The first thing that comes to my mind when setting up a blog is getting a good domain name. This article describes why I think it is essential to choose a good domain name upfront. I have also explained how you can pick a good domain name for your blog or website, followed by some domains name picking tips and general outlines (“dos” and “don’t s”).
Why pick a good domain name for your blog
Apart from many other reasons, you want to pick a good domain name for your blog/site from the start because, most likely, you will be stuck with that domain name for the rest of the blog’s life. Depending on how reliable your current domain hosting provider is, you may change the domain hosting provider from time to time, but the domain name will remain the same.
The reason I say that you will be stuck with that name is mainly that changing the domain name is kind of like starting all over again from the start, and you don’t want to do that once your site is established and getting regular traffic and you have built up a brand. You will start with ‘0’ Google Page rank and work your way up again if you change the domain name in the middle. The Alexa rank and other ranking metrics will drop, too, because all these rankings are associated with the domain name. So the bottom line is that you want to pick a good domain name that you can live with from the start. Now, the question is how?
How to pick a good domain name for your blog
I don’t think that there are any complex rules as to how a domain name should be picked, so use the following points as a guideline for choosing your domain name:
Use Keywords:
Use keywords in the domain name that describe your site (if it makes sense). The domain names should suggest the nature of your product or service. A good domain name tells exactly what the site is about. A visitor needs to know what the website is about just by looking at the domain name. For example, if your site is about antiques and collectibles, then try to get a domain name like or not.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/blogging--woman-reading-blog-887987150-5afa2f65ba61770036427de0.jpg "Good Domain Name Picking Tips for Your Blog Setup 1")
Easy to remember:
A domain name should be easy to remember because your visitors will want to type in the domain name in the web browser for revisits, and if they can’t remember the domain name, you risk losing potential traffic. It is also easier to spread word of mouth when the domain name is easy to remember.
Keep the domain name short:
A domain name should be short, with less than 10 characters. It also helps the. “Easy to remember” point when the term is short. Although, these days, it’s tough to get short domain names. Basically, you don’t want to end up with a super long domain name. When the character gets too long, it gets confusing, and the name can be easily mistyped in the browser.
Read More Articles :
- Picking the Best Foundation for Your Skin Tone
- Sheriff’s Raid to Find Blogger Who Criticized Him Was Unconstitutional, Court Rules
- 6 Tips to Choose the Best Theme for Your WordPress Blog
- 8 Tips to Help You Find Your Personal Style
- 10 Tips for Buying Small-Business Computers
Use hyphens if needed: Use a hyphen (-) in between the words if needed for your domain name. It is taken, then you can try. Using hyphen(s) in between the terms sometimes helps to improve readability, and it can also help in the Search engine rankings.
Make it easy to type:
Try to get a domain name that is easy to type (if you can). Easy-to-order domain names are suitable for branding.
Think Local:
If your business is local, consider adding your region, city, or state in the domain name (example: VegasAccounting). Only do it if it makes sense, though.
Domain name extension:
Try to get the Top Level Domain (TLD) extension as it is the most popular. It is also the most widely accepted domain name extension. When people think about a website, their mind automatically pictures the address. You can also use the “net” and “org” extensions if you cannot find a “com” extension. Should You Use YourName.com or your business name? If the main commodity of your business is YOU, then use yourname.com as your domain name. This works out good if you are an author, speaker, coach, etc. If your business is based around a product or a service, then use or you.
Some General things to be aware of
Legal conflicts:
Spend a bit of time searching around to ensure you are not choosing a domain name similar to an already established rival. You don’t want to spend time building your blog only to find out that someone else has a similar website and wants to sue you.
Avoid Copyright Issues:
Make sure the name you are going to use is not copyrighted.
Be aware of the scammers:
There are many scammers around, so try to make sure you buy your domain name from a registrar in the ICANN’s (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) accredited registrar’s list. Go Daddy offers cheap domain name registration. Try not to by hosting from them, though read the following article before you signup for a hosting account. The name also offers cheap domain name registration.
Getting a cheap and reliable web hosting solution
As I have mentioned earlier that these rules are not set in stone. Don’t be afraid to add your own flavor. Use common knowledge and be sensible. Try your best and get creative. What is your best tip in choosing a good domain name? Feel free to leave your suggestions or comments below.
