Selecting a memorable domain name is one of the most important decisions when starting a new website or business online. Your domain name is your online identity and address – it's likely going to be the first interaction that people have with your brand. A good domain name is short, easy to remember, spells correctly, and communicates your brand values.
On the other hand, a poor domain name can hamper your marketing efforts and ability to rank in search engines. Your domain should avoid being overly long, confusing, misspelled, or generic. The goal is to find a domain name that is unique, memorable, and gives the right impression of your brand.
In this guide, we'll cover tips and strategies for brainstorming, evaluating, and selecting the best domain name for your business. We'll go over factors to consider, defining your brand, using keywords, choosing extensions, checking for availability, handling disputes, and more. Follow these tips and you'll be equipped to find a domain that helps make your online presence a success.
Brainstorm Extensively
The first step in choosing a great domain name is to brainstorm as many options as possible. You want to create a big list of potential names to then evaluate and narrow down from. Try to come up with at least 50-100 domain possibilities or more to start.
Brainstorming is a creative process, so look at it as blue sky thinking where no idea is off limits initially. Be open minded and don't self-censor or limit yourself yet in these ideation steps. Look broadly across categories and concepts related to your business for inspiration.
Some tips for effective brainstorming:
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Make lists of keywords related to your brand, products, services, location, industry, benefits, and competitors. Look at synonyms, related terms, and descriptive phrases.
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Look at popular trends and categories in your niche for inspiration. Browse relevant sites seeing what others have named their domains.
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Try out name generators and company name websites for jumping off points. While you likely won't use these directly, they can spark creative ideas.
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Experiment with prefixes and suffixes on root words to create new variations. For example: SuperFoodly, FoodBook, EatFreshers.
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Consider alliterations, rhymes, plays on words, and unique phrases. These can make your domain more distinctive and memorable.
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Mix and match words from different brainstormed lists to form new combinations. See what interesting pairs or patterns emerge.
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Use single powerful words that convey your brand identity and resonate emotionally. For example: Belong, Imagine, Inspire, etc.
The goal of brainstorming is to not judge ideas yet. Let your creativity flow freely. Capture every idea you generate, from basic to wild. You can sort and prioritize later. Quantity over quality here.
After brainstorming, you should have pages of domain name ideas to work from. Now you can start evaluating and narrowing these down to find your best options.
Prioritize Brand Identity
Before evaluating specific domain name options, take a step back to think about your brand identity. Your domain should align with and reinforce your overall brand image and positioning in customers' minds.
Some key principles:
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Consistency: Your domain name should match your brand name and established identity as much as possible. For example, don't use AcmeProducts.com if your brand is called Acme Incorporated. Stick with what you've invested in building.
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Simplicity: Avoid long or overly complex names. Go for simple and straightforward names that are easy to remember. Shorter names are also easier to type and share.
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Tone: Choose a domain that fits the personality you want for your brand. Is it formal, cute, clever, professional, playful, abstract, etc?
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Uniqueness: Find a name that stands out from competitors instead of blending in. Create your own identity.
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Emotion: Pick a name that connects emotionally with your audience. Good names often evoke feelings and imagery related to your brand values.
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Memorability: Names that are distinctive, visually evocative, rhyming, or using wordplay tend to stick in people's minds better.
Think about the key attributes and emotions you want associated with your brand. Develop two or three words that sum up your brand identity. Keep these guiding criteria in mind as you evaluate potential domain names. Your domain should re