How to choose a domain. Full guide.
Domain names are essential for your site's branding and credibility. They can even impact your search engine ranking. It should represent your business and be easy for users to remember.
Make it short and memorable
Short domain names are easier for people to remember, which increases the chances they'll visit your site again.
A brief name is also easier to share in conversation or on social media, making it easier to promote your brand. A catchy and memorable name helps build your brand identity and makes it stand out from competitors.
Avoid numbers
Using numbers in a brand name can create confusion, lead to typing errors, and reduce clarity. A name without numbers is typically easier to remember and search for, enhancing professionalism and increasing visibility.
For example, if your brand name is "FiveStar" and you use "5Star" as the domain, people might get confused whether to spell out "Five" or use the number "5." This can lead to mistakes when typing the web address, making it harder for users to find your site. A name like "FiveStar" without numbers is clearer, more professional, and easier to remember.
Avoid hyphens and double-letters
Don’t use hyphens or double letters in your domain. They’re easy to forget, harder to spell. Simple, clear names rank better in search engines.
For example, a domain like "best-deals.com" with a hyphen might cause users to forget the hyphen and end up on the wrong site.
Similarly, a domain like "coollook.com" with double letters might confuse users, as they could miss or add an extra "o." A simpler domain like "bestdeals.com" or "coolstyle.com" would be easier to remember, spell, and look more professional.
Include keywords
Don’t stuff your domain with keywords. Focus on building a strong brand, as search engines prioritize good content over keywords. A clear, unique name builds trust, allows for growth, and helps you stand out.
For example, a domain like "cheapshoesonlinebuy.com" is crammed with keywords and may seem spammy or untrustworthy. It also limits the business to selling shoes only. A better choice would be something like "FootwearHub.com," which is clean, brand-focused, and allows room for business expansion into other types of footwear or accessories. Plus, it stands out more from competitors.
Check domain rating and backlinks
If you're considering buying an expired domain, which has several advantages over a newly registered domain, it's essential to check its domain rating and backlinks.
You can use tools like Website Authority Checker for this. The higher the domain rating, the more authority the domain has. A strong domain rating can help your website rank better in search engines. Additionally, more backlinks indicate that other sites trust and reference the domain, which can improve its credibility and SEO performance.
Understanding these metrics is crucial because they can significantly affect your website's visibility and ranking. A domain with a high rating and many backlinks is more likely to drive traffic and improve your site's performance in search engine results.
You can learn more about domain rating and how it impacts SEO.
Check a domain history
Before buying an expired domain, you should check its history to make sure it doesn't have any penalties from Google. If the previous owner used the domain for black-hat SEO or spam, Google may have penalized it.
