How to Choose a Good Domain Name: A Practical Guide

Planning to take your business online? The most important question you might be asking is: “How do I choose a good domain name?” I decided to write this post after receiving a significant number of queries on this exact topic. Choosing the right URL is more than just a technical step; it’s a branding foundation. Here are a few key tips to consider when purchasing a domain name for your business.

Tip 01: Use Keywords for Branding

By now, you likely have a vision for your online presence, whether it’s an online store, a local business (like a hotel or restaurant), or a personal portfolio. Since you know what products or services you offer, try to identify 3 to 5 top keywords related to your niche.

Combining these keywords can help you find a great brand name. For example, your registered company might be “XYZ (Pvt) Ltd,” but that doesn’t mean you must use www.xyz.com. Because .com is the most popular extension, a company in another country may have already purchased it.

While you could buy .net or .info instead, I recommend avoiding this if someone else owns the .com version. Customers may get confused and end up on the competitor’s site, which hurts both brands. Instead, use your keywords to create a unique domain that clearly describes your specific services. There is no regulation stating your legal name must match your URL exactly, so feel free to choose a domain that leaves a strong impression.

Tip 02: Keep it Unique and Simple

Aim for a unique domain name. Avoid purchasing something too similar to an existing popular brand, and don’t just buy the singular or plural version of another site’s domain.

Ensure your domain is:

Easy to type: Avoid hyphens or numbers if possible.
Easy to remember: It should “stick” after one hearing.
Easy to pronounce: If you have to spell it out every time you say it, it’s too complicated.

Tip 03: Understand Domain Extensions

There are many extensions available today (.com, .net, .org, .co, .info, etc.). While there is no direct “SEO magic” tied to a specific extension, .com remains the gold standard. Most users will automatically type .com by default when searching for a business.

However, if your business is strictly local, consider a country-code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) like .lk, .com.au, or .co.uk. These tell users (and search engines) that your business is specific to a certain country. While there are deeper SEO perspectives regarding ccTLDs, they are beyond the scope of this particular guide.

Tip 04: Prioritize Brevity

Try to find a short domain name. Short names are significantly easier to turn into a brand and much easier for your customers to memorize.

Tip 05: Create a Meaningful Connection

When creating a branded domain, try to reflect the product range or service you provide. When a domain name has a clear meaning, it stays in the user’s mind, making them more likely to return or refer new visitors to your site.

Tip 06: Check the Domain’s History

Did you know you can check the history of a domain before you buy it? Visit the Wayback Machine at archive.org and search for your chosen domain. If the domain was used previously, you can see what kind of content was hosted there to ensure it doesn’t have a “spammy” past.

Note: Many ccTLDs (like .lk) are not consistently recorded here, but it is always worth a check for global extensions.

Need further help choosing the perfect domain name? I’m happy to help! Reach out to me via the Contact Me form on my website, and let’s get your business online the right way.

2 Comments

dora cute July 31st, 2013 Reply
Thanks for your nice information.I am before very confused how to choose a better domain name. After i read your article i got good idea how to choose a good domain name. I followed your steps and registered my domain name from this site Tucktail.com .
enlighten July 3rd, 2014 Reply
nice article