| Picking the right domain can be one of the most | | | | name to bring visitors. If aiming for a memorable |
| critical stages of any kind of website promotion. | | | | domain name, it is worth brainstorming and seeing if it |
| Factors such as domain name age, domain extensions | | | | is possible to buy a domain name that has already |
| v..org), memorability of the name, keyword names, | | | | aged. It is also important to keep it short: |
| and more can affect the quality of your domain. | | | | yelpdigfacebook wouldn't be easy to remember. |
| Although a single article cannot possibly cover all the | | | | The name as perceived by search engines: Another |
| key elements of a good domain name, a few will be | | | | factor to consider when choosing your domain name |
| treated briefly here. It should be noted that some of | | | | is how the search engines will perceive the domain |
| these factors are important in regards to getting | | | | name. In today's internet market, competition to rank |
| ranked in the search engines and some are simply | | | | for keywords has become fierce. For that reason, it |
| good business practice. | | | | can be better to rank for a keyword with your |
| Domain name age: Google knows how long a domain | | | | domain name. That does not mean you have to have |
| has been consistently registered. Although there | | | | a boring domain name, but if you want people |
| remains some debate regarding whether this matters | | | | searching for "chinchillas" to find your domain, it would |
| or not, many believe that a longer-standing domain | | | | be worth putting the word "chinchilla" in your domain. |
| will have greater impact on your sites rankings in the | | | | Your website is simply more likely to get noticed by |
| search engines. My experience has shown that a | | | | the search engines. |
| longer standing domain will gain a search engine | | | | History: As mentioned above, Google knows how |
| ranking more easily. | | | | long a domain has existed. But it knows more than |
| Domain extensions: This is really a fairly simple issue. | | | | that. It also knows what was on the website |
| It is taken as a mark of quality for a domain to have | | | | previously. If that website had illegal or poor quality |
| extension. If your site is promoting a cause, a.org is | | | | content on it before, it is possible that Google will |
| more appropriate. While many other extensions exist, | | | | know that and penalize you for it. There are |
| they become less trusted beginning with.info and.net | | | | numerous tools to uncover this history, such as |
| and becoming less trusted from there. This can | | | | iwebtool/Google_banned. Before registering a domain, |
| affect both your search engine rankings and your | | | | always check its history. |
| perceived value with customers. | | | | Legality: This likely goes without saying, but it is best |
| The name as perceived by people: Many of the most | | | | to avoid trademarked or copyrighted names. Even if |
| popular websites in existence have bizarre names | | | | you discover that a major company failed to register |
| that would not be viewed by most search engines as | | | | their name +.info or.net, registering that domain and |
| meaning anything. Yahoo and Google themselves are | | | | putting up content is likely a copyright infringement. If |
| examples of such domain names. However, there is | | | | you have a question regarding that, consult a lawyer. |
| something to be said for a simple name with branding | | | | If you wish to avoid consulting a lawyer, you are |
| possibility. As my two examples demonstrate, it is | | | | probably in better shape to simply use your head and |
| clear that having a domain name that is memorable | | | | avoid registering a domain that could be a copyright |
| can make a major difference. Websites such as Yelp, | | | | infringement. |
| Digg, Facebook, etc. rely on the memorability of their | | | | |