Your domain name is your personal address on the worldwide web and therefore very important. That is why we give you 7 tips when choosing a good domain name.
Are you thinking about registering a new domain name? Then, just like with the choice of a real name, for example at a birth, you would rather leave nothing to chance. We think along with you – with these 7 tips:
01. Short and sweet
Why long when you can also short? Short domain names are easier to remember and spell. Moreover, every extra letter translates into an extra finger movement when typing – especially on a small screen that is unnecessarily difficult. So keep it short: choose a keyword or a short sentence.
02. Unique and recognizable
Ideally, your domain name should be as unique and recognizable as your signature. What is the purpose of your website, what product or service do you provide? Here it makes sense to get as specific as possible while keeping your target audience in mind. For example, if you offer a service, a combination of name and services such as tim-feestfotograaf.nl and bergsma-belastingadvies.nl can work well.
03. Free From Confusion
Imagine having to pass on your new domain name over the phone or introduce it in a podcast. Any form of ambiguity costs your potential visitors. Therefore, avoid confusion and do not use numbers or abbreviations. A domain such as 0percentrente.nl, for example, inevitably requires an explanation that “zero” is written out as a number. Abbreviations like kfwx.nl don’t stick and probably need to be spelled letter by letter.
04. Hyphens only for readability
A hyphen in a domain name should increase readability. In a case like katja-accesoires.nl vs katjaaccesoires.nl, a hyphen has added value. But that’s not always the case. If a domain name without a hyphen is already taken, you may be tempted to take the hyphenated variant – for example, werkvinden.nl vs werk-vinden.nl. Here, however, the variant without a dash is not only shorter and simpler, but also visually more attractive. In most cases it is better not to go for the ‘second choice’, but to come up with another name.
Our extra tip: are you registering a new domain and both the hyphenated and non-hyphenated versions are still available? Register them both right away! This way you prevent someone else from stealing your name.
05. Search Engine Friendly
If you already have a unique and recognizable domain name in mind, then also check how the domain matches the search behavior of your target group. If possible, your domain will contain the main search term for your website. This way you give search engines a powerful hint about the content of your site and you score higher on this term and related keywords. As a rule, such a domain name generates more visitors.
06. No existing brand names
It can sometimes be tempting to refer to a well-known brand in your domain name. To avoid legal problems, it is better not to do this. Even if you do not know whether a brand name is already in use, it is better to err on the side of caution here and check this in the relevant trade registers. That will save you expensive claims.
07. Choose the right extension
You can’t really make sense about choosing a domain name without getting into domain extensions as well. This often concerns the geographical dimension of your ambitions. For example, if you operate within the Netherlands, a .nl domain is probably your first choice. If you are targeting an international or European target group, a .com or .eu domain is also eligible.
Yet there are many more options such as .amsterdam, .shop, .blog, .online, .biz, .tech, etc. Not only the location plays a role here, but also the type of website. Moreover, with these newer extensions, there is less chance that your favorite domain name is already in use. However, the price of different extensions can differ greatly.
Check if your domain is still available
Ultimately, of course, you want to know whether your favorite domain is still available. All you need to do is enter the domain name in the domain checker. This way you can quickly find out whether your domain and the intended extension are still available and what costs you have to calculate. At STRATO, for example, a .nl domain costs €0.60 per year in the first year and €4.80 per year thereafter. Here you can check if your domain is still available.
