Choosing a Domain Name That Works for Your Website

When you're ready to get your website up and running one of the first decisions you need to make is what will you choose for your domain name.

Your domain, or url, is an important part of your online presence. You tell people to visit your website by giving them your url. You print your url name on your letterhead and business cards. It's part of your business identity.

There are 4 main factors that you should consider when choosing a domain name.

1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
2. Branding
3. Dashes
4. Top Level Domain

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search engine optimization (SEO) is all about getting traffic from the search engines, such as Google, and Yahoo/Bing. Google accounts for approximately 66% of the search engine traffic so it's best to focus on them.

Your url is part of your SEO strategy. If you have relevant keywords in your url, it can give you a boost in the search engine results when people type in keywords related to your website.

For example, if I had a site about china travel tips and the url for that website was chinatraveltips.com, I could get an extra boost from Google when someone types in that keyword phrase.

In fact, if you have an exact match domain name, most people agree that you get an even higher boost for that keyword phrase. For example, if your website was keywordphrase.com that would be an exact match domain name and you would get a boost in the search engine rankings when someone types that exact phrase in.

However, Google is turning down the impact that having a keyword related domain name has on search engine results. How much they're turning it down, we don't know yet. But, it's pretty clear that it won't have the same effect that it used to have.

Branding

Branding is just using a unique word, phrase or design to distinguish your products, service or company.

All of the major corporations are well-known brand names - Apple, Nike, Sony.

A unique name can help you stand out from the competition and the same goes for domain names. Do you think that Nike would've had the same success if they just went with tennisshoes.com? Obviously, that's a little different since they didn't start as an internet company, but the principle is the same.

If you're creating a business online and you want to stand out from the competition, you should consider a unique url. If you use a brand name as your url, you can stand out in your market and people will remember your name over all the other domain names made up of keyword phrases.

If you're creating small niche websites that target specific keywords, you might want to avoid brand names and try to get keyword rich domain names. However, with the changes in Google's position, the benefit from keyword domains most likely won't have the same impact as they did before.

Dashes

A lot of people wonder if they should include dashes in their url. Part of that decision is personal preference and part is based on objective factors.

I'm not a big fan of dashes in domains. If we're talking about how to choose a url, you have to consider the real world too.

Domain names with dashes can be hard to remember, especially if you communicate the domain to someone in person. If they forget, then you're going to be sending traffic to the non-dash version of your site.

For example, if your website is keyword-phrase.com and you tell your friend to visit your website at keyword dash phrase dot com and they forget the dash, you are now sending people to what I can only assume is your competition - keywordphrase.com - otherwise you would've just purchased the domain without the dash.

I imagine a url with a dash would run into those types of problems frequently.

From an SEO perspective, Google and the other search engines can identify keywords without a dash, so it's not necessary to include a dash in your url.

In fact, if you look at the search results for any given query, you won't see a lot of website names with dashes ranking in the top results. That could be because there aren't nearly as many domains with dashes as there are without, or it could be that Google doesn't rank them as well.

Unless, there was a really compelling reason to get a name with a dash, I would stick to one without.

Top Level Domain

The Top Level Domain (TLD) is the end of your url - .com, .net, .org.

The most common TLD, and the one most people default to is.com. In other words, if you tell someone your website is website.info and they try to visit your site later, but can't remember exactly what it was, they'll probably go to website.com before anything else.

Based on experiments that I've seen other people perform, .com, .net and .org are the best 3 TLD's to have, from an SEO perspective. That doesn't mean you can't rank well if you have a.info TLD, but it's gonna be a little harder.

You can also go to Google and run a search for anything you want. Take a look at how many of the results on the first page are.com compared to any other TLD. Again, it could be because there are more .com's than anything else, but the fact still remains that .com's are the most common and most popular TLD.

How to Choose a Domain Name

There are different factors that come into play when trying to choose a good domain name. If you're an affiliate marketer and you want the most SEO benefit possible, then you should probably look at getting a url with keywords in it.

If you're a real world business that wants a strong online presence, then you should consider branding. Either way you go, it's just one piece of the puzzle to consider.

Choosing a domain name is only one part of building a successful online business. If you want to learn internet marketing, and how internet marketing can help you grow your business, get website traffic and generate revenue, check out Superbad Internet Marketing for more free info.

Web Success Series Number 2 - Choosing Your Domain Name

A good hosting provider recognizes that our success depends on your success so, as part of their core corporate culture, they provide all the tools you need to build, launch and manage a successful web-based business - including the information you need to do it RIGHT!

So welcome to the second in a series of "how-to" articles on topics related to web success. Well keep it simple, eliminate the techno-babble and provide, not only the tools, but the know-how to achieve web success.

Your success is our success.

#1 Choosing A Domain Name

Your domain name is your on-line address. Your full address will be http//www.your domainnamehere.com or.org or.edu or some other extension.

You choose your domain name. In many cases, it'll be the first business decision you'll make so weigh the choice of domain name carefully. A good domain works for you. A bad one can doom your on-line venture the day you register it.

Some dos and don'ts about selection.

1. First, it costs a few bucks to register a domain name.

Your domain and information about ownership of that domain will be dutifully registered. Your ownership information will appear in a directory called Whois, an index of domain names that is public information. Anybody can find out who or what business entity owns a given domain.

Consider this when you enter personal information while filling out your registration. You may want to use a PO box instead of your street address or register the name in your company name rather than your personal name.

In any case, it costs a few bucks to register a domain name and the name has to be re-reregistered annually.

Some web hosts register your name free for the first year and send reminders that your domain is up for re-registration so pay the fee. Either way, (1) the few bucks it costs to register a domain makes the web available to any one with a couple of dollars and (2) don't forget to re-register your domain name each year. It's possible (easy) for domain hounds to snag a domain that has expired and take over your client base simply because you forgot to re-register. So, re-register.

2. All the good domain names have been taken.

If you mean names like lawyers.com, cars.com and firstaidsupplies.com, yes, someone owns the rights to those domains - domains that was probably registered 15 years ago before most businesses even knew what a domain was.

A lot of site owners have turned to made up words for domains. Examples? ning.com, zoho.com and yuuguu.com. They're catchy, though, and that makes them easy to remember.

If you're opening an on-line business (that's why you're reading this) use your imagination. Your name should be keyword dense, even if it's long. Your name should tell people and search engine bots something about your websites so if "amazing chocolate delights.com" is taken try "really amazing chocolate delights.com" or "incrediblechocolatedelights.com." Keep trying until you find a domain name that says something about your business.

If you're service provider - a local insurance agency or certified financial planner, choosing a name is simpler. Use your name and title: "DrJamesMillerMD.com," "PeterHughsCFA.com" and so on. This is how people in your service will know you - Dr. James Miller or Peter Hughs. These are good, solid domain names - especially for businesses and individuals seeking local business using localized search.

3. Skip the punctuation.

You're determined to have "amazingchocoloatedelights.com" as your domain name but it's taken. So, clever you, try "amazing-chocolate-delights.com" with hyphens in between each word in the domain name. Don't do it.

Search engine users often forget these punctuation symbols and you end up sending visitors to amazingchocolcatedelights.com (without the hyphens) and losing a sale. Instead, come up with a domain name that's easy to remember and doesn't use any punctuation.

4. Choose the right extension.

You can be a.com, where com stands for company or commercial (depending on who you listen to). You can be a.org - usually indicating a not-for-profit or an advocacy group, though more and more professional service providers are using the.org extension.

If you teach something, or sell materials to institutes of higher learning, go with a .edu extension - indicating an education or educational site. This is especially important for sites that provide continuing education units (CEUs) for professionals that require on-going education and training.

For example, private detectives in some states must accumulate a certain number of CEUs each year to keep their licenses active. So, a web site that offers on-line courses (CEUs) for private detectives would be better off with an edu extension to clarify exactly what the site is about - education, as in "privatedetectiveeducation.edu." Now that's a domain name that's keyword rich.

5. Consider registering similar domain names.

If you come up with a really good domain name, some people may try to piggyback on your cool domain name by registering similar domain names. You can protect yourself from this type of activity by registering similar sounding domain names and simply parking them on your server. No charge.

6. Don't be cute.

Amazon.com is a well recognized name. Interesting that the name says nothing about what Amazon is or does but it sure is easy to remember.

Check it out. Domain goofs register misspelled variations of Amazon to collect visitors who weren't... ummm... paying attention. So they register Amozon, Amozan and variations hoping to get search engine users who enter misspelled domain names.

You're wasting your time and your money. Visitors will bounce once they realize they aren't on Amazon and you don't build a whole lot of trust and good will by taking advantage of the mistakes of search engine users.

7. Take your time.

Your domain name is that important.

If you need some help, call your web host for some advice. Any good web host, like Green Host It will help you through the registration process. In fact, we might even recommend the name you ultimately choose.

Think before you choose because once you choose your name, you'll live with it for a long time. You'll build your business around it. It'll appear on business cards, invoices, TV ads - anything and everything to do with that business.

So don't rush because you THINK you have a good idea. Bounce your choice off of friends and family. Do they "get it?" Do they understand why you chose it? If so, it's probably a good choice for a domain name. If they don't, keep working on it.

Before you do anything - before you develop a business model, a revenue model, a purpose of the site, before you establish your company's core values and develop a tag line for the company, think long and hard about the best name for your new W3 enterprise.

Choosing the right name can mean the difference between world wide web success and another web failure.

What's your choice in green web hosting?

Ms. Rosendahl has over 19 years experience in systems analysis, hosted applications, and management as well as 13 years experience in web hosting and Internet marketing. Ms. Rosendahl has a Bachelors from Houston Baptist University with a double major in Computer Information Systems and Business Management. Stephanie is the founder and CEO of Austin, Texas firm - GreenHostIt.com green web hosting.

Important Factors When Choosing a Domain Name

Choosing the best possible domain name for your online business is essential to succession in the online world. There are many factors you should take into consideration when trying to get the best possible domain. Your domain name will be how your customers/visitors know, and remember, your website. The most important factors to getting the best domain name for your online business are listed in order of importance:

Pronounceable & Easy To Remember
There is nothing worse that when you are trying to find a website you have recently visited, and you can not even remember the domain name of the website. The single and most important factor to take into consideration when selecting your domain is to make sure it is pronounceable so it is easier to remember. If your domain name is easy to remember, and can be spoken with ease, then it is much more likely that your visitors will return to your website. When trying to think of possible domains, it's a good idea to say your suggestion over and over to yourself several times to see if it sounds good, and if it would be easy to remember.

Brandable
Although having a domain name which is made up of dictionary word is good, it's not always the best domain for a brand. For example, a name like 'Toys.com' may be an amazing domain, however it would be extremely difficult to brand the name 'toys'. A good brandable domain name is made up from possibly 'twisted' dictionary words, or even completely made up words. As long as the 'made up' word sounds good, and agrees with the point I have made above, then it could possibly be a really good domain name. Look at Google.com, Yahoo.com, and Bing.com for an example; none of those are words. However nearly everyone on this earth recognizes and remembers these names. Selecting a domain which is easily brandable is essential in most cases.

Domain Extension
The domain name extension is another very important factor to take into consideration when picking the best domain for your online business. When selecting a domain name, it's never a good idea to select a domain extension simply because the other (better) extensions were already taken. Dot com domain is the best possible extension available at this period of time however dot net, and dot org domains are not too far behind dot come. The only reason you should choose another domain extension for your online business is if it makes sense for your business, is your targeted audiences country extension (eg,.co.uk,.us) or some other reason. For example del.icio.us uses the dot us extension not because it's the only domain that was available, or not even because it's targeted audience is in the US, it uses that domain extension because it makes sense for the business name. The dot us finishes the word 'Delicious'. This is possibly not the most important factor to take into consideration, however it's most certainly one to have a serious think about when trying to get the best domain name for your business.

Keywords in Domain Name
Having targeted and related keywords in your domain is a good idea not only for your customers/visitors benefit, but also for your websites SEO benefits. When keywords are in your websites domain name, your visitors will know straight away what your website is briefly about, and what to expect from it. You may think this disagrees with one of the earlier points I've made about your domain being brandable, however it is still possible to create a brandable name and include keywords at the same time. Furthermore, having keywords within your domain helps search engines distinguish your domain main target niche from another and ultimately giving your domain a better chance at competing for the keyword against other websites.

Easy To Spell
This may not seem like a major factor, however you would be surprised at how many visitors a website can lose simply because a person cannot spell the domain name. You have to take into consideration that most of the time if someone fails to get to your website after misspelling your domain several times, they will simply forget about your website, and continue doing something else. Try not to include long, and easily prone to spelling mistakes words within your domain. Not all users take advantage of the 'Did you mean...' feature that search engines offer unfortunately.

You must always remember that your domain is your impression to your visitors or customers. Never underestimate your websites domain name, or think that it wont matter towards this future of your website.

If you want to learn more about domain names and website development, then please go to my website, http://bbgnetwork.net/. This article is only one of my collection of useful, and informative content!

The Science of Choosing a Domain Name

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Choosing the Right Domain Name - Make The Right Choice

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Choosing a Good Domain Name for Your Website

What is a domain name?

The domain name is the name for your website. It is the Internet equivalent of your mail or postal address.

Choosing a good domain name is one of the first items on the agenda when setting up your new website. Take great care with it. You cannot change it at any time in the future without a completely fresh start.

It should be easy to remember and it should include your main targeted keywords.

Search engine optimisation (SEO) or other types of website promotion.

You must decide at an early stage if the main thrust for promotion will be with SEO or another type of marketing.

If you hope to attract new clients to your website by being found on the search engines such as Google, the domain name should concentrate on the keywords that indicate the products or services you offer: Your name or brand name will be meaningless to people who have never heard of you. If you plan to promote your website mainly by advertising or networking there would be merit in having your brand name included.

There is a balance to be struck between the inclusion of your targeted keywords and ease of recall.

The question of including locality should be carefully considered. Targeting a large metropolis will make it difficult to achieve top positioning on the search engine results pages (SERPs). 'london-italian-restaurant' may seem attractive but the competition is high (HomePage PageRank keyword difficulty - HPR-KD 5.6) and top positioning on the SERPs is unlikely. Competition will also depend on the nature of the service or products at you are targeting. The competition for a dietician's website is likely to be less than for an Italian restaurant and a town with 200,000 people may be in range for top positioning whereas a small borough might be more appropriate for the Italian restaurant.

Three words, perhaps including your locality, are a reasonable maximum and aim for no more than 20 characters. The maximum permitted number of characters is 63. Letters, numbers and hyphens are permitted.

There is debate as to whether there should be hyphens between the words - 'london-tour-guides' or 'londontourguides'. In favour of the former is that it is easier for the search engines to index the keywords whereas in favour of the latter is that it is easier for clients to remember. The search engines provide no guidance and this is not an area that lends itself to research.

Domain Extensions.

The extension indicates the country of origin of the site, the nature of the site or both. Although '.com' suggests a commercial site it has become the most popular and often the first choice for many sites even if they are not commercial. Examples of other domain extensions indicating function are '.org' - non-commercial organisation '.gov' - government websites and '.edu' educational websites.

Every country has its own extension. Examples include '.co.uk' - for the UK, '.de' for Germany and '.jp' for Japan. Most extensions are available to all websites. Some extensions, however, are reserved for specific organisations. Examples are '.nhs.uk' and '.ac.uk'.

Two websites cannot have identical domain names. They can have similar names but with different extensions such as 'mywebsite.com' and 'mywebsite.org'.

Domain name registration.

When you register the domain, you are inserting an entry into the global directory of all the websites on the Internet.

At the time of registration, there is an option to show or hide your details. It is better to show them or potential clients might have concerns that you have something to hide. Make sure your information is kept up to date or you could lose control of your domain.

There is an annual fee for domain name retention. If you fall behind with the payment, the cost of renewal increases significantly. You should renew your registration with the 'registrar' company you used first time round. There are some seemingly official looking companies who may contact you early offering to renew the registration for you at a discounted rate. It is worth double checking their fees as they are usually the more expensive option.

Buying an old domain name.

You may find that the domain name you would like is owned by someone else. It may be in use currently on the web or possibly registered but not in use. Some companies have a facility to negotiate purchase of owned domain names on your behalf. For example, if you want a new website for a travel agency to South America - Amazon.com might be desirable, although this one might prove to be rather expensive.

There are some agencies that actively market currently unused domains. There is an incorrect belief that the age of a domain name has a major influence on positioning on SERPs. Whilst it is true that there is a tendency for older domains to have higher positioning there are confounding factors relating to backlinks. A new website has no links and a HomePage PageRank (HPR) of 0. If a website has good content, it will accumulate links and the HPR will increase. The HPR is the top factor in the Google algorithm. Older domains only rise up the SERPS when they have accumulated links. An old domain with no links will fare no better than a new website.

For those considering purchasing a 'pre-owned' domain name I have the following concerns.

1. The search engines will become aware of the change in ownership. They may discard links from their index made before that change. I know of website owners who purchased a domain name with an HPR4 only to find that within a few months it had fallen to 0.

2. It is possible that the previous owner indulged in unethical practice. You may inherit the repercussions.

New domain names

It is worth spending time researching your options and inventing a new name that will fulfil most of your ambitions. There are often gems to be found. A few months ago, I came across a new available '.com' that was too tempting for me to resist - '1onGoogle'. However, with an HPR-KD of 6.4 for '1 on Google', I know that my website will not hit the top SERP for such a competitive keyword even with the keyword in the domain name.

The main advantage of having your keyword in the domain name is that there is a reasonable chance that your keywords, such as 'health', '1onGoogle' or 'web design' will be included in the anchor text of links to your website. This has positive SEO implications.

It must be said that inclusion of keywords in domain names for SEO purposes has never been a major ranking factor. According to Matt Cutts, who regularly speaks on behalf of Google, its value has been further diminished in 2011. It can be argued that websites such as Google, Amazon and Facebook have done well with brand names as their domain names. These, however, are the exceptions to the rule that most of us must work with.

Finally, choose a domain name that you will feel comfortable with and that you will enjoy. It is like choosing the name for your baby. Let us hope that your website will be successful and you will be happy with your choice.

David Viniker MD FRCOG has 30 years experience with computer applications for medical education and he has applied the principles of evidence based practice to SEO: He is a doctor trained to practice evidence based medicine. David has published compelling and easily verifiable evidence that HomePage PageRank is the top factor in the Google positioning algorithm and that Google provides a boosting adjustment to HomePages that are competing for a keyword. He has developed a new, essential keyword tool - http://www.keywordseopro.com/ which calculates keyword difficulty based on HomePage PageRank. Visit his website for further details.

His website http://www.firstwebsitedesign.com/ provides valuable information for beginners and intermediates in website design and search engine optimization.