15.4 Tips to Brand Your Domain Name
Suppose you are planning a website. You already know what it will be about and now what? Yeah, you need to name it. And that’s where you first get into trouble. You might want your site name to contain your main keyword and most obviously you find that all the hot catchy names are already taken. So what to do? Here are some helpful tips and resources:
1. Use already branded ideas (one of my favorites):
seomoz.com (Dmoz.com)
porntube.com (Youtube.com)
The obvious advantage of this approach lies in adding a fixed positive association to your domain name. Consider this, everyone knows and trusts Dmoz and thus by adding -moz to your domain name you get people to trust your new website.
2. Make up new words by adding suffixes:
2.1. Add -ster (very popular): catster.com, dogster.com, friendster.com
2.2. Add a verb forming suffix -ize/-ise: fashionising.com, colourize.com
2.3. Add Latin adjectival suffix -cus: eventicus.com
2.4. Use adjective suffixes
-matic: podomatic.com (podcasts)
-ful: eventful.com
-able: fundable.com
3. An advanced version of the above two: take a well known website name, add your keyword and add a suffix - gamediggity.com
4. Add suffix -er and drop e (also very popular):
talkr.com
socialtrackr.com
5. Go even further: add -er, drop e and make it plural:
sweeprs.com (from sweepstakes)
6. Take advantage of .us top level domain:
thumblicio.us
flickrlicio.us
7. Invent the suffixes of your own:
searchles.com
URLex.info
8. Split your keyword with another word:
mapeire.com (map + empire)
motortopia.com (motor + utopia)
9. Add one letter before your keyword (also must have been invented by Dmoz):
Dcomments.com
furl.net
10. Invent a new word which looks familiar to an existing word (a risky one):
SiteBar.org (sidebar)
wepublic.com (republic)
11. Add your targeted territory name + use any method from above: filipinofriendsterworld.com
12. Drop a letter in the middle of your keyword:
Sk-rt.com
13. Rhyme your keyword:
Flyspy.com
14. Play with your keyword plural form (a bit overused method):
-x instead of -cs: topix.net
-z instead of -s: clickz.com
15. Use an advanced option of the above method: add -z instead of regular -s and add any vowel in the end: piczo.com
16. (also using the 15th one) use your keyword twice (singular + (changed) plural): picpix.com
Things to keep in mind while searching for a domain name:
- Plan ahead: think how easily your new domain name will be branded. Learn from the best: wikitravel.org (from wikipedia.org), Mozbers (SeoMoz + Members), etc.
- Try to avoid potential misspellings (can be referred to the 15th and 11th, for example).
- Make sure your domain name is easily spelled (can be referred to the 5th one)
- Try this tool which can be a real fun.
26 Responses to “15.4 Tips to Brand Your Domain Name”
alert people who also bid domain names.
By Rubab on Nov 18, 2007
Great info! Thanks for sharing.
By Rubber Stamps on Nov 19, 2007
You are welcome
Please feel free to add more tips, which were not mentioned here.
By Ann Smarty on Nov 19, 2007
Stumbled upon this great article! Keep it up and thanks for sharing.
By Recruiter's Digest by Justin Ng on Nov 19, 2007
Great tips! I use almost 1 week to decide my domain name. Almost all domain names that i can think are taken by others. If i read this article earlier then maybe i can come out better name…Hahaha
By dicky on Nov 26, 2007
Great post Anne! As an SEO who also does domains and finds branding important, this one’s right up my alley. I suggest you pass it on to Susan Gunelius at Brand Curve, who is a friend and great blogger. She might likely be interested :).
By Gab Goldenberg on Nov 26, 2007
btw, is that smarty or smartie ;)? Heh, I’m a smartiepants
By Gab Goldenberg on Nov 26, 2007
Thanks, Gab, I’ll get in contact with Susan. And that’s “smarty” by the way
By Ann Smarty on Nov 26, 2007
Look forward to seeing your content linked to from Susan’s! Tell her you’re a friend of mine :).
By Gab Goldenberg on Nov 27, 2007
Lol, I actually thought this was a parody of some kind. But you were serious!
the ONE thing you should know about choosing you domain (or any other marketing choice you have to make) is:
BE RELEVANT AND ORIGINAL
Don’t just copy other ideas.
Flickr was great. Talkr will never be a hit…
del.ici.us was great. thumblicio.us? Not a chance.
Get it?
By Slaven on Nov 27, 2007
Great Post. I have book marked it and will be using as guide when indecisive about my next domain name. Thanks for the great tips
http://www.PassportMentors.com
By Megan on Nov 27, 2007
@ Slaven… Well, you are right, being original is the best one. This post was meant to inspire and give some useful techniques, not to learn how to copy others’ ideas.
By Ann Smarty on Nov 27, 2007
@ Gab Goldenberg… Many thanks for putting me in touch with Susan! I definitely owe you! Her review can be found here:
http://www.brandcurve.com/tips-for-branding-your-domain-name/
By Ann Smarty on Nov 27, 2007
Great info, thanks for sharing it with us.
Even though most ‘good’ domain names are taken, there are still many available in the secondary markets and in other tld’s.
Multiple keyword domains are also still available if one looks around and does some thinking.
By Mike on Nov 27, 2007
Some great ideas here. Thanks.
By Keith on Nov 27, 2007
I really appreciated this on branding. It’s something that every entrepreneur should be aware of.
We have a large subscriber base and we featured this post on our site under the Sales and Marketing category on our content site www.northstarthinktank.com.
Thanks again for the useful information!
By Jeff Chavez on Dec 13, 2007
Thanks, Jeff! I noticed a link back yesterday! I am happy you find it useful.
By Ann Smarty on Dec 14, 2007
“You are welcome Please feel free to add more tips, which were not mentioned here.”
By Ann Smarty on Nov 19, 2007
There couldn’t possibly be any others!! This list is unbeliveable. SEO Smarty or SEO Muse?
By Tom Nucatola on Dec 28, 2007
An even better tool for this is http://www.bustaname.com It lets you check domains in real time by combining words and do most of the suffixes and prefixes mentioned above.
By Ryan Stout on Feb 18, 2008
Good Topic!!
We like this:
Pre-fix a common word with 1- to make it look like a phone number so that it will appeal to mobile users.
Numbers That Work and 1-Dash Domains
Best example:
1-Pizza.com
1-Pizza.mobi
1-74992.com
1-74992.mobi
(74992 spells Pizza on a phone keypad)
The 1- mimics a phone number so it’s a great memory trigger for people using a phone to connect to the web.
By NTWWEB on Feb 22, 2008