Domain Names with Keywords, Still Smart?

Posted by Kimberlee in Blog, Inbound Sources, Tools & Tips

Choosing the right domain name might seem like a breeze after deciding what to name your business. But don’t take this task too lightly, there are some major benefits that come from having the right domain name.

When choosing your domain name, be sure to have one that is rich with keywords. Doing so can boost your search engine rankings. Google places a lot of weight on domain names that exactly match the keyword search query. Using keywords in your domain name ranks you higher, leading more people to your site. It also builds brand awareness and recognition. Having a strong domain name that matches keywords from their search query is appealing to users and easier for them to recall.

Keys to creating a strong domain name:

Make it memorable- Having a catchy domain name will allow customers to easily recall your site and it helps build brand awareness. The name does not necessarily have to be short, but names that are not riddled with hyphens and wordiness are less appealing. The name should have your keywords in it, you may need to sacrifice a short and simple name for a catchier longer one that includes the keyword.

Avoid hyphens- Users often forget to use the hyphen when typing in your domain name. This could potentially lead them directly to your competition. Sometimes this is the only way to get a domain name that is close to what you want when others are taken.

Domain names should be the same as the website- It is very important that these match or are very similar. When looking for your site, users will try to type in your brand name first. It is easier for them to recall a brand name rather than a site if the two are different.

Avoid extra wordiness in the domain name- Sometimes when the domain name you want is not available, an alternate but similar name is suggest. Typically the available names have words like, “the” and “my” in the title. For example, BrainStorm.co is taken but MyBrainStorm.co might be available. Like hyphens, the extra words are likely to be forgotten and could lead the user to your competitor.

Get multiple versions of your domain name- If you have the resources, try to obtain any sensible variation of your domain name. This insures that your competition wont end up with a name similar to yours. It also allows for users to access the site when they spell your company’s name wrong.