To choose a successful, memorable search optimized domain name involves the right SEO strategy and the necessary attention to linguistic design principles. A domain must not only adequately describe your business, but most importantly, should be search optimised.
STEP 1. KNOW YOUR KEYWORDS
Brainstorm a list of keywords that describe your business
STEP 2. KEYWORD RESEARCH
Subscribing to a reliable keyword research service to generate the most accurate and customised keyword lists. Two well known applications are Wordtracker and Google Adwords Keyword Tool.
STEP 3. TOP PHRASES AND KEYWORDS
Sort through the results provided to you by your chosen keyword research application and choose the most relevant and commonly used. Also remember to select those that are linguistically interesting.
STEP 4. BUILD YOUR NAME
This is the creative side of choosing a domain. With your list of top keywords start conceptualising an appropriate name. There are six ways in which you can build your domain name from pieces in a unique, yet successful way:
- Compound:
Two whole words, often two nouns, stuck together, eg. YouTube, Facebook - Phrase:
Words put together according to normal grammatical rules, eg. Six Apart - Blend:
Combines a part of a word with another word or word part, eg. Microsoft - Tweaked:
A real word that is changes in some small way, such as modified spelling, eg. Flickr - Affixed:
A word with a prefix or suffix added to it, eg. Friendster
Come up with several ideas, so if the first one is taken, you have a few to fall back on.
STEP 5. AVAILABILITY
Use a domain registration website, to discover if your ideas have been taken. If you have identified a domain that is still available and it strongly relates to your product/service you should register it straight away.
EXTRA TIPS:
- If all the domain names that you have created are taken, then try using a dash (-) between words. Also try adding words to the domain, like “the” or “buy” to get as close to the highest searched on term that you possibly can.
- As well as search optimised, your domain should be:
Short; Catchy and memorable; Easy to pronounce; Easy to spell; Not too similar to competing domain names; Not a violation of someone else’s trademark. - When setting up a new business / idea, be careful as to whom you tell the idea to prior to buying a domain. They may just go ahead and secure it before you do.
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Brandrally provides comprehensive design solutions by offering strategic graphic design, Internet marketing services website design Brisbane. Servicing clients in Brisbane, throughout Australia and internationally, we apply significant emphasis on design, strategy formulation and process and deliver successful outcomes for our clients, every time, on-time and in-budget. From Corporate Identity, through to full content managed websites, we provide professional solutions to suit your business needs.
For more information contact:
Brandrally
50 McLachlan St, Fortitude Valley 4006 Brisbane QLD AUSTRALIA
t (07) 3216 0442
f (07) 3036 6260
e design@brandrally.com.au
www.brandrally.com.au
