Before the Launch
Somewhere between the spark of a genius idea and the day of the big launch you had to answer the question, “So, what are we gonna call this thing anyway?”
Ahh… the joys of choosing a name, a legal name, a domain name, a Facebook page name, a Twitter name… basically, choosing your brand. Don’t forget to cross your fingers and hope they are all available!
Here are a few tips on choosing your name keeping your website and domain name in mind.
Avoid Abbreviations and Punctuation
You live and breathe your industry. But your clients may not. Abbreviations will not mean as much or (more importantly) be as memorable to them. Worse yet, what if it means something completely different to someone? That’s a bombshell for your branding image. For example, does CPT stand for “Certified Personal Trainer” or “Captain”? Or both? This is a huge one to watch out for when selecting a domain name!
Speaking of domain names, do not, I repeat, do not use hyphens or underscores in your domain name. This trend died back in 1999. Try saying in a business meeting, “Check out my website at my dash awesome dash business dot com.” Hmm, Somehow it just lost the punch.
Go Regional
Are you a brick and mortar business serving Jacksonville, Florida? Then don’t be afraid to put “jax” or “jacksonville” in your domain name. It will do wonders for your localized search engine listings! It’s also a quick way to start going niche. But there’s a limit to this one. Watch out for being too clever for your own good. “NEFL” might mean “Northeast Florida” but refer to the section above before you lock it in.
Be Descriptive
I started out as Open Sky by Karena. That lasted about a month. My pride had to realize NO ONE knew Karena and based on that business name, they also had no idea what I did or how I can serve them. I quickly morphed to Open Sky Web Studio. Much more descriptive!
Watch The Size and Sound
Is the name you have in mind bulky and long? Is it complicated to say or remember? Choose names that are to the to the point while still reflecting the culture of your organization. Whether your industry is fun and whimsical, or formal and traditional, your name should carry that same feel.
Unintended and Confusing spellings
Oh, this is my favorite domain name nightmare. (Can you say “favorite” and “nightmare” in the same sentence?). Before buying a domain name, write it down, as one long run-on word, in all lower case letters. Then ask a random person to look at it and pronounce it. Are they confused about where one word stops and the next starts? Does it look weird? Often when a word ends in a vowel and the next starts in one, the eye gets confused. Your domain will so often be written/typed as a long run on sentence. Don’t think capitalizing your main words is gonna get you out of this one. Get a new plan now instead.
Consider the Meaning
Why Open Sky? When choosing a name, the image of an Open Sky spoke volumes to me. Open Sky represents a wide upward range of possibilities. It highlights creativity, vision and wisdom. I strive to deliver clean, crisp, professional and open site designs that are compelling.
The name just fit.
