Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Choosing a Domain Name
Domain names provide the identity of a website. Choosing a domain name for your site can be difficult. You will want to choose something memorable, something that reflects your products and services, and something that is SEO friendly.
Because there have been millions of people who set to the task of choosing a url before you did, finding SEO friendly domain names that haven't already been taken can be a bit tricky. This is why it is a good idea to work on naming your website and choosing a domain name at the same time.
Here are a few other things to consider when choosing a URL (domain name) for your website:
* Put your branding in your domain name.
One of the reasons that choosing a domain name is so difficult is the idea of branding. Your website name and your domain name are your brand, and they should be one in the same. Branding can be tricky because you are, in essence, establishing your website identity. You need a name that reflects what you will be promoting. For example, an informational website about debt will be best served with domain names that somehow mention debt.
Real life examples of domains that were chosen to reflect branding are Amazon.com and Bookfinder.com.
* Consider the length of your domain name.
If you have already started researching domain names, then you have probably already heard several arguments about the benefits of choosing a short domain name vs. a long domain name. Both arguments have their points. A long domain name is generally more SEO friendly and can better describe your products. A short domain name, on the other hand is easier to remember and easier to type into a browser.
When choosing a domain name, you can use up to 67 characters. This means that you don't have to settle for short, obscure, or abbreviated domain names. At the same time, it is unwise to use anything close to 67 characters. It simply leaves too much room for error when someone is typing in the URL. A ridiculously long domain name will also make it difficult for people to share your website through word of mouth.
* Using hyphens in domain names.
Sometimes, when Webmasters can't get the domain names they want, they simply add hyphens. For example, if discountbooks.com was taken, one could simply add a hyphen and buy the domain name discount-books.com. There are advantages and disadvantages to choosing a url with a hyphen. The advantage is that search engines can better distinguish your keywords, making your website a little more SEO friendly. The disadvantage is that it is very easy to forget a hyphen when typing and you run the risk of sending your site’s visitors to your competitor.
You should also consider if you are getting yourself into a hornet's nest situation with trademarked business names, so be careful.
* Top level domains.
When choosing a domain name, you also have to decide what you want your top level domain (your domain name extension) to be. While almost everyone wants to be a .com, that option may not be available to you. The good news is that there is nothing necessarily wrong with choosing other domain names that end in .net, .org, .us, or even .biz.
Submitting Content to About Home Business
Have an idea, tip or story you would like to share here? Your content is welcome. Click for instructions for submitting content to About Home Business.
You can paste text content into the text box area provided on that page. If you are submitting an attachment, use the email link on that page and be sure to copy and paste the disclaimer text contained on the page into the body of your email message. Attachments or inline articles sent via email without the disclaimer text cannot be considered. If you are submitting a PDF version of your article you should convert the content to text first and then paste it into the text box instead of sending the content only in its PDF format.
While I won't promise I'll publish all of the content I receive, I'll certainly consider it. If your content is chosen for publication I'll let you know when you can expect to see it on About Home Business.
Domain names provide the identity of a website. Choosing a domain name for your site can be difficult. You will want to choose something memorable, something that reflects your products and services, and something that is SEO friendly.
Because there have been millions of people who set to the task of choosing a url before you did, finding SEO friendly domain names that haven't already been taken can be a bit tricky. This is why it is a good idea to work on naming your website and choosing a domain name at the same time.
Here are a few other things to consider when choosing a URL (domain name) for your website:
* Put your branding in your domain name.
One of the reasons that choosing a domain name is so difficult is the idea of branding. Your website name and your domain name are your brand, and they should be one in the same. Branding can be tricky because you are, in essence, establishing your website identity. You need a name that reflects what you will be promoting. For example, an informational website about debt will be best served with domain names that somehow mention debt.
Real life examples of domains that were chosen to reflect branding are Amazon.com and Bookfinder.com.
* Consider the length of your domain name.
If you have already started researching domain names, then you have probably already heard several arguments about the benefits of choosing a short domain name vs. a long domain name. Both arguments have their points. A long domain name is generally more SEO friendly and can better describe your products. A short domain name, on the other hand is easier to remember and easier to type into a browser.
When choosing a domain name, you can use up to 67 characters. This means that you don't have to settle for short, obscure, or abbreviated domain names. At the same time, it is unwise to use anything close to 67 characters. It simply leaves too much room for error when someone is typing in the URL. A ridiculously long domain name will also make it difficult for people to share your website through word of mouth.
* Using hyphens in domain names.
Sometimes, when Webmasters can't get the domain names they want, they simply add hyphens. For example, if discountbooks.com was taken, one could simply add a hyphen and buy the domain name discount-books.com. There are advantages and disadvantages to choosing a url with a hyphen. The advantage is that search engines can better distinguish your keywords, making your website a little more SEO friendly. The disadvantage is that it is very easy to forget a hyphen when typing and you run the risk of sending your site’s visitors to your competitor.
You should also consider if you are getting yourself into a hornet's nest situation with trademarked business names, so be careful.
* Top level domains.
When choosing a domain name, you also have to decide what you want your top level domain (your domain name extension) to be. While almost everyone wants to be a .com, that option may not be available to you. The good news is that there is nothing necessarily wrong with choosing other domain names that end in .net, .org, .us, or even .biz.
Submitting Content to About Home Business
Have an idea, tip or story you would like to share here? Your content is welcome. Click for instructions for submitting content to About Home Business.
You can paste text content into the text box area provided on that page. If you are submitting an attachment, use the email link on that page and be sure to copy and paste the disclaimer text contained on the page into the body of your email message. Attachments or inline articles sent via email without the disclaimer text cannot be considered. If you are submitting a PDF version of your article you should convert the content to text first and then paste it into the text box instead of sending the content only in its PDF format.
While I won't promise I'll publish all of the content I receive, I'll certainly consider it. If your content is chosen for publication I'll let you know when you can expect to see it on About Home Business.
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