Here's how to choose the perfect domain for your website. Its main features should be:

01. Be short and to the point

Technically speaking, domain names can be up to 63 characters long. However, we do not recommend registering a domain of this size, as it would be tiring, difficult to type and almost impossible to remember. So make sure you have a short domain name .

The ideal for a domain is to have a length between 3 to 12 characters. If the name you had in mind is longer than that, consider shortening it or adopting a completely different alternative.

02. Be easy to type and pronounce

You don't want potential visitors to rack their brains over spelling details to get to your page. For that reason, look for a domain name that is easy to speak and type. It's best to avoid words that people tend to misspell, or any name that requires looking at it more than once before you can pronounce it.

Ask a few friends to test the domain you've chosen, and see if they get it right the first time. If any difficulty arises, it's best to switch to a different name.

If you're planning to use your own name as a domain, but your last name isn't intuitively spelled, look for workarounds. One possibility is to use a combination of your first name and middle name, if you have one. Another possibility is to combine your first name with your specialty, such as “cooking with mateus”.

Another good practice is to stay away from fads, and write all words in full. For example, use “you” instead of “you” and watch out for words that can be spelled in different ways.

03. Stick to alphabetic letters only

Unlike your email password, your domain name cannot be a string of characters that only makes sense to you. Therefore, avoid using special characters like hyphens and numbers. Numbers and hyphens are very confusing and harder to remember and type. Numbers can leave people wondering whether to use the number itself or to spell it out (is it to use 10 or write ten?).

Hyphens, on the other hand, are easy to miss or misplace when typing, and aren't easily accessible right away on most smartphone keyboards. Therefore, it is best to exclude them from your domain entirely.

04. Mention your brand

A great brand identity is made up of different elements that come together to tell a cohesive story. Your domain name should align with the rest of your marketing assets, such as your logo and the brand's tone of voice, so that it speaks the same language and conveys the same message.

Your domain name can be the same as your business name, or a variation of it, or your business name with a keyword added. If you haven't already chosen a business name, take the time to come up with a name that is catchy and conveys the spirit of your brand. You can come up with new words that sound simple and nice (like Wix and Google), look up terms with some meaning in the dictionary, or even brainstorm with others to get your ideas flowing better.

05. Include keywords, if necessary

Through SEO practices , you can improve your chances of appearing on Google when people search for a company like yours. A great SEO tip is to include a relevant keyword in your domain name. This can help both your site visitors and search engine robots to associate your site with your main field of expertise and thus help your site rank better for that topic.

While this is a beneficial practice, you should use keywords sparingly, and only when they fit your domain name very naturally. If not, it's best not to force the issue, as an overly optimized domain can give the impression of spam. In other words, domain name SEO strategy is valuable but not mandatory.

06. Highlight your local roots

If your business only operates in a specific country or region, highlighting your location on the domain can help drive more traffic through local SEO . Your location can be incorporated into the domain name as its extension instead of just “.com” which is more common.

07. Avoid legal problems

Before purchasing the domain, make sure you are not infringing on anything against the competition. Search trademark and copyright databases, as well as competitors' brands. Adopting a domain name that has already been adopted by other brands, even indirectly (which was used in a way other than the domain itself), can lead to customer confusion and possibly legal issues as well. So it's worth taking the time to make an informed decision based on a lot of research.

08. Choose the right domain extension

Your domain extension is the suffix at the end of your domain name, also known as TLD - Top Level Domain in English - or Top Level Domain. While “.com” is certainly the most common extension, there are many other options that can serve different needs on different websites.

These extensions serve the purpose of better explaining what the site is about. For example, “.org” means the site is owned by a non-profit organization. However, extensions can also be a great alternative if your idea for the domain name is already being used in the “.com” version.

There are many domain extensions available ranging from the more eccentric (like “.guru”) to the more explanatory (like “.tv”). Here are just a few of the top domain extensions explained:

.com: short for “commercial”, it is a widespread domain extension, and is almost a synonym for “internet”. It is the most trusted and well-known of extensions and, when in doubt, is usually the best option. The “.com” extension is associated with for-profit companies. For example: wix.com .

.org: short for “organization”, it is a domain extension that is very often used for non-profit organizations. For example: wikipedia.org.

.net: Literally refers to the internet itself and is an extension commonly used by online businesses, startups, and high-tech applications or services. For example: netcombo.net.

.info: This extension is short for “information” and is generally used for informational or educational websites.

.me: An extension highly suitable for resume websites , blogs, portfolios and personal websites.

Local Extensions: As mentioned earlier, this type of extension shows your physical location and can even boost your SEO.