Avoid using slang terms unless it’s part of your business name, in which case must be included. If your business name is available (more on that later) then this could be your domain name.

Avoid words that are easy to mistype

Long domain names are difficult to remember and can be easier to misspell

Remember key words relating to the nature of your business can make search results better. Think about what it is your customers come to you for and what criteria they may use to look for you.

If your business is dependent on location then this could be a consideration when choosing your domain name.

When customers enter your domain name they may be unsure of the location of a hyphen; and if using numbers are they entered numerically or spelled out?

There are so many websites out there that choosing a domain name that’s memorable can be tricky. If you are having difficulty in finding a memorable name that is available then try using a dome name generator to help you out. There are a number available that let you check availability at the same time.

Try:
Domain Wheel

Go Daddy

Once you have a name share it with family and friends, colleagues etc. to gather their thoughts and feedback.

When you choose a domain name, make sure the name you’ve selected isn’t trademarked, copyrighted or being used by another company. It could result in a legal mess that could cost you a fortune, as well as your domain!

How do you decide which extension to use?

Think about the following:

1. The purpose of your site.
   This is perhaps the most important thing to consider. When you’re working on starting a website, you’ll need to consider what your ultimate method of income will be when things are all up and running. If you’re running an online business, then a .com or .biz could be worthwhile.
2. Don’t forget the local TLDs.
   With search engines in mind if your business has a ‘local’ focus then you may want to consider targeting a specific geographical area. There are over 200 different country code TLDs, eg. .fr, .co.uk, .eu
3. Don’t forget about SEO.
   Search engine optimisation will be a major topic for you if your site is hoping to rank well. Despite some information that will tell you a .com domain has the best chance of ranking, this is only the case because it’s the most popular extension.

To protect your brand, consider purchasing various domain extensions, as well as misspelled versions of your domain name. This prevents competitors from registering other versions and ensures your customers are directed to your website, even if they mistype it.

Domain names sell quickly. Many domain names are also inexpensive, so register your favourite domain names as soon as possible. They don’t have to be used straight away but will be protected once purchased. Once you site is up and running you simply add redirects from each owned domain to your main domain.