One of the first things a new blogger has to do is choose a domain name. Unfortunately, this can be challenging when so many of the best domain names are already taken. How can you find a great domain name? Follow the tips in this article to choose a domain name that’s perfect for your blog.
Creative vs. Obvious Blog Domain Names
The first thing you need to decide when choosing a domain name for your blog is whether you want the domain name to be obvious to Internet users.
The advantage to having a domain name that is clearly related to your blog’s topic is it may help people find your blog through keyword searches. Also, it may be easier for people to remember a blog domain name that is fairly intuitive.
Conversely, a creative blog name can become a great brand icon if your blog becomes successful. It will strongly separate your blog from your competitors as unique.
Check the Availability of Obvious Domain Names
If you decide you want to choose an obvious domain name, you’ll need to research what is available. You can do this through any blog host’s website. For example, using a site such as SkyTechNG will allow you to type in the domain name of your choice (including the extension – .com, .net, .us, etc.) and immediately learn if that domain name is available. Many sites will also provide a list of similar domain names for you to choose from. For example, if the name you searched for is taken, you’ll see a list of alternatives that might include a different extension, an additional word or letter added, and more.
Create a List of Keywords to Use in Obvious Domain Names
As you try to find an available domain name that you like and fits your blog, it’s a good idea to take some time to search for popular keywords related to your blog’s topic through a website such as Wordtracker.
Using those words in your domain name will certainly help new readers find your blog through their own searches.
Create Your Own Word
If you choose to give your blog a creative domain name, you can be as unique as you want. Following are some ideas to help get your creative juices flowing:
- Make up a word (Squidoo.com)
- Use a word or combination of words completely unrelated to your blog (BoingBoing.com)
- Add prefixes or suffixes or other letters to a real word (Friendster.com or Engadget.com)
- Add an article like “a” or “the” (TheSuperficial.com)
