tips guides choosing brandable domain nameIf you’re thinking about naming a business website then odds are you’re either starting a new business, or rebranding an existing one. In either case the name that you choose is going to be a key part of your business’s identity – and you’re going to want to make sure you choose a name that is credible, memorable, unique, and relevant.

Trying to come up with a name that fits all those criteria can be tricky, but these rules should help you to avoid some of the more common mistakes that businesses make, and choose a good name for your website:

Try to be short and brief

The days of keyword-stuffed domain names are long gone, and if you opt for a lengthy domain name hoping to get extra juice from search engines – you’re going to be disappointed. Instead it is better to choose a name that is brief, as it is likely to be far more memorable and appear much more credible.

Avoid slang and short forms

Although some prominent websites and online businesses use slang and short form, their brand recognition allows them to get away with it. When you’re starting out you’ll have no such luck, and slang and short form will just make your domain name more confusing and harder to remember.

Look up any names that are shortlisted

As you start to shortlist potential names, be sure to look up each and every one of them. Some of the names that you pick may already have been registered, or there may be popular websites that use similar names. A bit of research can help you to make sure your name is unique enough to stand out.

Use connotations to establish relevance

Finding unique domain names that are directly relevant to your business may be difficult – which is why connotations can come in handy. By using words that have an implied connection to your business, the products that you’re selling, or the services that you provide – you could open up an entirely new avenue of potential names.

Get feedback

Before you make a firm decision regarding any name – get some feedback from your business partners, family, or friends. Honestly you’d be surprised how often feedback can be helpful, as it will let you gauge the response that others have to the name. In fact it may even help you to perhaps spot a negative connotation that you hadn’t considered, or help you to generate more ideas.

As you can see there is a lot involved in choosing a good name for a business website, and if you need some ideas or a place to start you could check out the domains in the marketplace at BrandableHQ. By following the rules listed above, you should be able to make sure the name you choose has all the necessary criteria so that it can become an effective and ideal gateway for your business’s online presence as you start building up its brand.