There are many factors that play a role in what makes a great domain, but there is one universal truth: .com’s are the best. If the same name was used in several different extensions (like .com, .net, .org, .io, .xyz, etc), the .com version would be viewed as the most official. This is because .com is by far the most common and widely recognized extension worldwide. .Net is the next runner up, but does not have the same impact as a .com. But a domain’s extension is only one piece of the puzzle.
Another generally accepted truth is that the shorter the name is, the better it is. And in many ways this is true, but only to a point. For example, if we were looking for a domain for a clock store, a short 4 letter abbreviated domain like clck.com is not going to be as easy to remember as the 6 letter name clocks.com, or be as clear as the 9 letter domain clockshop.com. So yes, a short name is great, but it still needs to make sense.
In general, a great domain typically fits into at least one of these three categories:
1. Exact Match
An exact match of a business’ name in the .com extension (businessname.com) is about as credible as it gets. It leaves no room for doubt about the company website’s legitimacy, and makes it super easy for people to find the business online. The best way to guarantee an exact match domain is to get the domain ahead of time, instead of committing to a business name and then trying to acquire the matching domain afterward.
2. Memorable
As a business owner, you don’t want to sink a ton of time and money into marketing a name that nobody will remember. For this reason, a catchy and memorable domain name may be just as good (if not better) as an exact business name match. It may also be the best bet for a company whose exact match domain is already taken. For example, let’s say you have a company called Bob’s Pizza, but bobspizza.com and even bobspizza.net are already taken and being used by pizza companies in other states. A good option might be a catchy slogan, like GiveUsPizza.com. It would be easy for someone to remember, which helps ensure your marketing dollars are not going to waste.
3. Keyword Rich
How do customers find new businesses? Oftentimes by searching a topic on google and filtering through the results for a site that relates to their search. This is where a keyword rich domain shines. A domain that contains one or more keywords related to the service or product it offers has a higher chance of being clicked in a search, and may achieve a higher SEO ranking. For example, If someone were searching for clocks, and they saw a site named clockshop.com, there’s a pretty decent chance they’d click that link.
Finding the perfect domain for your new business can be tough. But planning ahead and investing in a premium domain up front will help ensure your business’ long term success, and make your marketing efforts much more productive.
