When you choose a domain name for your business blog, there are two primary factors you need to consider: search engine optimization and online brand identity. In other words, you should try to choose a domain name that can help you attract organic search traffic and you should choose a domain name that represents your business’ brand promise.
Following are five easy tips to help you pick the best domain name for your business blog:
1. Understand extensions.
There are many Web address extensions available these days with .com, .net and .biz being the most popular options for business sites. While .com is still the most popular, it’s perfectly acceptable to use a .net or .biz domain name, and doing so won’t detrimentally affect your site’s traffic.
2. Remember search engine optimization.
Do some keyword research using a keyword analysis tool like Wordtracker, Keyword Discovery or the free Google AdWords Keyword Tool. Including keywords in your domain name that your target audience is likely to use in searches when they’re looking for sites and information like you provide on your business blog can provide a significant boost in search engine traffic.
3. Avoid confusing elements.
Your domain name should be easy to remember and spell. Therefore, avoid using unusual spellings of common words. Also, avoid using numbers and punctuation that can be confusing (e.g., 4 or four?). The best domain names can be verbally communicated without any spelling or clarification required.
4. Consider intuitive vs. creative concerns.
Just as specific elements within your domain name can be confusing, so can words or messages in domain names. For example, you might like the idea of making up a word for your domain name, but doing so can cause confusion until people learn what that word is, how to spell it, and what it stands for. That doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to have success with a domain name that is highly creative — think of domain names like Squidoo.com or Flickr.com. However, it takes longer to build recognition of a creative domain name than it does for an intuitive domain name.
5. Don’t worry if the domain you want is already taken.
It is very possible that you might put together a list of 10 domain names that you would consider using for your business blog, search for the availability of those domain names, and learn that none of them are available with a .com extension. Don’t worry! There are a number of options you can pursue to get a suitable domain name if the one you want is already registered by another person or entity. First, consider using a less common extension as mentioned in #1 above. You could also add a descriptive word to your domain such as best, fast, and so on. Many people add an article somewhere in their domain name, like a or the, and others add characters to the end of their domain names making a word plural by adding an s or adding an er or est at the end.
Most domain name registrars offer domain name alternative suggestions if the one you want is not available. You can also find alternatives using a domain name suggestion tool. Finally, if you’re really attached to a specific domain name but someone else already owns it, you can find the domain name owner and contact information, and then contact that person to learn if they’re willing to sell it to you.
Image: stock.xchang
