How to Choose a Domain Name for Blog Websites

Your blog’s domain name is like a sign on a physical storefront—it welcomes visitors and lets them know what to expect inside. As such, the right blog domain name can make a huge difference in your blog’s branding and searchability.

Before you dive into the process of creating a site to host your blog, it’s important to carefully research blog domain name options and select a custom domain name that provides your blog with the greatest value.

The importance of a domain name

Your domain name is typically the first interaction people have with your brand online. It’s a prominent part of your website that influences how visitors view and interact with your blog. Thus, it’s both a powerful tool for your brand name and a simple way for your audience to connect to your content.

The role of domain names in branding and recognition

Your website’s domain name is one of the most visible parts of your branding suite, and it will quickly become synonymous with your blog. Because your domain name introduces the rest of your site, it:

• informs each visitor’s first impression of your content, and
• acts as one of the cornerstones of your brand as a whole.

Whether your domain name matches your blog name exactly or references it in another way, a good custom domain name can make your brand all the more recognizable and memorable.

Why a memorable domain name matters for your audience

A memorable domain name is an invaluable tool as you build an audience of readers for your blog. When people reference your blog or share posts, they’ll likely mention your domain name to help others find your content.

A unique, concise, and catchy domain name is easier to remember and share, meaning:

• people are more likely to spread your brand name and blog information through word-of-mouth, and
• visitors are more likely to return to your site.

Common mistakes to avoid

When building your website, you may tempted to immediately reserve the first domain name that comes to mind so that you can start the process right away. But changing your domain name involves overhauling a key component of your brand, so it’s important to be confident in your choice from the start.

As you brainstorm domain name for blog ideas, avoid these common pitfalls:

Choosing a business name before checking domain availability

For bloggers, having a recognizable brand is integral to their success with both building a reader base and finding potential advertising partners. So, when deciding on a blog or business name, select an option that has relevant domain names available for purchase.

If someone has already secured your business name as their domain, you’ll want to find another domain name that’s distinct enough to stand out.

Overcomplicating with hyphens and numbers

A memorable domain name is short and to the point. Adding elements like numbers and hyphens into your domain name can:

• make it harder to share verbally, and
• create confusion as to your actual web address.

For instance, visitors may wonder whether your domain name features an actual number or if it’s supposed to be spelled out with letters. To avoid confusion, stick to simple keywords and phrases to make your domain as easy to understand as possible.

Ignoring the potential confusion with homophones

Just like numbers and special characters can mislead visitors as they search for your site, homophones can also be challenging. When discussing your site with someone, you want the spelling of your web address to be immediately evident.

To that end, choose keywords with a single obvious spelling and forego common homophones, like bare and bear or lead and led.

Crafting the perfect domain name for blog websites

Once you understand the elements of a bad domain name, you can start brainstorming ideas for your perfect web address. Here are a few considerations to keep in mind:

The debate: meaningful vs. brandable names

Domain names don’t necessarily have to match your business name (although matching the two can definitely help with brand recognition). Some sites forego brandable domain names for self-explanatory, keyword-based options that focus more on the actual content of the site.

For example, say you run a crafting blog called Leather and Lace. A brandable option would be something like “leatherandlace.com” while a descriptive option could be “creativecraftideas.com.” What’s the difference?

• The brandable option can help establish your brand identity and encourage an emotional connection with visitors.
• The descriptive name option can be easier to remember and more searchable.

Carefully consider the goals for your blog and assess domain availability when choosing between these two options.

The power of short and pronounceable domain names

A vast majority of successful websites have short, succinct domain names*. These types of names have a clear advantage over more complex, wordy, or hard-to-pronounce options, as they’re more memorable and searchable.

As you consider your options, prioritize names that are more convenient for your readers to remember.

Considering your content niche when selecting a name

The most successful bloggers find a unique niche that speaks to a specific community. Consider getting the most out of your blog’s unique niche by featuring it directly in your domain name.

For instance, you can include a term or phrase that references your content to attract new readers within your chosen niche.

Navigating domain extensions

Your domain name consists of two parts—the primary domain name before the dot (SLD) and the top-level domain extension after the dot. It’s important to be thoughtful when selecting both elements to elicit the greatest impact from your domain name.

Does the extension really matter?

Domain extensions can have a direct impact on how people view your site and brand. For instance:

Choosing a popular, well-known extension, like a .com extension, can signal professionalism and support the legitimacy of your site.

Keyword-based extensions, like .photo or .news, can indicate that your blog is meant for a specific community or features certain kinds of content.

Country-specific extensions and their benefits

Along with classic and keyword-based domain names, you may also be able to claim a country-specific extension. A country code top-level domain extension indicates that you’re operating out of a certain region or creating content for people in that area.

If you create localized content for your blog—for example, writing restaurant reviews in a certain area—a country-specific extension can help you advertise your content to the most relevant audience.

Avoiding confusion with popular extensions

When choosing your domain name, be sure to check its availability for multiple extensions. Doing this can help you avoid creating a web address that’s already popular under another domain extension.

In other words, finding a truly unique domain name and extension combination can support your brand recognition and prevent potential confusion with other sites.

Personal names as domains

Many bloggers promote their content under their personal brand and thus, use their own name as their domain name. Carefully consider this strategy as you determine how you want to brand your blog.

The pros and cons of using your own name

Registering your own name as a domain name has a few clear benefits, including:

• Building a personal brand – Associating your content directly with your name is an effective way to become the face of your brand.
• Cultivating familiarity – A name-based domain can help you appear more relatable and personable to visitors.
• Establishing authority – You can position yourself as an expert in your niche by sharing content under your name.

Examples of successful bloggers with personal domain names

There are plenty of entrepreneurs who’ve launched successful blogs or websites under their own names. Here are a few popular examples and why they work so well:

• Neil Patel – Neil Patel’s popular digital marketing blog leverages his professional reputation to build credibility.
• Camille Styles – As an overall lifestyle blogger, Camille Styles posts relatable influencer content that associates her name with various wellness, beauty, and food topics.
• Mark Manson – Mark Manson’s self-improvement blog leverages his own life story to create a narrative, allowing him to turn his own name into a recognizable brand.

Final tips for domain selection

As you finalize your top domain name picks, use these tips to ensure you choose a quality domain name that will support your blog as it grows:

Utilize a domain name generator

Ensure you only consider available domain names by using a domain name generators and search engines. A domain name generator can provide highly relevant suggestions based on themes, keywords, or the type of blog you want to write.

Understand the significance of .com extension in today’s digital age

Because .com domain extensions have been around for so long, they’re an easy way to establish credibility for your site. However, many short and concise .com domain names have already been reserved.

Alternative extensions are becoming more popular and accepted, so consider a full range of domain extensions when making your final decision.

Ensure your domain name is easy to type and recall

Run your chosen domain name by friends and family to assess its memorability and brevity. Keep an eye out for any ways it could be misinterpreted or confused for other sites, and make edits as needed.

Why choose Name.com for your domain and blog website needs

Working with the right domain name provider can help you build a quality foundation for your blog. Fortunately, Name.com provides access to a wide range of relevant domain name extensions that you can leverage to promote your blog and enhance your digital identity. Plus, Name.com makes it easy to find, secure, and register a domain name and use it to build a website through Wix—all within the same comprehensive platform.

Try out Name.com’s domain name search today to claim a memorable and searchable name for your blog.

Source:

* Business. Business Domain Names: Everything You Need to Know. https://www.business.com/articles/the-perfect-domain-11-important-facts-about-domain-names/