10 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing A Domain Name

Picking the perfect domain name is one of the most important actions when building any new website. Too many people make domain name mistakes that are costly in terms of online credibility and visibility. Your domain name most often forms the first impression users get about your site, and choosing the wrong name results in confusion, poor traffic flow, and loss of credibility.

In this article, we look at the common domain name mistakes to avoid to ensure the success of your website. The key to avoiding all these pitfalls, you’re well on your way to a domain name that’s easier to remember and more effective while increasing your online brand equity.

10 Mistakes To Avoid When Buying a Domain

When buying a domain name, it is often easy to neglect those few but important factors that might make all the difference in the world between success or not for your website. Your domain name will decide, for better or for worse, the long-term visibility of your brand, your ranking in search engines, and your user experience. Here are ten significant mistakes to avoid so that your domain name will work for you, not against you.

Choosing a Name That’s Too Long

A domain name that is too long is hard to remember and easy to misspell. Users prefer short and simple domain names that are easy to spell and remember. Long names increase the probability of typos, and you may lose some views. Compare how much longer “BestBakeryInNewYorkCity.com” sounds to “NYCBestBakery.com.” The former is longer and more difficult for users to type correctly. Short names are easier to work into marketing materials and to use in word-of-mouth marketing. Try for a short name, preferably from 6 to 14 characters.

Ignoring the Importance of Keywords

While creativity is vital in domain name selection, ignoring relevant keywords is a wasted opportunity. Keywords, on the other hand, enable search engines to know what your site is about; thus, they can increase your search engine rankings. For example, if you have a bakery in Los Angeles, using words such as “bakery” or “Los Angeles” in your domain name can improve your chances of local SEO.

Of course, there needs to be a balance between the many keywords that might help with search visibility. They shouldn’t crowd the name to make it forgettable or klutzy. “LAsBestBread.com” does you much more good than something as general-sounding as “GreatBakedGoods.com,” which is just too bland.

Using Hyphens and Numbers

Hyphens and numbers in your domain can be confusing. They are often misunderstood when spoken aloud, which could lead to errors even if typed. For instance, the domain name “best-cakes4you.com” could be confusing in itself for people as to whether to type a hyphen or the number “4.” It’s always good to keep your domain name simple and alphanumeric. Besides that, hyphens are often associated with spammy websites, which really hurts any hope of credibility your brand may have. And if, somewhere, the non-hyphenated version of your domain is owned by someone, then you might result in losing traffic to them, too.

Not Researching the Domain’s History

One of the most overlooked domain name mistakes is the fact that a domain history is usually not researched. A domain name could have a bad past attributed to it as associated with some spam or malware content. It may harm your site’s reputation and, thereby, its search engine ranking. For example, on the off chance that a space had been utilized in the dispersal of malware, at that point, web indexes could penalize your site for that conduct, making it barely conceivable to get rankings. You can use tools like the Wayback Machine or a domain history checker to ensure your domain has no unwanted baggage. You can, therefore, check to prevent inheriting someone’s else’s bad online reputation through blacklisting by search engines or spam databases.

Disregarding Trademarks

Picking a domain name without first checking for any trademark records beforehand can be a recipe for disaster. If your domain name is like a trademarked brand, you might either be sued or, after you have really invested in developing a website, be forced to cancel your domain name and switch to a new one. It wastes a certain amount of cost and time, which could have been prevented with a simple trademark search.

Besides, using a domain name that matches any existing brand may misguide customers and dilute the brand identity. To avoid such conflicts or violations, it is advisable to conduct a trademark search before finalizing the domain name. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office online database search is one tool for checking for existing trademarks.

Not Considering the Extension

Your website’s domain extension can dramatically impact the impression your site will make. While it’s true that more people use the .com extension, the others can be just as effective, depending on the nature of the website. For instance, the .org domain is good for non-profits, and virtually anyone can use the .net domain for network services. However, an unconventional extension will sometimes make users confused or make your site less credible. Other new extensions, such as .shop or .store, can be relevant, but they don’t have the same type of recognition that .com would have. You usually want to ensure you get the .com version of your domain name, if possible since this is typically what users will try by default when going directly to a website. If the .com version of the domain you desire is unavailable, consider whether a different name might suit you just as well.

Overlooking Social Media Availability

Your domain name should match your social media handle in today’s digital era. Once you sign off on a domain name, ensure the username is available on all major social media sites to pay bigger dividends in brand consistency and make it easier for people to find you online. Having an online naming conflict, your domain name is “BestCupcakes.com,” but someone already has @BestCupcakes-may be a problem in creating a consistent footprint online. Having your branding continuous between your domain and social media sites strengthens your brand’s identity and allows users to connect with your company more easily.

Failing to Think About the Future

A very product-specific domain name acts to limit further growth potential. For example, if a website develops under a domain name such as “BestRunningShoes.com” and grows to sell footwear for other activities, it becomes irrelevant. The now disjointed branding may lead to frustrated ease of use by, and harder marketing of, an expanded offering of products.

Create a domain name that reflects your overall vision and opens avenues to future business growth. A name such as “TopAthleticGear.com” will be one you can grow with rather than rebranding an entire company. Think ahead so you aren’t creating churn in your domain name later in the business.

Ignoring Domain Name Renewals

Once you’ve obtained a domain name, implement regular tracking of its renewal dates. If you do not renew your domain name, it will be released to the public again, and this is definitely something you don’t want to happen if your competitor gets their hands on it. This can be disastrous, especially if you have built significant brand equity with that domain name. For this not to happen, turn auto-renewal on with your domain name and update your account information. It is very inconvenient and could cost your business much online visibility if you lose your domain name due to failure to renew it. It can be costly to recover an expired domain name if and when it falls into the hands of domain squatters, who may likely demand a big price for its return.

Focusing Solely on SEO

While SEO is a big factor, just basing your domain name on SEO keywords can be counterproductive. Sometimes, keyword-stuffed domain names sound spammy and don’t sit well with your audience. Avoid choosing a totally optimized domain name like “BuyCheapRunningShoesOnline.com,” but rather come up with a brandable, memorable name that instills trust and credibility. “RunBetter.com” may not be keyword-stuffed, but it’s memorable, brandable, and bound to drive impressive results in search engines with a proper content strategy and marketing effort. Think of your domain as a brand enhancer that will help your brand stand out from the competition in the market.

Conclusion

Avoiding these common domain name mistakes sets you up for success immediately. A well-chosen domain is an asset to help build your brand, drive visitors, and realize your online goals. Ensuring your domain name is short and memorable, with no possible legal issues or confusion, places you in a better position in building a strong online presence. Considering these factors will help you choose a domain name that will work well for you in the long term.

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