How To Choose a Domain Name: 10 Expert Tips

It isn’t easy picking your domain name, especially with millions of domains already registered. Before your can choose your domain name, it’s vital you understand what makes a good domain name in the first place.

These first three steps cover how to research a domain name, from understanding your target audience to picking a niche.

1. Figure Out Your Audience

The first step in choosing a domain name is to understand who you want to attract to your website. Small online stores will want potential and returning customers, whereas a blog owner will want regular readers who are likely to share posts on social media.

You have to take into account your target audience. Do your research into demographics, locations, and understand what action you want your audience to take.

2. Keyword Research

You want to ensure your URL is SEO-friendly to give your website the best chance of appearing in relevant search results. Not only can carrying out keyword research help you understand your target audience, but you can also use this data to brainstorm appropriate and optimized domain names.

Here are a few key things to look out for when doing keyword research:

• High search volume (so you know there’s consumer interest)
• Low competition (so you won’t have to battle for visibility too much)
• Relevance to your brand (so you don’t confuse your audience)

3. Go Niche

If you can pin down a niche domain name, one that targets a specific industry or theme, you give your website a good chance of standing out from the crowd. It positions you as an expert, builds authority in the space, and your website becomes instantly recognizable to users searching for your product or information.

Now you’ve done your research, it’s time to begin the process of coming up with the perfect domain name. If you’ve locked down your brand name, choose that if it’s available, but there are a few tips to keep your domain name in tip-top condition.

4. Keep It Short

It’s good to be descriptive and have keywords in your domain, but people need to be able to remember it and type your domain easily. It has to be practical. For example, “www.cheaprunningshoesforsaleatthisaddress.com” doesn’t really roll off the tongue.

Some of the most popular apps and websites keep their domains short and memorable, such as Uber, Fiverr, and Airbnb.

5. Stay Relevant

Your domain name shouldn’t be random or unrelated to your brand. If they go to your website expecting one thing, but find another, they’re likely to take their business elsewhere.

If you’re struggling to think of something relevant, go back to your keyword research and look at the top results. You don’t have to copy these exactly, but you can use this data as inspiration.

6. Readability

One of the most important things when choosing a domain name is to make sure it’s readable and understandable. You want customers to find your site quickly whenever they think of your brand, rather than clicking through multiple links trying to find your business.

To avoid any confusion, we recommend:

• No hyphens or numbers
• No confusing words
• Looking at the words together (a spaceless domain name could give users a different interpretation if glancing at your URL)
• Checking for spelling mistakes
• Addressing regional differences (e.g., “color” vs “colour”)

7. Consider Local SEO

If you’re a local business looking to get discovered by customers nearby, you could add a local element to your domain name. For example, addressing the city your business is based in will quickly highlight to visitors who, and where, you serve.

This can also help boost local SEO efforts and rankings.

Once you’ve figured out your domain name, it’s time to buy your domain name and link it with your website. We’ll walk you through which domain registrars we recommend, typical domain prices, and what to do once you’ve secured your chosen domain.

8. Check Domain Registrars

There are many places to buy and secure domains, but the most reliable options are ICANN-accredited registrars, web hosts, and website builders. We recommend these top domain registrars:

1. Wix (.com domain for $7.90)
2. Bluehost
3. Namecheap
4. GoDaddy
5. Hostinger

9. Get the Correct Domain Extension

The most popular top-level domains include .com, .net, and .org.

These domain name extensions, or TLDs, give site visitors some information about your site, such as the type of organization you run, what you offer, and your location. Make sure to assess your available options and choose an extension that truly matches the needs of your business and audience.

The most professional and common TLD is .com, costing just $7.90 per year if you choose Wix as your domain registrar. But, if that doesn’t suit you, Wix offers over 400 domain extensions to choose from, including .store, .ai, and .design.

10. Buy Your Domain

So, you’ve found your perfect domain and it’s available. Depending on your chosen registrar and budget, you’ll probably expect to pay around $10-$20 per year for a .com domain, though many do offer cheaper, alternative extensions.

You can also consider looking at a web host or website builder, since these bundled packages often throw in a free domain for your first year. For example, of our top-rated website builders, Wix, Squarespace, Hostinger, and GoDaddy all offer a free custom domain as part of your subscription.

We’ve given you some expert tips to help you pick the very best domain name to suit your needs, from understanding your target audience to choosing the right domain registrar. The most important takeaway is to find a domain that resonates with your business and audience, builds brand recognition, and is easy to remember.