How to Pick a Domain Name

A domain name can make or break a site. Think about your domain name as the office of a brick and mortar business. Think about how important location is to that business. The same concept works for domain names.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Easy to remember - Most people do not bookmark sites. It is important that they can remember the name of your site to be able to find it again.
   Make it simple. Don't use initials unless they are an important part of the business name.

2. Step 2

   Keep it short - The best length for a domain name is less than 10 characters. If you can't keep it less than 10, try not to go over 20.

3. Step 3

   Pay attention to the extenstion - If you can, use .com as it is the most common extension used and, therefore, the easiest to remember. Second best is .net.

4. Step 4

   Spelling! - Don't misspell your domain name, either on purpose or by accident. How will you be found if people can't spell the name of your site?

5. Step 5

   Tell who you are - A good domain name is descriptive. Just by looking at it, your potential visitor should have a good idea of what they are going to find even before they click your link.

6. Step 6

   Don't use symbols - If at all possible, don't use any symbols in your domain name. It will only make your domain name more difficult to remember.