Choosing a domain name for SEO is no easy feat, especially when considering just how important it is. After all, this is how you’ll be found and remembered by your clients. Not only this, but knowing how to choose an SEO-friendly domain name can also help boost your rankings. Unfortunately, finding a unique custom domain is a tricky task, with upwards of 360 million domain names being registered.
Even with extensive brainstorming sessions, selecting the perfect domain name can seem like an impossible task. In order to overcome this hurdle, there are a number of steps that can be taken.
When it comes to establishing an online presence, a domain name that represents your brand is essential. Your goal is to have customers find and trust your site with ease, and this can be achieved in several ways.
Use a .Com Extension
First things first, the most common domain extension is .com, which automatically places it as the most trustworthy. Aside from .com, .co.uk, .net, and .org are common domain extensions. While it’s not compulsory that any one of these extensions is used, they are the most trustworthy.
Some businesses opt for more quirky extensions to reflect their service or product; however, this can be perceived by users as untrustworthy or unprofessional. Therefore, it’s recommended to use .com if it’s available or use .co.uk, .net, or .org as an alternative if not.
Keep It Short and Simple
As a rule of thumb, the longer a domain name, the harder it is to remember. You want users to remember your domain name, as this will result in increased traffic. To that avail, it’s recommended that domain names are anywhere between six and 14 characters long.
That said, a short domain won’t do you any favours if it’s difficult to spell or pronounce. This will result in users typing in the domain incorrectly and may even mean they can’t locate your site.
Refrain From Using Double Letters, Numbers, and Hyphens
Businesses should keep things as intuitive as possible by steering away from the use of double letters, numbers, and hyphens. The use of these characters won’t instantly spring to mind for a user, making them a hurdle for navigation. Similarly, double letters can make domain names appear messy and difficult to read.
Overcomplicating your domain name makes it more subject to typos, inhibiting a user’s ability to find your site. It also becomes more challenging to share your domain via word-of-mouth if there are a number of special characters.
Remain on Brand, Specific, and Unique
Building an online presence means staying on brand. In addition to this, though, uniqueness and conciseness are also essential factors. As a result, finding a name that encompasses each of these aspects is certainly challenging.
It may be challenging; however, it is achievable. Just keep your unique selling point and business name at the forefront. When done successfully, this will allow you to obtain the attention of the audience you’re looking for.
Incorporate Keywords
It goes without saying that incorporating keywords into your domain name can look clunky when done incorrectly. Therefore, it’s important not to go overboard with this. If you’re opting for the use of a keyword, it should be short and sweet.
An example of a retailer that has successfully used a keyword for its domain name in place of the business name is B&Q, with a URL of https://www.diy.com/. This is short, simple, and tells the user exactly what they’ll find on the site. Customers on the hunt for DIY goods require straightforward clarity, and that’s what’s provided by B&Q’s domain name.
When done in such a way, honing into keywords allows you to reap SEO benefits from your brand and domain name. During the keyword research stages, you might prioritise terms with low to medium competition, as this will enable you to rank well as a new player in the game. Above all else, though, the keywords need to be relevant and reflective of your brand.
Research Extensively
In the creation of a domain name, thorough research needs to be conducted. It isn’t just about keyword research; it’s also about ensuring you’re not unknowingly using a trademarked domain. This can leave a business in a lot of trouble, meaning it should be avoided at all costs. For usability and legal matters alike, a completely unique domain name needs to be used.
Crafting Brand Identity via Your Domain Name
While your domain name may seem like a small piece in a much larger puzzle, it presents your business and what it stands for to users instantly. If your domain name itself is confusing or long, not only will it present navigational issues, but it might deter users from your site. Your domain name is a user’s first impression of your business, meaning it can be make or break in their decision to proceed onto the site.
In addition to being easy to understand, your domain name needs to reflect your brand in a professional manner. Similarly, the most well-researched domain names can play a role in a site’s SEO rankings. For this reason, the process of selecting a domain name should never be rushed.
Build and Market Your Site with i3MEDIA
As a digital marketing agency, we specialise in web development and online marketing alike. Whether you’re in the process of navigating how to choose the best domain name for SEO or your site is up and running and in need of some refining, we’re here to help.
Contact us to learn more about what we can do for your business.