Domain Names - How to pick one?

[Awfy]

Over the past few months there have been some god awful domain name choices made by people on this forum. Mostly people buying .co.uk when the .com is taken. I have always looked deeper into the actual domain buying process than I see most people do. So I've decided to compile a check list you can use to help find that ultimate domain name for your website.

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1. Balance
   When you write your brand's name there is often a "sense" if you're a designer if the actual word looks good. For example a word with balancing height can be better than a top heavy word.
   
   Happy - this is a balanced word as it has both tall and hanging letters, therefore it makes it look equal on both top and bottom.
   
   Sad - this is an unbalanced word as it only has tall letter, therefore making it top heavy.
   
   However there is the "personal" opinion that effects this choice. As not everyone likes a balanced name and vice versa.
   
   
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2. First Letter
   When choosing the first letter of your domain make sure it's one which can't be confused or prevents a speakable name from being made. For example the letter "X" is hard to attach any other letters to and make a full word.
   
   
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3. Endings
   You probably have seen the latest trend to replace "er" with "r" on the end of domains. Often referred to as a web 2.0 domain name (even though that's not possible). These are great however there are two things you have to bear in mind whilst purchasing these.
   
   1 - Is the "er" version taken? If not purchase it instead or both.
   2 - If the "er" version is taken will it affect your traffic from people misspelling?
   
   All in all these domains are becoming more and more popular and will soon become the next annoying thing after "iDomains".
   
   
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4. Extensions
   An extension can change everything, if you want to make the web's next best thing then you can't really settle for anything less than .com. So if someone has the .com try and avoid the domain at all cost. There is a major exception though, if the .com is taken but you want to make a full name which inherits the domain then you can so. For example;
   
   Delicious - www.del.icio.us
   Filecabinet - www.filecabi.net
   
   If that is the case then you can normally find yourself to come across a pretty "trendy" domain for the geeks to latch onto.
   
   
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5. Initials (Acronyms)
   This is quite a rare one and pretty hard to get right. Initials are where you create a shorter domain from the initials of the business. For example;
   
   Bebo - "Blog Early, Blog Often"
   
   Bebo were lucky to first of all find that domain and have the acronym to follow.
   
   
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6. I, I, I
   There was a crazy period where "i" at the start of a domain was cool and hip however now it's just annoying and cheesy. The only people who can pull this off are Apple as they started the whole thing. The most annoying bit is people buy them and don't actually realise what the "i" stands for in the Apple range - it means "Internet". All coming from the fact an iMac can be connected to the internet in 2 steps directly from the box. You could argue that "Internet Name" sometimes suits the site, but even then it's still annoying.
   
   
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Anyway, that's about it. If you have anything to share please add to by replying

Thanks!

[J0SH]

Nice guide very well written +rep

[Awfy]

Nice guide very well written +rep

Thanks

[Iszak]

Good mention of the 'domain extensions' also known as 'domain hacks' if people want to get a domain hack without having to think of it there's the site http://xona.com/domainhacks/. The best domain hacks is when the dot or forward slash seperates each word compared to del.icio.us an example they provide is "stop.spamming.us" or "praise.be/allah" (don't ask). Nice guide none the less.

[Pyroka]

I love your guide Greg, but I swear that a (sort of) web government decided that you can use different types of web extensions, whichever name you want really. I could have www.Ryan.iscool if I really wanted to (if the thing passed).There was alot of fuss about it a while back, could you clear that up?

[Awfy]

You mean personal TLDs? I think the problem is it's been misheard as if ANYONE could make them. Technically it has always been around because if you paid enough money you could get one and it's the same today. If you wanted your own TLD it will be a few million out of your pocket.

So it will be the major players online who are the ones most likely to make anything from them.

Not all the countries in the world have their own TLD (I believe) so I think if a country can't afford them then it will be hard to see even people like Simon Cowell being able to get one.

[Agnostic Bear]

You mean personal TLDs? I think the problem is it's been misheard as if ANYONE could make them. Technically it has always been around because if you paid enough money you could get one and it's the same today. If you wanted your own TLD it will be a few million out of your pocket.

So it will be the major players online who are the ones most likely to make anything from them.

Not all the countries in the world have their own TLD (I believe) so I think if a country can't afford them then it will be hard to see even people like Simon Cowell being able to get one.

gTLDs are going to be in the 6 figure range, not the 7, and they'll be subject to approval (to stop like .fgt or .gayporn and other stupid ones.) I'd imagine Microsoft will buy .live and .msn, mac will get .mac.

Also countries are given TLDs for free by ICANN.

[Awfy]

There we go.

[Pyroka]

You mean personal TLDs? I think the problem is it's been misheard as if ANYONE could make them. Technically it has always been around because if you paid enough money you could get one and it's the same today. If you wanted your own TLD it will be a few million out of your pocket.

So it will be the major players online who are the ones most likely to make anything from them.

Not all the countries in the world have their own TLD (I believe) so I think if a country can't afford them then it will be hard to see even people like Simon Cowell being able to get one.

Oh damn seriously? That sucks. Maybe one day, when I'm a millionaire I'll do so.

[Excellent2]

Maybe one day, when I'm a millionaire I'll do so.

What's that song called? OH!! Dreamer :8