How to Pick an Effective Domain Name

Everyone wants a website but choosing an effective domain name that your customers or friends will easily remember is a more complicated task. To be effective, your domain name should reflect the essence of your website. In addition, it should be easy to recall.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Use the domain look-up tool at Whois.com (See Resources below for the link). It's helpful to have the site opened as you type in different name configurations, checking to see if your idea is already registered. Even better, Whois offers a number of alterations of your domain name choice if someone already owns one of your picks.

2. Try using two or three words. Unfortunately, if you want a one-word domain name, you probably won't get it unless you're willing to purchase it from the current owner at a steep prices. Domain name speculators buy up as many as possible and resell them at exorbitant prices. Instead of "builders.com" which is taken, add a relevant geographic word such as "MountainBuilders.com" or another term that defines your locale.

3. Identify your most popular service and use it in the domain name. If you work with masonry, try something like "BrickBuilders.com" or something similar. That way, your services will be reflected in your domain name, making it easier for your clients to remember.

4. Resist using slang or misspellings when selecting your domain name. While you might think it's clever, it unlikely that your clients will remember the amusing name when they try to pull up your site.

5. Use the short version of proper names. If your name is Arnold Schwarzenegger (it probably isn't), using just your first name, or a nick name, like ArnoldsBar.com or ArniesBar.com will make it easier to remember. Last names are notoriously hard to spell.

6. Make a new word out of a real word. This can be an effective way to pick a successful domain name but it takes some creativity and brainstorming. Think of a word that relates to your intended website and add totally new prefix or suffix to make it interesting. "Builder" can become BuildBob.com or Buildman.com. If it's easy to say and remember, it might be a good choice.

Tips & Warnings

• When you find a domain name on Whois that is not yet taken, don't buy it right away. Give yourself a few hours to contemplate it. Many a website owner quickly bought up the first available name only to think of something better the next day.

Resources

• Whois domain name lookup.

[missflorence]

on 8/15/2009 Thanks. This gives me some ideas I can work on.

[Lolabug26]

on 5/30/2009 Great Article!!! Thanks! I've been wanting to get more info about this!

[Lindah]

on 5/30/2009 This is a great article. I am trying to take my life coach business to the next level and wanting to get a website. this article has given me some great ideas and reasoning. Thanks!

[Upon-Request]

on 5/30/2009 Good advice for choosing an effective domain name.