.me” among others to make sure no one else does. You can register as many extensions for your domain as you want and have them all redirect to your website! You can do this through your domain registrar.
Ready to secure your perfect domain?
Find an available domain that's not just a fit, but a hit.
Search Domains NowDomain Name FAQ
Choosing a great domain name is an important step in establishing your online presence. Below, we’ve addressed some of the most common questions about alignment with your business, SEO implications, costs, and more.
Domain names and business names each serve different purposes, but there’s no real requirement for them to match. But should they? In some cases, it’s best for your business name to match your domain name—like if you have a well-known business name, will have one website to promote your entire business, and have a short, memorable business name.
But if your business will have several websites to market niche products/brands, or if your business name is on the longer side, you may want to use a different domain name. For example, Gwendoline’s Rare Books and Curiosities LLC should probably opt for something shorter and easier to remember, like “gwensbooks.com.”
Yes, SEO is about making your website easily discoverable in search engine results. Including keywords relevant to what people are searching for will likely help your website rank higher (though it’s not guaranteed). However, keywords are generic in nature. They’re what the majority of people are searching for, so they’re not necessarily unique or memorable. That’s why blending keywords with a more specific, branded name may yield better results.
Domain names typically cost between $10 to $20 per year for standard extensions like .com, .org, or .net. Premium domain names, which are short, memorable, or highly desirable, can be significantly more expensive. Prices can vary based on the registrar and be higher upon renewal.
No, a domain name is a part of the web address that hosts your website. Think of it like this—if a domain name is like the name of your business building or office, then the website is the location itself. But, to have a website, you need a domain name.
A domain name is a part of your URL. A URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator and is the name of the entirety of your web address. For example, the domain name domainregistry.com is a part of the URL https://www.domainregistry.com/.
Yes, unregistered domain names are not linked in the Domain Name System (DNS), meaning unregistered domain names can’t communicate with a visitor’s computer to show browsers the intended page.
If someone owns the domain name you want, you can contact the owner of the domain directly through their website, or you can look up their contact information in the WHOIS directory. You can also enlist the help of a domain broker who helps people buy and sell registered domains.
Your domain name can be up to 63 characters long, not including the domain extension (like .com or .net). As a general rule, the shorter, the better! You can include letters (a-z), numbers (0-9), and hyphens (-), as long as it doesn’t start or end with a hyphen. Hands down, the best domain names are easy to remember.