By Aaron Dishno Ed.D.

Tip #1: Avoid Domain Names you have to Spell Out!

The best names, you say it, everyone can spell it!

Ok, you can brand anything. If it is a recognizable brand name, people will come. But what if you are trying to build a brand or get a new website some traffic? Picking a domain name that is easy for people to remember and spell is very important. You do not want them finding someone else’s website!

This is not a hard rule, but a good tip…

• Keep it easy to remember – Rhyme, Alliteration, Catch Phrase, Word(s), or Names are always the best domain names.
• Use a Mainstream Domain Extension (.com, .net, .org, etc…) – A dot COM name is still the most popular and mainstream way to go, although others can become your brand, it just may take more work for people to remember. Use a .GOV, .EDU, .ORG (non profit organizations) if it applies to you. Country codes like .US is USA and is common if you have a brick and mortar business. But country codes are definitely more popular in other countries.
• Use Mixed Case when you type it – When you advertise, use mixed case (caps and lower case letters) in order to show key letters or break the words. Like WalkTheWeb.com

• Avoid alternate spellings – if you said softwarez.com, that is hip and trendy, but I might end up at softwares.com instead.
• Avoid hyphens- and underscores_ – if you said people-person.com and didn’t spell it and say the hyphen, I would end up on peopleperson.com.
• Avoid words people commonly misspell – was it I before E or EI? one L or two LL? C or S, is that a silent letter? Here or Hear? Sea, See or C?
• Avoid long words or phrases – Short names, seem to be harder to find a good one available or at a good price, but long names have a lot of characters to catch a typo. Try to find the best, yet shortest one you can. This will make it easier for people to remember.
• Avoid uncommon abbreviations – if you said admin instead of administration, I get it. But if you tried to use admn or adm be ready to spell it out and get a lot of lost people!

When I tell someone to go to WalkTheWeb.com, they get there.
Prove me right and try it now!