Tips in choosing a domain name

Using domain names in our portfolio as examples, here are some pointers we have collected to help you decide when registering a new domain name.

1. The name passes the so-called “radio test.” By this is meant that domain name can be understood if stated on the radio. For example: FunNPun.com may look good on paper but may not be a viable name when pronounced. One needs to qualify that “N” is letter “n” and not “and” as a word. Another example: Fun-and-Pun.com. One needs to spell out the whole domain name with the dash (“-”) or hyphen so that your listeners know that it is Fun-and-Pin.com and not FunAndPun.com.

2. Easy to remember. Like any product name, the domain name should be easy to remember. Which one would you easily remember? HappyTrip.info or HaveAHappyTrip.info?

3. The domain name is descriptive. The domain should at least give an idea of the type of site it is. For example, the domain name LatestAccountingArticles.com is quite descriptive.

4. The domain name contains keywords. SEO experts claim that getting a website listed higher in search engines is made easier if a domain as well as its content contain searchable keywords. And the less keywords a domain contains, more instances of it will be shown in search results. Example: FamilyDomains.org can generate more traffic than TraditionalFamilyDomains.org.

5. If you have a choice, choose a .com extension as this extension stands a better chance of being searched than the same domain name with different extension. This is simply because most people are more familiar with .com over other extensions. The .com has become sort of a household name. That said, it does not mean that other extensions will not work well. We know a number of successful websites using other extensions like .net, .org, and .info. An example of a successful website with a .net extension is TextCafe.net.