How to Pick an Effective Domain Name
Everyone wants a website but choosing an effective domain name that your customers or friends can easily remember is a complicated task. To be effective, your domain name should reflect the essence of your website. In addition, it should be easy to recall.
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Instructions
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Use the domain look-up tool at the Whois website. Keep the site open as you type in different name configurations to see if your idea is already registered. Whois offers a number of variations on your domain name choice if someone already owns one of your picks.
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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 price. Domain name speculators buy up as many names 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.
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Identify your most popular service and use it in the domain name. If you work with masonry, try BrickBuilders.com or something similar. That way, your services are reflected in your domain name, which makes it easier for your clients to remember.
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Resist using slang or misspellings when selecting your domain name. While you might think it is clever, your clients won't remember the amusing name when they try to pull up your site.
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Use the short version of proper names. If your name is a long one, use just your first name or a nickname, like ArnoldsBar.com or ArniesBar.com to make it easy to remember. Last names are notoriously hard to spell.
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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 a new prefix or suffix to make it interesting. "Builder" can become BuilderBob.com or Buildman.com. If it's easy to say and remember, it's a good choice.
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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 has bought up the first available name, only to think of something better the next day.
