6 BEST WAYS TO PICK A DOMAIN NAME FOR YOUR WEBSITE

So you have an idea to create a website. A crucial step is to come up with a name which can make or break your business. Let’s look at the top five most unique and recognizable tech companies in the US:

1. Amazon: Jeff Bezos wanted the word that starts with an “A” because he knew that website listing were alphabetized
2. Microsoft: Gates and Allen, two best friend from Seattle, came up with the name from the words microcomputer and software
3. Apple: According to Walter Isaacson’s biography of Steve Jobs, Apple was chosen because Jobs loved apples and he thought the name sounded fun, spirited and not intimidating.
4. Alphabet (Google): Founders Larry page and Sergey like Alphabet because it “means a collection of letters that represent language, one of humanity’s most important innovations, and is the core of how we index with Google search”
5. Oracle: Oracle’s first customer was a project with the CIA under the code name Oracle. Also, their flagship product in 1983 was Oracle Database.

You might think there is no way I can come up with a cool name like those. But honestly names like the above aren’t difficult to come up with.

Here are a few guiding principles to help you pick a good name:

1. Length: Shorter names are easier to remember and to type.  It’s a good idea not to exceed 2-3 words
2. Simplicity:  Complicated or uncommon words or names may be hard to remember and spell correctly. You want something that is EASY to type and pronounce. 
3. Keywords: if your business is about coffee, maybe think about including “Coffee” in the name or relevant keywords when people search for coffee
4. Brand name: A brand is different from a name. A brand takes time to develop because your company needs to earn trust  from your customers. Your domain name will reflect your brands.
5. Website name: your domain name that the customer type to search for your website should be exactly the same as the name of your brand or company. For instance, if your company name is CoconutFun but you have to pick JuiceFun for your website domain (due to available name), it will cause confusion. 
6. Can’t be perfect: if you aren’t happy with it, you have an option to change it later. 

When it comes down to actually select the name you want, keep these in mind:

1. Try to pick .com, .org, or .net: there are so many new extensions to choose from but .com is still the most established and recognizable domain name extension.
2. Avoid hyphens (-): there is no way people are going to remember the name with a hyphen in it. Sorry but let’s get straight to the point 
3. Use domain name generators: if you run out of ideas, use these well known generators to expand your options: WPBeginngers, Shopify,…
4. Get free domain registration with Web Hosting: Whether you just start a new website or convert one to another, take advantage of a few hosting companies that offer this perk. There are 2 web hosting services that I have used in the past and I highly recommend:
   1. BlueHost: an official “WordPress” recommended hosting provider. I have used them since 2018 and I love them. If you want to know more about BlueHost, here is my REVIEW 
   2. HostGator: offering a free domain name with very affordable website hosting options.
5. Check for trademarked: Once you are 90% sure that you like the name and it is available, make sure to stay away from names that already have trademarks to avoid legal issues. You can see if the name is trademarked at USPTO.gov

RELATED: T0P 3 HOSTING SERVICE TO CREATE A PROFITABLE WORDPRESS BLOG IN 2022.

In conclusion

It is important to pick the right name but it isn’t as important as creating a good product that is helpful and solves people’s problems. You can always change the name later if you don’t like it.