Choosing a domain name is one of the most important steps in designing your site; in fact, this choice is crucial for the success of your online space and your business, since it represents your activity and your business card.
Before understanding how to choose an effective domain, let’s look at the elements that make it up, which are read from right to left.
The extension is the first distinctive element of a domain and it can be national (.it, .fr, .de, etc.) or generic (.com .info, .gov, .tv, etc.).
The choice of the extension, or top-level domain, depends on the type of activity you intend to promote: if you want to create a showcase site or a blog aimed at Italian users, it would be better to opt for a .it domain.
You could, instead, opt for a .com domain if you are building an e-commerce site and don’t want to set territorial limits.
The most important part of your domain will be the central part, namely the domain name you will choose, also called the second-level domain.
This choice is shaped by your activity, it will be a direct reference to the set goal.
The best way to choose a catchy and effective name is to put yourself in the visitor’s shoes.
So here are the key requirements your second-level domain should meet:
Unique: it’s good practice that your domain is unique and clear. Reusing a domain that’s already taken, perhaps changing only the extension, will make your site less visible, especially if the other one is well ranked.
So don’t rush and choose a domain that is only yours, that truly reflects your idea.
Clear and direct: it’s essential that your domain is simple and easy to remember.
If you make cookies, it’s a good idea to use their name so the domain will be direct and, without too many words, easy to remember.
It’s also useful to know which features a domain should absolutely not have:
Punctuation: even if it’s not possible to insert most symbols within the domain, hyphens, high and low, are allowed.
They are often used to differentiate very similar domains ( mariorossi.it and mario-rossi.it ), this is strongly discouraged because it doesn’t allow your domain to be unique enough.
It is useful, instead, to use hyphens when two words have two vowels close together; mare-e-venti.com is easier to remember than mareeventi.com
Numbers and Articles: a similar point applies to numbers and articles.
It’s good practice to use them only if they are part of the brand or refer to something very well known, such as i3moschettieri.it
Finally, before publishing the domain, it’s advisable to check whether the chosen words could create double meanings or linguistic traps.
Can I use my first and last name for the domain?
Many famous people or freelancers often use domains that put their first and last name front and center, leveraging their public image to increase visits. For visitors it is certainly easier to remember and to find the site immediately.
So it is possible to make this choice and although it may offer some advantages, there can be just as many disadvantages, especially for those who don’t have a following or don’t do work where the name is their brand.
The most important advantage is that if you were to change business you won’t need to choose a new domain name.
By choosing to use your first and last name, this will have to be very prominent within the site and you will have to work a lot on the content, the structure, and the design of it.
It will also be necessary to assess the complexity of your first and last name and evaluate how common it is.
If, for example, your name is Mario Rossi it will be extremely difficult to find a free domain and it will be just as difficult to identify your site with you.
If instead your name is Ludovico Gallosi Pio Della Montagna, it goes without saying that it won’t be easy to remember, besides being hard to understand.
Keeping these simple rules in mind and letting your imagination run free, you’ll find the right mix to choose the ideal domain and promote your activity.
Start getting your first domain starting from here.
