The domain name you select is a key component of your online presence. The domain name you choose can either make or break your blog.
Why is a domain name so important?
These are just the major reasons whyselecting the right domain name is important.
1. It defines your brand online – your domain name is a major branding opportunity for your blog. Choose the right domain name and you can increase brand recognition.
2. Your domain name influences SEO: even though the exact match domain is not as relevant as it once was, using keywords in your domain name can help your website rank better in SERPs.
3. It is your blog’s first impression: your domain name is the first thing web users see. Choose the right domain name and it will leave a positive lasting impression – a bad one that can send across the wrong message.
How to choose the right domain name
There isn’t an exact formula for choosing the right domain name but there are certain tips and tricks that you can apply, to ensure you choose the perfect domain name for your blog. Experts at domain4less give their advice below.
.com is best
There are a lot of new domain name extensions today apart from the original .net,.org, .com TLDs. It is now possible to register your domain name using niche extensions like “.blog”, “. photography”, “. yoga”, “. coffee” and so on. However, we recommend you go with .com domain name when possible.
Even if you might be it may seem appealing to you use a clever blog name using the newer TLDs, .com is still the most credible and established domain name extension. In addition, new TLDs like “. photography” or “.yoga” might be viewed as untrustworthy by web users.
.com domain names are the most memorable. Web users, especially those who are not in the tech space, will automatically type in “.com” at the end of domain names without really thinking about it. So, you could lose out on a lot of traffic with an alternative TLD. For example, If your website is “Jane. photography” and web users accidentally type in “janephotography.com”, they would either be greeted with an error page or end up on a different photography website. To avoid the risk of this occurring, it’s best to stick with .com. The credibility of the “.com” domain name extension is so established that some smartphone keywords come with a.com button.
Make use of keywords in your domainname
Exact match domains are no longer a thing but they still play some role in the SEO. When you use keywords in your domain, it readily tells search engines what your website is about. When you combine a domain name that includes a keyword with the right SEO strategy and quality content, the possibility of your website ranking high in Google’s SERPs is tremendously increased.
We understand finding a good domain name with target keywords readily available for purchase is pretty hard – you can solve this by getting creative and combining your keyword with other words – adjectives, verbs prefixes and so on.
Short is better
When it comes to the length of a domainname, short is better
A research conducted by datagenetics.com, a blog by Nick Berry, the most popular(in this instance, popularity is the amount of web traffic the website gets) domain names have a length of about 12 characters. What this data demonstrates is the importance of keeping your domain name concise.
Strive to keep your domain name length between 6 to 14 characters and remember – the shorter, the better. Chances are you might have to get creative with your brainstorming session in order to make this work.
Make it easy to type
When you consider some of the most popular websites available today-CNN, Google, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Google, they all have one thing in common-they are easy to spell!
The golden rule of selecting the rightdomain is making sure that web users can type in your domain name withoutissues. If you have to explain how to spell your name more than once before itis understood, then it is too complicated. The last thing your brand needs ispotential visitors mistyping a domain name and ending up on a differentwebsite, this is a surefire way to lose out on traffic.
You can test how easy to type your domain name by asking family and friends to help. Tell them your potential domain name and ask them to spell it. If the majority of the individuals in your test group misspelling your domain, then it needs to be simplified.
It should be easy to pronounce
The domain name you select needs to roll off the tongue easily. This would make it easier for web users to share your domain by word-of-mouth, which goes a long way towards increasing traffic to your blog. Using the same model of the type test, find out how easy to pronounce your domain name is by writing it down on a piece of people then ask 10 individuals to pronounce it. If people struggle to pronounce it, it needs to be simplified.
Here’s the thing, your domain name needs to be kept simple, so it can be readily passed on by web your blog visitors. The only way this will happen is, if it is easy to pronounce (and spell).
Hyphens in domain names are bestavoided
In our experience, it is best not to use hyphens in your domain name. Hyphens are a tell-tale signs of spammy websites, which is not something you would want your blog to be mistaken for. In addition, hyphenated names are more susceptible to typos.
If your domain name includes a hyphen because your preferred option was not available – chances are, users trying to visit your site might end up on a competitor’s site if they forget to include the hyphen. You wouldn’t want that, would you? Read here how to choose the best Domain Name (14 Tips and Tools)