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10 Tips to Choosing a Great Domain Name

A simple list of easy tips to follow in choosing a domain name for your business or idea.

Hey there

Choosing the right domain name for your business or idea is crucial. It really is a case of measuring twice (or more) and cutting once because it is so much easier to change your mind now than later once you've printed business cards, improved your ranking in search engines and so on.

Here are the top 10 tips you need to follow.

Top Ten Tips

1. If you're yet to name your business, make sure you're actively searching domain names. Your domain name is going to be a big part of your business in many cases. Best to pick a good name with a matching domain available than to start with a slightly better name but endure a shoddy domain name.
2. Aim for the right length - too long and it will be painful to remember or type in without error; too short and you may not adequately cover your business name. One good word or unique name is great. Two words is excellent. Three words can be good if you include a keyword in there. Four words is unnecessary. If you're "Malvern Framing Services", go for malvernframing.com.au as your business domain. If you're "Framing Services Australia", try for "framing.com.au" first, then "framingservices.com.au".
3. Try to register just one to start with. Unless you're an organisation or ISP, don't bother with .net.au or .org.au - you think you need to, but you don't. If the .com partner to your .com.au is available, consider grabbing that however.
4. .com vs .com.au - the .com namespace is very crowded and you may be hard-pressed to find a good domain unless your business name is quite unique. If you're going to be largely doing business with Australian customers, don't be afraid to go with the .com.au - these days, they're almost as cheap as the .com domains anyway.
5. Cover your keywords - if possible, include a keyword. This applies more so to sites for ideas than businesses. You can always register a secondary domain that focuses on a specific service anyway.
6. Avoid homophones - that is, where possible, avoid words that have the same pronunciation but different spelling. You will be reading out your domain name or email address over the phone or in radio advertising, and this avoids confusion. e.g., runningbare.com.au vs runningbear.com.au.
7. Look to skip hyphens. If you can get domainnames.com.au, don't waste your time with domain-names.com.au - the latter will only be harder to explain.
8. Simpler words are best. Some words just invite spelling mistakes or typos. Where something can be typed incorrectly, someone will manage it, so you should just limit their opportunities!
9. Keep the right words. Let's say you're picked a domain for your seaside accommodation business - Port Victoria Holiday Units. Four words is probably overkill. If you can get portvictoria.com.au, great. Otherwise, you're going to have to tack on one of the other two. Pick the one that is the best compromise between what people are likely to search for, and what sounds the best when read out as part of a domain name. In this case, "holiday" gives you a solid keyphrase.
10. Avoid numbers. Throw a "4" in your domain camels4sale.com.au and you'll be forever explaining it over the phone or in person. Just go with camelsforsale.com.au and sell them camels.