Representing something like the foundation of your brand’s online identity, a domain name is much more than just a website URL. By choosing a great domain name, you can not only reflect the essence of your business and inspire trust among your target audience, but also improve your project’s position in search engines.
Practice shows that successful creative business names make brands recognisable for many years to come. If you have an idea, but need to check if the name is not busy, then use the domain finder at Spaceship website and buy domain you want to.
Recent studies show that it only takes 3 seconds for average users to decide whether or not to trust a company depending on its domain. Since a bad domain can turn away potential customers from even a well-designed project, be as responsible as possible when deciding on a domain.
Tips on How to Come Up with a Successful Domain
It’s safe to say that creating the perfect domain is a science and an art – 2 in 1. Since really successful small business name ideas come from those who can think both creatively and strategically, you will have to work hard to come up with a truly worthwhile option.
There are a few principles used by experts to create truly outstanding domains – check them out below.
Simplicity and Clarity
Internet users are much better at remembering simple names that are easy to spell and pronounce. Apple and Google, for example, chose short – yet powerful – words that have become entrenched in the minds of most people and are now symbols of entire industries.
Uniqueness and Originality Matters
Since the internet is an extremely competitive online environment, you need something that stands out from your competitors. Try unconventional approaches including the use of neologisms to increase the chances of your idea not being used by someone else.
Think of a Name with Your Target Audience in Mind
Keep in mind that your domain name should resonate with those who are interested in the products and services you offer online. For example, trendy and dynamic names are suitable for those targeting a younger audience while names that evoke a sense of trust and solidity are more suitable for traditional businesses.
Make Sure the Domain is Unoccupied
Even the best firm names should be free in the chosen domain zone. You can check the availability of the name in several options including both the traditional.com and some more advanced options like .io or .xyz.
Did you know that – according to Digital Silk data – there are 1.1+ billion websites in the world, with only 200 million of them active? So, even if you don’t know about the existence of a web project, it may already have a domain name you like.
Examples of Most Successful Domains
Still don’t believe that a well-chosen domain can have a significant impact on the future of your online business? Let’s take a look at three domains that have made businesses thrive:
- Etsy. Although the word has no specific meaning, it sounds creative and unusual. It allowed the company to expand beyond a narrow niche and thus show that new words in a name can make you more memorable.
- Netflix. Created from a word associated with the internet and a slang name for a film, this name is easy to remember and perfectly captures the essence of the platform. This means you can combine words relevant to your business to create a unique yet meaningful brand.
- Slack. While this word can mean weakness, in a business context it has become something of a symbol of productivity and well-built communications. So, you can make your company a success on the global web even by adding words with unexpected meanings.
If you really want to stand out from the crowd, don’t be afraid to experiment and try to use words relevant to your niche.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Is choosing a domain name a simple task like two times two? It’s a complex process full of pitfalls where one wrong decision can ruin the first impression of your business and alienate a huge number of potential customers.
In addition, without paying proper attention to how you are called on the Internet, you risk running into a lot of technical and even legal problems. Therefore, avoid the common mistakes outlined below:
- Don’t add complicated and hard-to-remember words to prevent scaring off your audience. For example, if your domain is difficult to type in the search bar, some users may make spelling mistakes and bypass your web project.
- Avoid names containing too many characters. According to the latest data from researchers, the optimal length of the domain is 6-14 characters. Reduce the resulting long name to keywords or even abbreviations to avoid making an unfortunate mistake causing little traffic to the website.
- Do not add numbers and hyphens in the domain name, but with rare exceptions. The user may accidentally confuse the place of spelling hyphen and also think about whether to write a number symbol or word.
- Pay attention to transliteration and localisation. Did you know that Chevrolet has experienced serious problems in the Latin American market with its Nova brand because the word translates from Spanish as ‘doesn’t go’ or ‘doesn’t work’. Linguistically analyse your domain and check the meaning of the words included in it in the key languages of the audience you are targeting.
- Don’t make your domain similar to another brand’s name. A domain name that looks like the name of a well-known company – or is simply associated with it – can lead to legal action.
- Don’t neglect SEO factors. Although search engine algorithms have become much more sophisticated, keywords in your domain still matter. However, keep in mind that too many keywords can reduce the credibility of your potential customers.
Finally, when choosing a domain name, think about the future of your business. For example, if you use a location-specific one, it will significantly limit your company’s ability to scale and expand into new markets.
Bottom Line
So, you now realise that a domain is essentially the face of your company on the global web. Although you need to be creative, you should not forget about strategy, analytics and SEO when you choose a domain name.
Practice shows that unique, yet simple names that reflect the essence of the business are the key to success. Find that perfect balance between originality and functionality to ensure your brand doesn’t go unnoticed by potential customers.