How to Choose a Domain Name For Your Website

Your domain name is more than your online address. It’s your online identity and the public face of your brand. Choosing the best name for your online presence is an important decision. A creative, memorable, and brandable domain plays a big part in drawing visitors to your site. However, getting it right might be a challenge. Don’t worry, we’re here to help you out!

Read on to learn how to choose a domain name that perfectly represents you online.

What is a domain name?

Let’s start with the basics. A domain name is the address that people fill in the browser bar. Otherwise known as a URL. For example, the domain name for Bluehost is bluehost.com. You can buy your desired domain name at domain registries. That is, if it’s still available, of course! If you want to know more, read our blog on how domain names work. Conducting a domain name search is crucial to find available domain names that include your target keywords.

Related Content: Is my domain name available for purchase?

The in-depth answer

Domain names are a user-friendly way to avoid dealing with a website’s true online address: the Internet Protocol address. The IP address is a string of numbers with a few other characters thrown in. While it is a unique code, it’s also nearly impossible to remember. That’s why you need to have a domain name. They stand in for the unwieldy IP address with a word-based format that’s easier to remember.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers maintains and coordinates the supply of IP addresses worldwide, which makes sure that every entity on the Internet has a unique address and a unique domain name that represents that address. When a new domain name is created, it must be checked against ICANN’s databases of domain names that are currently in use to avoid duplication. If the domain name you want is already registered to someone else, you won’t be able to use it for your own site, but if your new domain name is not already in use, you can register it. As long as you continue to renew your domain name, it will remain exclusively yours.

Domain registration involves securing a domain name for your website and ensuring its availability. It often comes with the option of getting a free domain registration when purchasing web hosting services.

Now you know what a domain name is. But how do you choose the right one for your business?

Our 12 best tips on how to choose a domain name:

Choosing the right domain name is crucial for your online presence. It should be easy to remember, relevant to your brand, and include your main keyword. Avoid using hyphens and numbers, as they can be confusing and hard to remember. Make sure the domain name is short and simple, which helps in making it more memorable and easier to type.

Consider using a domain name generator to find creative domain name ideas based on your keywords or phrases related to your brand.

Tip 1: Think like a visitor

When deciding on a domain name, it might be helpful to think like a potential visitor to your website. What kinds of names related to your brand or business are easiest to remember? And which ones stand out for their originality? Keep in mind that your name should also be an accurate representation of your brand. Consider the most important features of your brand and the message they convey, then look for phrases, words, and keywords that express those ideas. Additionally, brainstorming domain name ideas that are easy to remember and type is crucial for ensuring your website’s accessibility and appeal.

Tip 2: Choose a domain name that is easy to type 

Opt for a web address that is simple to spell and type. When users try to access your website, avoid using complex words, hyphens, or special characters that can cause confusion or errors. An easily typed domain ensures a smoother user experience.

Tip 3: Keep it short 

A good domain name is not only easier to remember but also quicker to type, reducing the chances of user errors and making it more user-friendly. A concise domain name also looks cleaner and more professional in marketing materials.

Tip 4: Use (but don’t overuse) keywords 

Incorporating relevant keywords into your domain name can improve your website’s organic search engine visibility. Keywords should reflect the main theme or content of your site, helping potential visitors understand what to expect when they visit your website.

Using keywords effectively is crucial for search engine optimization, as it helps improve your site’s ranking in search results and can increase visitor interest and click-through rates.

Tip 5: Target your local area 

If your website has a local or regional focus, consider including location-based keywords in your domain name. This makes it clear that your site caters to a specific area, making it more attractive to local users and helping with local SEO efforts. This is particularly valuable for businesses and services that operate in a specific geographic region. Additionally, using a geographic or industry-specific domain name extension can further enhance your local targeting and industry relevance.

Tip 6: Make your domain name brandable

People form an impression of someone within seconds of meeting them. The same is true when they first encounter your brandable domain name. The name you choose is the online representation of your brand, so it should reflect the service or product you’re offering as well as the values and mission of your brand. Why? Because it will make it easier for potential customers to remember you.

However, don’t use keywords that are too generic. Chances are that other companies already use these. And you want to stand out from the competition. It’s also important to think long-term about your domain name. Too many keywords might create limitations if your business changes focus later on. You could always change your name, but this will be difficult if you use it everywhere for a long time.

Tip 7: Make your domain name memorable

Studies have shown that the most familiar domain names in the world, such as Google, Apple, Facebook, and Twitter, share some key characteristics: they’re creative, instantly recognizable, easy to pronounce and spell—and short.

While keywords can help with searches for your domain, use them sparingly. Consider getting creative with an obscure word or phrase that evokes the spirit of your brand. You could also use an existing word in a new way. The most memorable websites typically have short, punchy names that are between 6 and 14 characters long. This makes them easy to remember and type into a web browser. Choosing the perfect domain is crucial for branding and SEO.

Tip 8: Consider the impact of word of mouth

Let’s imagine the best-case scenario: people are starting to talk about your brand. Word of mouth is a great way to organically grow your audience. That’s why it’s important to choose a domain name that’s also easy to say. Avoid names that contain numbers, hyphens, or other special characters that make them hard to pronounce and remember. But what if your company has a long name? Consider using its initials, perhaps in combination with a single relevant keyword. Additionally, use Google search to check for similar names and trademarks.

Tip 9: Search for the best domain extension

Aside from choosing a name, the part that comes after the “dot” can also influence your business. The most recognizable domain extension is still .com, even though many more domain extensions are now available. New extensions like .church or .photo can help to convey what a site is about instantly, but more fanciful choices such as .me or .pizza may not convey the right image—or stand the test of time. In most cases, .com remains the best choice because of its familiarity and association with commerce and reliability. If .com is not available, you can consider other neutral extensions such as .net or .info.

The availability of TLDs has expanded so users have more opportunities to get creative with their domain names by including extensions like .me, .us, .biz, .blog, .tech, and more!

Using a top-level domain can give a user more flexibility in describing what their website is about and can include different pricing options depending on their web host. If you are wanting to target a specific country or region, top-level domains also offer the option to incorporate a geographic location like .co.uk or .us. You should always consider the popularity of a TLD and make sure it’s helping to improve your online presence and not alienating potential visitors. Once you’ve determined a TLD that aligns with the vision for your website, it’s time to register your domain.

Tip 10: Register your domain with the right company

Domain names can be registered with independent domain registrars, or with a web hosting provider that will host the website attached to the name. Bluehost does the latter. We are responsible for checking name availability and maintaining records on registered domains. All domain name registrars must be accredited by Top Level Domain registries, which are in turn accredited by ICANN.

Attention Bluehost Customers: Learn more about how to register a new domain name from your account admin portal.

Registrars manage the databases of domain names in use. If you don’t currently have domain web hosting, or you’re reserving your ideal domain name or names for later use, registrars can “park” your domain name temporarily until you’re ready to launch your site. If you’ve already set up an account with a hosting provider like Bluehost, you can complete the entire name search and registration process on the provider’s site.

Tip 11: Claim your domain name in all possible ways

Make sure your domain name represents you everywhere. It would be a shame if you found a great name, but it was unavailable as a Twitter handle. You want your brand to be consistently represented, so check if your name is available on all the platforms you wish to use. Conduct a domain name search to check availability on all platforms.

Another option to consider is possible alternatives to your desired name, including potential misspellings. If possible, purchase those domains too. This will decrease the chance of another company choosing a similar name. You can imagine how confusing that might be for visitors! A (pro) tip: use the other domain names to redirect to your website. This will ensure visitors always land on your website. Even if they misspell your domain name.

Tip 12: Consider creating a subdomain

Another option to consider when you are selecting a domain is creating a subdomain. A subdomain is an additional part or prefix that is added to your main domain name. Subdomains are used to organize and navigate to different sections of a website, which can make it more accessible to users. You can create multiple subdomains for such as: blog.yourwebsite.com, mail.yourwebsite.com, store.yourwebsite.com. “Yourwebsite,” would be your primary domain name and then the subdomain would be the “store, blog, mail, etc.” The process of domain registration for subdomains involves ensuring the availability of the desired subdomain and may include additional costs depending on your web hosting service.

Conclusion: How to choose a domain name

The Internet is home to more than 1.3 billion websites. There’s a good chance that your domain name has already been taken, however unique and creative it may sound. That’s why it’s important to research and choose your domain name carefully. By using domain name generators, keyword searches, and trademark searches, you can make sure your domain name doesn’t infringe on other existing uses. Because that could lead to legal action and the need to start over with a different name.

Choosing the right domain name to be the online face of your brand or company can be a challenging task. With planning and careful consideration, however, you can create an unforgettable domain name that stands the test of time. Incorporating targeted keywords in your domain name helps visitors find your website and assists search engines in determining page rankings.

Are you ready to choose your domain? Use our Bluehost domain finder and select the perfect website name to start you on your online journey!