There are plenty of different things that play a significant role in the success of your business. Your domain name is just one of them. Your domain name dictates where your visitors will find both you, and your content, and it also helps to highlight how visible your website will be.

As the online world becomes more cluttered, there’s no one-size-fits-all strategy for the perfect domain name. However, there are some strategies you can use to get the best possible results. Here are some golden rules to keep in mind.

1. Consider your Keywords

Usually, choosing the right domain name starts with a brainstorming session. You’ll sit down with a list of keywords and figure out what kind of title is best for your business, and your customers. The most obvious word to choose for your domain name is your business name. However, if this is already taken, then you may need to add other keywords into the mix too. Don’t force the process, just let ideas come to you naturally.

2. Choose a “.com” TLD

The .com TLD is far from the only option available for domain names today. There’s everything from .info, to .co.uk and many more for brands to choose from now. However, if you want a memorable brand online, then there’s nothing more credible than the .com. If you don’t have an option for .com, you can use the equivalent for your country, like .co.uk. In fact, it might be useful to buy the domain TLDs that you won’t necessarily use, but don’t want other people to have too.

3. Be as Unique As Possible

A domain name is an important part of your business brand. The last thing you want is for it to sound the same as all your competitors. A domain name needs to be memorable, and one of the best ways to ensure that it is, is to choose something that sounds different. Additionally, accidentally choosing a domain name that sounds like it belongs to another brand can create confusion and harm your business strategy in the long term.

While being unique is important, make sure that your choice doesn’t compromise on simplicity. For instance, misspelled words are rarely a good idea.

4. Make it Simple and Easy to Type

Speaking of making your domain name as memorable as possible, you need it to be easy to type too. That’s one of the reasons why it’s so important to keep your domain name simple, as difficult-to-spell words are harder for your audience to get right. If your customers have to struggle to find you, they won’t just keep searching. Instead, they’ll simply switch to a company that’s easier to track down.

A simple domain name is also useful for word-of-mouth marketing. Something that’s easier to type is easier to share with other people, whether it’s through an email, social media, or in person.

5. Avoid Hyphens and Numbers

Part of having an easy-to-spell and use domain name is making sure that you choose simple words that are easy to spell. On the other hand, it’s also important to make sure that you stay away from other symbols that might confuse your audience. Hyphens cause confusion, because people are rarely sure where they’re meant to go in your URL. You might find that people end up at a competitor’s site by mistake.

Additionally, when companies use numbers in their domain names, their audience members are never certain whether they should use the numeric figure, or the spelled-out name.

6. Keep URLs Short

Your domain name needs to be short and sweet if it’s going to be memorable. Think of how easy it is to remember things like “Google” or Facebook. Ultimately, you should aim for no more than three words in your domain name at once. Shorter URLs are easier to type, and they also mean that more of your URL shows up the SERP – which can be helpful from a SEO perspective.

7. Work on Building your Brand

As mentioned above, your domain name should be an extension of your brand. Ideally, you’ll want to use your business name, but if you can’t use that, then make sure that whatever you choose connects with the identity you’re trying to create for yourself online. This should be relatively easy once you have your list of keywords to work with.

8. Try Domain Tools

Finally, if you’re really struggling to find the right domain name, then you can always try a domain name tool instead. There are plenty of options out there that allow you to enter a keyword and get ideas back in return. Just remember to keep the above advice in mind too.