How to Pick a Good Domain Name

byJamesStraka

409 followers

8 years ago

If you have decided to create your very own website then you have made a wise decision. These little online business platforms can help you express yourself, help others with information you can provide, and they can also make you a lot of money with time, hardwork and consistency.

So you know what your site is going to be about but you don't know what to call it. Here are some tips on how to pick a good domain name that will make people come back for more after you post your next piece of good quality content.

What is a Domain Name?

A domain, ULR, web address - they all mean the same thing. The name of your website that comes with a .com, .net or .org. For example the domain name this blog is on is WealthyAffiliate.com.

A domain is like a piece of online real estate. Once you buy it, it's yours for however long you decide to pay. Finding a good domain can be a tough task but this article should help you in your decision.

Two Ways to Pick a Domain

There has been some debate on which is better- Keyword in the domain or not? You can come up with a catchy title that people are going to remember or you can pick something that generates traffic. So which one is best?

I think that you will be better off coming up with a catchy title. Are you going to sooner remember CyberRetire.com or HowToPickAGoodDomain.com? If people want to come back to your site they might forget the exact phrase. I tried this in the beginning with one of my old sites ScaryShortStories.org. Even I couldn't remember which word came first - scary or short.

One thing to keep in mind is that as you write content for your website, the title of the website will be in an extension of the URL and Google will notice it. See the screenshot. The keyword here is "setting up a home budget" but the domain name is DebtHoudini.com. The bold words are Google's way of saying they see the keyword in the ULR extension.

What does Google Like?

From the proof in the screenshot above Google clearly does like having the keyword in the domain, whether it is the main URL or the extension. However you not only want to make Google happy but your readers as well. Creating a good user experience will be what brings people back to your site to see what else you have to say. Having a good domain that people will remember will help them follow that path.

How Do I Know What is Available?

Sites where you can purchase domains like NameCheap.com has a search feature that will tell you what is available to use. You can also use keyword tools like Jaaxy that can assist as well. It may take some time but don't rush it. This is the name you are going to stick with for years to come so you want to put some thought into it. Come up with some ideas and ask family and friends what they think. Chances are if they like the name then others will like the it too, which will lead to people remembering it if they choose to return.

I hope this article has helped you.

Thanks for reading.

James