6 Mistakes to Avoid When Choosing Your Online Identity

Your domain name is more than just an address; it’s your digital storefront, your brand’s first impression, and a crucial component of your online success. Yet, many businesses, big and small, make fundamental errors when choosing this vital piece of their online puzzle. These missteps can lead to branding headaches, missed opportunities, and even a loss of trust.

Don’t let your domain name become a digital disaster! Here are 6 common domain name mistakes to avoid:

1. Making it Too Long or Complex:

Ever tried to tell someone your website address over the phone and found yourself spelling out every letter? A long, hyphenated, or overly complicated domain name is a recipe for typos and frustration. Aim for brevity and simplicity. The easier it is to remember and type, the better.

• Pro-Tip: Test your chosen domain name by saying it out loud to a friend. If they struggle to remember or spell it, it’s probably too long.

2. Using Numbers and Hyphens Excessively (or at all):

While numbers and hyphens can be used, they often lead to confusion. Does “best-shoes-4u.com” mean “bestshoes4u.com” or “bestshoesforyou.com”? People naturally omit hyphens and tend to misinterpret numbers as words. Stick to pure words whenever possible.

• Exception: If a number is an integral part of your brand (e.g., “3DPrintingPros.com”), then it might be acceptable.

3. Ignoring Your Brand (or Choosing a Name that Doesn’t Reflect It):

Your domain name should ideally align with your brand name or the core service/product you offer. A disconnected domain name can confuse customers and weaken your brand identity. For example, if your business is called “Green Thumb Gardening,” “plantcarepro.com” is far more fitting than “cheapgardenstuff.net.”

• Think Long-Term: Your brand might evolve, so choose a name that has some flexibility if possible.

4. Choosing a Poor Domain Extension (.com is King!):

While there are many new domain extensions (.net, .org, .io, .biz, etc.), .com remains the gold standard. It’s the most trusted, most remembered, and most commonly assumed extension. If your desired .com is taken, consider slight variations before resorting to less common extensions.

• When to Use Others: .org is good for non-profits, and country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs) like .com.ph are excellent if your target audience is geographically specific, for example to the Philippines.

5. Forgetting About SEO (Keyword Stuffing is Out!):

While keywords in your domain name can offer a slight SEO benefit, don’t stuff it with irrelevant or too many keywords. Google’s algorithms are sophisticated, and a keyword-rich but unreadable domain name will do more harm than good. Focus on a brandable and relevant name first.

• Instead of: “best-cheap-affordable-web-design-services-phil.com”
• Consider: “PhilWebDesignPros.com”

6. Failing to Secure All Relevant Variations:

Once you’ve chosen your primary domain name, consider registering close variations (misspellings, different extensions if crucial, hyphenated versions if you absolutely must use them). This protects your brand from competitors and prevents others from siphoning off your traffic.

• Example: If your domain is “myawesomebusiness.com,” also consider “myawesomebusiness.net” and common misspellings like “myawsomebusiness.com.”

Conclusion:

Your domain name is an investment in your online future. By avoiding these common mistakes, you’ll lay a solid foundation for your brand, improve your online visibility, and create a memorable presence that resonates with your audience. Take your time, do your research, and choose wisely!