Did you know that your domain name can make or break your brand’s credibility?
A recent survey done by GoDaddy has found that a whopping 80% of consumers will avoid visiting or purchasing from a website because it has an oddly spelled domain name. Fifty-six percent of consumers also find it a red flag if the domain name has misspellings, while 55% will find you suspicious if your domain name is not an exact match to your brand name.
These numbers show just how much weight consumers put into something as seemingly simple as your domain name.
But with so many names available, how do you choose the right one? In this article, we’ll guide you on selecting a professional and credible domain name that reflects your brand identity and boosts your SEO.
Let’s get started!
8 Tips for Choosing the Best Domain Name
Here are eight proven tips on how to find the best domain name for your business:
1. Use your brand name
This might seem like obvious advice, but using your brand name is still the best way to go.
This is because most people expect to find you online with your brand name. For example, if your name is “Bright Path Consulting”, people will expect to see brightpathconsulting.com or brightpath.com. But if you use bpc-office.com? People will understandably get confused, assume you’re a different business, or worse, think of you as a scam site.
So if you already have a brand name, make sure to check if an exact match is available. After all, your domain name (just like your logo design!) is your main branding asset in the digital world, so it’s best you use it.
2. Get creative
Now what if the exact match is not available?
Don’t fret! A workaround is to abbreviate it like bpconsulting.com. You can also get creative by adding words like “hello,” “get,” “try,” “use,” or “go.” This not only makes the domain more catchy and unique but also adds a call to action.
An example is soda brand Poppi. Their site is called drinkpoppi.com, a creative way to get their domain name while subtly signaling to their customers that they should drink their sodas.
Some other examples are tryshift.com, joinhoney.com, and getbootstrap.com.
3. Make it short
It goes without saying that short domain names are easier to remember. Think of iconic domains like google.com, netflix.com, or amazon.com. Short and sweet, right?
Your name should ideally be under 15 characters. Any longer than that and people might misremember your web address.
What if your brand name is too long? Use acronyms or just use a shortened version instead of writing out the full name. Some great examples include coffeebean.com for The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, nytimes.com for The New York Times, and www.nasa.gov for National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
4. Keep it simple
It’s also best to keep it simple.
Avoid names that are hard to spell or pronounce, as they are also confusing to type. For example, syzygy.com might be short, but it’s tricky to spell properly.
Avoid those with double letters, such as coffeeenvironment.com or glasssetup.com. This naming style is prone to typos, which will make it harder for people to find your real website.
Lastly, don’t add hyphens or numbers. They can just confuse (is it newyork-agency.com or new-york-agency.com? Is it geo143.com or geo134.com?).
Worse, they make you look suspicious. Imagine seeing a site called bestshoes123.com. Just seems shady, right? So, unless numbers are a huge part of your brand name, like 7-eleven.com or formula1.com, it’s best just to avoid them.
5. Add keywords strategically
Adding relevant keywords to your domain name can help boost your SEO since it signals to search engines what your business is about. Use keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMrush to identify high-impact keywords that fit naturally into your domain.
An example is chicagoplumbing.com. Just from the name, it’s clear that it offers plumbing service in Chicago which is a plus for SEO. It’s also easier for the site to appear for people searching for “Chicago plumbing” or “plumbing service in Chicago” since it has the related keywords.
However, naming the site as bestaffordablechicagoplumbing.com just makes it look spammy and fake.
Keywords are great, but stick to adding just one that is highly relevant. Make sure it still flows naturally to your name and doesn’t make it overly long, either.
6. Think long-term
You don’t know what’s going to happen in the future. Your business might grow, you might shift your product offering, or trends may simply change.
That’s why your domain should be timeless. Don’t lock yourself in with a name that is too narrow or limiting in scope or uses trendy slang that will feel outdated after five years.
Let’s say you run a wedding photography business. Using annasweddingphotos.com might be too limiting, because what if you later expand to pet portraits or commercial shoots? A broader name like annasphotography.com is a better fit. Best of all, it still retains an important keyword.
7. Do extensive research
Found a dream name? That’s great, but make sure to do customary checks first before committing.
First, check trademark availability. Make sure no one else uses or owns that name, lest you get into legal trouble.
Next, check the availability of the domain name itself. Go to domain registrar websites like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Hostinger and see if your chosen name is still available.
Next is to check your competitors. Are there any that use a similar name? If yes, it’s best to change yours. You don’t want to confuse your customers or get accused of plagiarizing your competitors.
Last is to check social media availability. You want consistent branding everywhere – including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Check if your domain name is still available on the platforms you will use, then adjust accordingly. You don’t want to be studiomarie.com on your website, only to be @MariesStudio on Facebook and @hellomarie on YouTube. It’s going to be too confusing!
8. Use tools
Can’t think of catchy and creative names?
Why not try using domain name generator tools? These tools just need your brand name or keywords and it will give you suitable names to choose from. Most of these also give the option to set the name length, style, as well as extension alternatives, so it’s easier to get names that are tailored to your needs and preferences.
Additionally, leverage SEO tools to analyze potential domain names for search visibility, competition, and ranking potential.
You can also use the power of AI through ChatGPT, Claude, or Google Gemini. Give them a short description of your business, and they should give you name suggestions. You can even revise the name through prompts such as “incorporate puns,” “use just one word,” or “make it more tech-focused.”
Conclusion
Your domain name is an important branding choice that has the power to make or break your company; it’s more than just a straightforward web address.
Consider your home address to be your domain name. It’s worth returning to if it’s simple to locate and remember. If you can strike a balance between creativity and pragmatism, you’ll give your company a solid platform on which to grow online.
