If you are launching a new business, or considering launching an additional website, selecting a domain name is an important marketing decision. There are a number of factors to take into account. In general, go for a short domain name, as this is easier to say and easier to remember.
Your website address = a domain name. For example, bbc.co.uk and wikipedia.org are famous domain names. The domain name for www.nigeltemple.com is split into two parts. The TLD (Top Level Domain) is the part to the right (“.com”). The latter is easy to say (two syllables) and is generally accepted to mean a commercial website.
For UK companies / small businesses / independent professionals, “.co.uk” is a popular TLD choice. Sadly, it comprises no less than five syllables, so it is a little long winded to say aloud.
Within “nigeltemple.com” the part to the left = the second level domain (SLD). You will probably want to include your business name, or a brand name, or your own name, within your SLD. Quite often, when a client asks me about domain names, I find myself in a discussion about their brand name and all the associated issues.
From a search engine optimisation (SEO) perspective, see whether you can include one or two keywords within your SLD. In my case, I have traded as “Nigel Temple” for many years. So in 1999, I registered ‘www.nigeltemple.com’. The accompanying website is now in its 6th incarnation.
There are numerous online resources to help you to find a domain name (and whether it is available). For example: www.whois.net
Be careful before you buy a domain name as this may create challenges for you, when it comes to building your website. When I originally registered “nigeltemple.com”, I did so via a company in the USA. It proved to be a frustrating and time consuming experience, to transfer my domain name across to the UK.
By the way, we build websites for small businesses via www.totosites.com and we also offer WordPress training courses. Any questions – you are welcome to ask.
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