Top 3 Website Tips on Choosing a Domain Name

What's in a name? Not much, if you ask Shakespeare. He will tell you that a rose would still smell like a rose even if you call it "dinosaur", for example.

But ask webmasters or anyone who has been around the block for website tips concerning URLs, and you're bound to get this answer: a lot! If you intend to run your business online, your choice of domain names could make or break your business. Below are some website tips on choosing domain names. Don't just read them, use them! You can thank me later.

1. Your website name should be your domain name. If you plan to call your website EarthChildWear, then your domain name should be earthchildwear. There are no ifs, ors, and buts about this. Everyone turns to the Internet for information. If your URL does not bear the name of your business, you are in serious trouble. Your visitors and clients will remember you by your business name; and if this is not your domain name, it's most likely they will end up elsewhere; perhaps even in your competitor's website. That's one lost sale right there.

2. Get a meaningful domain name. The jury is still out on this one. Some say short domain names are the best because they are easy to type out, easy to remember, and less susceptible to typos - getit versus visitmywebsiteandacquireit, for instance. Others say longer domain names are better remembered.

I say, it's not the length that matters so much; it's the meaning. Choose a short domain name, if you can get it. Otherwise, stick to a longer domain name that's easy to remember. Don't reach 67 characters, though. That's not a domain name; that's a sentence.

3. Do not use hyphens, unless necessary. Fact of the matter is, most hyphenated domain names exist only because their non-hyphenated versions are no longer available. If you can avoid hyphens, do so. People seldom remember hyphens. When they recommend websites verbally, they seldom remember to state the domain name comes with hyphens. Moreover, hyphenated URLs are a pain in the neck to key in. So unless you can't think of any other name, avoid using hyphens.

I hope you found these website tips concerning domain names useful. I hope, too, that you'll use them the next time you shop around for domain names.