The domain name that sits on your web site is definitely an important one. These days, though, it can be frustrating to find and choose a domain name. If you’re murking around in Network Solutions or GoDaddy to try to find a decent domain name, don’t call it quits when it seems all the great names are taken. There are hundreds of strategies outside of just your domain name choice that will help your site be “found.”
But, as you’re in this domain search process, here are 3 insider tips to domain name strategy keep in mind:
- I don’t care what they say about “.net,” “.tv,” “.biz” or “.name” – a domain name with “.com” is your first priority. Even if you found a better domain under “.net,” you still want your primary site under “.com.”
Let’s face it, people …
“.com” won the battle.
The global Internet audience is trained to type “.com” and many of our phones are now suggesting “.com” as a ready-made button. Don’t fight it. If you think you’ll get by with a “.net,” just go look at the same domain name under “.com” to see who or what is represented under THAT domain … because that’s where a lot of your prospecting business is going to end up!
- How would people search to find you? That’s the domain name you want. In fact, I often suggest it be your PRIMARY domain. This is especially important when your company name isn’t easy to remember or spell. Say you have a law firm titled, Schoenfield, Barker & Bratt. If you want to reserve that entire name under “com,” great. Smarter, still: Reserve a domain such as “www.familylawinToledo.com” or “www.oilandgascorporatelaw.com.” Make your primary mode of business the primary domain name, and point the other domain selections to the same site. (This is an easy 5-second forwarding action at your host vault.)
- Choose domains that are easy to remember. I overheard this solid-gold idea once in a seminar: Think of doing an interview on talk show radio during morning drive time. Your listeners are in stop-and-go traffic with a coffee in one hand and an egg sandwich in the other. They’re steering with a thumb. The radio interviewer asks you for your web site name. If YOU were a listener, would you remember the domain name if you were told: “Go to SchoenfieldBarkerandBratt.com, and that’s an “and” not an ampersand”??
Heck, no. You’d probably snort your coffee out of pure derision.
Tell your listeners to go to “familyLawInToledo.com” or “MondayCall.com” or “HealthyHeartRecipes.com.” Reserve domains that are simple, easy to spell and easy to remember until they’ve finished that egg sandwich and put the car in “PARK.”