So your business is up and running, your website has been designed, and the time has come to choose a domain name for your site. Some people consider this step a non-issue, and give very little thought to it, choosing the first thing that pops into their head. Don't fall into this trap; choosing a good domain name for your website is very important, and could mean the difference between success and failure of your site. Luckily, there are some fairly simple guidelines that can help you choose a powerful, effective domain name.
K.I.S.S.
As in, Keep it Simple Sweet. A long, clumsy domain name is a recipe for disaster. Website optimization experts agree that in a perfect world, all domain names would be around 10 characters long. In reality though, that's not always possible, but without a doubt 20 characters should be the absolute limit for a domain name.
Make it Memorable
The best domain names are ones that people can easily remember. Say your business is called "Cathy's Cookies". Don't choose a complex name like "thebakingqueen"ü or "bestcookiesever". People won't remember those obscure phrases and are likely to give up trying if they can't easily find your site.
Also, besides being memorable, your domain name should somehow be related to what your website is about. That way, when people see your domain name they have a good idea what kind of site they will be visiting.
So, using the Cathy's Cookies example, a good domain name might be, simply, cathyscookies, or cathscookies, to shorten it.
Extensions are Important Too
When deciding which extension to use on your website, ".com" is usually the first choice. Most people automatically assume the ".com"üextension, and using another one could lead people to miss your website. However, when the ".com" extension is not an option, ".net" is a good second best.
Other extensions such as ".org" and ".info" are usually used for specific types of business and may be confusing if you use them out of context.
So don't choose an obscure extension because you think it sounds catchy or different. In this case, go with the familiar and you won't regret it.
No Fancy Spellings
It may seem obvious, but some websites have domain names with notoriously misspelled words, which could equate to lost traffic and, in the case of a business, lost customers. Stick to the right spelling so it is easiest for people to remember it.
Lose the Symbols
Finally, when choosing a domain name, it's a good idea to stick to letters only, and avoid using numbers or symbols if at all possible. Symbols such as hyphens and dashes are awkward and difficult to remember, and could ruin an otherwise great domain name by causing people to not be able to find your website.
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