Once you’ve decided to launch a blog – whether for personal or business purposes – one of the first decisions you have to make involves your domain name selection. This is the most pertinent branding mechanism attached to your blog and you can’t afford to mess up. You need to select a name that you can confidently stand behind for years to come.
The Five Keys to Naming a Blog Domain
You’re likely going to be stuck with your blog’s domain name for the remainder of the blog’s life. This isn’t meant to intimidate you, but is intended to show you just how big of a commitment you’re making. With that being said, here are a few things you absolutely must consider.
1. Align Your Domain and Blog Name
This may seem like an obvious tip, but you’d be surprised by how many people use separate names. “It’s confusing to have a blog named one thing, but a domain or URL be something completely different,” entrepreneur Neil Patel says. “The big idea behind choosing a domain name is this: Choose a domain name that is the same as your blog name.”
This simplifies things for both you and your audience. You don’t have to deal with two names in branding and advertising, while your audience doesn’t have to remember two different names when trying to find your blog.
2. Make it Simple
Your domain name needs to be simple. This means short, easy to spell, effortless to type, and pleasing to the eye. This latter point is especially important. Remember that domain names run together without any spaces. While you may think your domain says one thing, others who aren’t familiar with your blog may think it says something else. Think through minor details like this and you’ll save yourself some embarrassment.
3. Don’t Limit Yourself
One of the biggest mistakes new bloggers make is choosing a domain name that limits their reach. In other words, they get too selective and end up with a name that allows for very little pivoting or flexibility in the future.
An example of a limiting domain name would be something like, “DallasWeatherNews.com.” Sure, your initial idea may be to cover the weather in Dallas, but what happens in six months when you want to expand to Houston? And then what happens in another year when you want to cover the entire state of Texas? A better name would be something like, “YourWeatherNews.com”
4. Think About Domain Extensions
There are tons of different domain extensions. While .com is by far the most common, you can always venture in other directions if you can’t find a domain name that suits your blog. Here’s a comprehensive list of some of the most popular extensions. Get creative and see what works for you.
Remember, you can use this to setup an email as well.
5. Keep it Legal
Your blog may seem like a casual and innocent thing, but anytime there’s money changing hands, there are also legal implications. Do your research to make sure you’re aware of any legal implications attached to the name – such as trademarks.
“I know of a couple of instances where bloggers were forced into making changes months into new blogs because of legal threats,” expert Darren Rowse says. “Whether these laws vary from country to country I’m unsure – but it’s worth considering if you’re picking a domain that might clash in this way.”
Patience is a Must
What’s another few hours or days in the grand scheme of things? There’s no sense in rushing into naming your blog. While you obviously have to nail down this step before being able to proceed with others, you can’t afford to choose a name, just for the sake of moving things along. Overall, be patient and do your due diligence.
Source
The Five Keys to Naming a Blog Domain
You’re likely going to be stuck with your blog’s domain name for the remainder of the blog’s life. This isn’t meant to intimidate you, but is intended to show you just how big of a commitment you’re making. With that being said, here are a few things you absolutely must consider.
1. Align Your Domain and Blog Name
This may seem like an obvious tip, but you’d be surprised by how many people use separate names. “It’s confusing to have a blog named one thing, but a domain or URL be something completely different,” entrepreneur Neil Patel says. “The big idea behind choosing a domain name is this: Choose a domain name that is the same as your blog name.”
This simplifies things for both you and your audience. You don’t have to deal with two names in branding and advertising, while your audience doesn’t have to remember two different names when trying to find your blog.
2. Make it Simple
Your domain name needs to be simple. This means short, easy to spell, effortless to type, and pleasing to the eye. This latter point is especially important. Remember that domain names run together without any spaces. While you may think your domain says one thing, others who aren’t familiar with your blog may think it says something else. Think through minor details like this and you’ll save yourself some embarrassment.
3. Don’t Limit Yourself
One of the biggest mistakes new bloggers make is choosing a domain name that limits their reach. In other words, they get too selective and end up with a name that allows for very little pivoting or flexibility in the future.
An example of a limiting domain name would be something like, “DallasWeatherNews.com.” Sure, your initial idea may be to cover the weather in Dallas, but what happens in six months when you want to expand to Houston? And then what happens in another year when you want to cover the entire state of Texas? A better name would be something like, “YourWeatherNews.com”
4. Think About Domain Extensions
There are tons of different domain extensions. While .com is by far the most common, you can always venture in other directions if you can’t find a domain name that suits your blog. Here’s a comprehensive list of some of the most popular extensions. Get creative and see what works for you.
Remember, you can use this to setup an email as well.
5. Keep it Legal
Your blog may seem like a casual and innocent thing, but anytime there’s money changing hands, there are also legal implications. Do your research to make sure you’re aware of any legal implications attached to the name – such as trademarks.
“I know of a couple of instances where bloggers were forced into making changes months into new blogs because of legal threats,” expert Darren Rowse says. “Whether these laws vary from country to country I’m unsure – but it’s worth considering if you’re picking a domain that might clash in this way.”
Patience is a Must
What’s another few hours or days in the grand scheme of things? There’s no sense in rushing into naming your blog. While you obviously have to nail down this step before being able to proceed with others, you can’t afford to choose a name, just for the sake of moving things along. Overall, be patient and do your due diligence.
Source
Diyyan Mehboob, Professional blogger in Pakistan. Started blog to complete my passion about blogging, Helping readers all around the world to solve problems about Wordpress, SEO and Online Earnings.
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