One of the first things that you need to do when you are ready to create your website is to come up with a domain name for your site. In this post, I am covering 7 things you need to consider when researching domain name ideas for your business website and blog.

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What is a Domain Name?

Before I dive into the top things you need to consider when researching domain name ideas, let’s get really clear on what a domain name is.

A domain name is simply the name of your website.  It is the address where those using the Internet can find your site.  

For example, my domain is thecreativeimpact.com.  Google’s is google.com.

You will need to purchase a domain name through a domain registrar like Namecheap or GoDaddy before your website can be set up.

How does a domain name differ from a URL?

A URL, also know as a Universal Resource Locator, is the full web address used to find a webpage.  The URL contains the domain name within it, but can lead to any of the pages within that website. 

For example, these are URLs:

thecreativeimpact.com/about

thecreativeimpact.com/workwithme

7 things you should do when considering domain name ideas

1. Go with a .com

The majority of people assume that a website ends with .com.  People are more familiar with this domain extension than any other and will default to this when typing it in an address bar.  

Since it is the most common, it also carries more authority and helps with your branding.  You’ll have to put in extra effort to get people to remember that your site has a different extension if you stray away from .com

In the case that your ideal domain name is taken, you can always add a modifier to it like ‘Academy’ ‘Authority’ or ‘Company.’

If you are really firm on having that name and it is already taken then I think the next best bet would be a .net or .co.  

2. Make sure it is easy to say and spell

When considering domain name ideas you want to be sure that it is easy to pronounce and share.  The less complicated your domain name is, the more likely it will be remembered.  

Keep it short and simple.

Do not include unusual spellings of a word, i.e. websitez instead of websites or double letters like websitessolutions. I also recommend staying away from hyphens and numbers if possible.  If someone spells your site incorrectly they are likely to get redirected to another site and never find you at all.  

If you really want an unusual spelling in a domain name I recommend buying up the other domains with misspellings that redirect your visitor to your main site.

3. Try using a keyword or two if possible

Be sure to take niche keywords into consideration when researching domain name ideas for your website.  If possible try to include a strong keyword in your domain name.  

A niche keyword can help with your search engine optimization (SEO).   It can also help potential visitors quickly understand what your business offers and how you can help them.  

A word of caution though…. Do not compromise the simplicity of your domain name by stuffing it with keywords.  This can actually work against you.  

If a keyword makes your domain too long or complicated, leave it out.

Plus if your domain name includes a niche-specific keyword, you will likely want to switch domain names if you switch niches, so keep this in mind.

4. Consider using your name

If you are having trouble finding a domain name that is available or one that encompasses your brand, consider using your name.

Using your own name can be a good choice if you are trying to brand yourself as an expert in your field.  It will likely be available as well unless you have a very common name.  In that case, try using your first initial or middle name along with your last name.

A word of warning though, if your name has an unusual spelling or is hard to spell this might not be your best choice.

5. Make sure you’re not violating any trademarks

Once you have some domain name ideas that you like, you want to make sure that you are clear legally.

Before registering for a domain name you need to confirm that the name is not already trademarked.

To check on this within the US, you can visit the US Trademark Electric Search System here.

6. Think long-term

It is important to think long-term when it comes to your domain name.  Once you build a business with a domain name it can be very costly to your brand, SEO rankings, and wallet to change it. 

If you think you will likely branch out from a specific niche as you grow, it is wise not to limit yourself to a domain name that is super specific to what you currently offer.  

The content you create will prove to be far more important than any domain name you pick, but it is a good idea not to limit your long-term options too much when choosing one.

 7. Figure out your website platform prior to registering a domain name

If you are planning to design your website on WordPress then you will need to purchase hosting and many hosting providers like Bluehost offer a free domain name for the first year when creating a hosting account with them. Then they typically charge $14-$20/year after that.

If you decided to build your website on Showit, the platform that I now use and recommend, you can purchase your domain through a domain registrar like Namecheap or GoDaddy.

I recommend NameCheap, because you can search and register a .com domain name for under $10 and get free lifetime protection for your domain.

Bonus: You can work on creating your website on Showit without a domain name. You won’t need a domain name until you are ready to go live and then Showit will handle the process for you!

Bonus Tip: Don’t overthink domain name ideas

It’s easy to get stuck in analysis paralysis when deciding on a domain. Write down some domain name ideas after considering these seven tips and then choose one.

Don’t put off creating a website and sharing your knowledge and talents with others, because you are hoping to find the perfect domain name.  The perfect domain name doesn’t exist.  The content you create and share with others will matter far more than your domain name.

There are people who need what you have to offer, so choose one, start sharing your knowledge, and go make an impact on the world!

Other content that may be helpful to you:

A Showit Website: Is it right for you and your business?

 WORDPRESS VS. SHOWIT: An honest comparison from a web designer who has used both platforms