{"id":2060,"date":"2021-04-28T15:25:56","date_gmt":"2021-04-28T15:25:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/blog\/?p=2060"},"modified":"2021-04-29T11:30:09","modified_gmt":"2021-04-29T11:30:09","slug":"choose-a-domain-name","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/blog\/choose-a-domain-name\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Choose a Domain Name: 8 Must-Know Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Congratulations, you\u2019re at the point in your seller journey where you need to know how to choose a domain name! By this point, you have the art that you\u2019re going to sell, you have a brand name, and you\u2019ve decided that you\u2019re going to create a website for your business. We have a few tricks and tips for choosing a domain name, so buckle up and we\u2019ll get into it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don\u2019t already have a brand name, check out our article on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/blog\/how-to-come-up-with-a-brand-name\/\">how to come up with a brand name<\/a> \u2013 that\u2019s the best place to start. We can also help you with creating <a href=\"https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/wholesale\">wholesale<\/a> products to sell on your website, as well as products for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/drop-shipping\">dropshipping<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you do already have a name for your artist brand, choosing a domain name can be just as easy as adding a .<em>com<\/em> to the end of it. In fact, that\u2019s exactly what you should do if you can. The problem here is that your brand name might not be available as a <em>.com<\/em>, so that\u2019s where the rest of this article can help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Tips For Choosing a Domain Name<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3>1. Use <em>.Com<\/em> If You Can<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"313\" src=\"https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/shutterstock_111435881-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2061\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/shutterstock_111435881-1.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/shutterstock_111435881-1-300x188.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The<em> .com <\/em>domain extension is still the most widely used throughout the internet. Fun fact: it stands for commercial! Most people are familiar with this extension and might even assume that a brand has a <em>.com<\/em> extension even if it doesn\u2019t, because that\u2019s how popular it is. Its popularity makes it the easiest to remember. A<em> .com<\/em> extension can also give you more domain authority, which will help you rank higher up in Google search results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re lucky and your brand name is available with a<em> .com<\/em> extension, then definitely snap it up! This is the easiest approach for you and your customers. If they already know your brand name, they\u2019ll have no trouble finding you online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you can\u2019t use <em>.com<\/em>, try using another top-level domain extension like <em>.net, .org<\/em>, or <em>.co<\/em>. Like words, these extensions can have connotations. For instance, .<em>net <\/em>is often associated with technology services, and <em>.org<\/em> with non-profits. However, this isn\u2019t a fixed rule, so if you want to use <em>.net<\/em> but aren\u2019t a tech company, you still have the option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>2. Make it Short<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The more characters someone needs to type into the search bar, the more chances there are for them to make a typo. Keeping your domain short cuts down on the room for error. It also helps with linking in the future; for times when you\u2019re posting your link around the internet (like on social media), a shorter link will look cleaner and be able to fit in shorter character limits if necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>3. Make it Memorable<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"270\" src=\"https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/shutterstock_1463229359.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2064\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/shutterstock_1463229359.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/shutterstock_1463229359-300x162.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This one is a given, but it can also be hard to gauge how memorable something is. A memorable domain is one that has straight-forward spelling and doesn\u2019t have unnecessary characters in it. It can be hard for people to recall if a word is spelled differently in your domain, so it\u2019s best to avoid the confusion all together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>4. Stay Away From Numbers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Numbers come in two forms, the numeral and the spelled-out version. That means you\u2019ll always have to specify which one is used in your domain. How many times do you want to say \u201cit\u2019s five, but spelled out f-i-v-e instead of the number 5\u201d? Probably not that many\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>5. And From Hyphens<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A similar concept applies here. If something is hyphenated, you\u2019ll need to tell them where the hyphen is. Many people also use the word \u201cdash\u201d which can get confusing. Is it the end of the world if your domain has a hyphen? Definitely not, but avoiding them can make your life just a bit easier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>6. Do Your Research<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"309\" src=\"https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/shutterstock_223570405-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2063\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/shutterstock_223570405-1.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/shutterstock_223570405-1-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/shutterstock_223570405-1-440x273.jpg 440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It might sound obvious to check to see if anyone else uses a domain name before you do, especially because if it already exists, you won\u2019t be able to purchase it. In this case, it\u2019s wise to see if there are existing trademarks using the same name. If another brand uses the same name but doesn\u2019t have a website, you could get into hot water in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Do a Google search, then head to the US government\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uspto.gov\/trademarks\/search\">trademark database<\/a> to be completely sure before you purchase your domain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>7. Consistency is Key<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Everything is simpler when your channels are the same. If possible, keep your brand name, social media handles, and domain name the same. It\u2019s familiar and people will always know where to find you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>8. Consider Keywords<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re familiar with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/blog\/get-my-art-noticed\/\">SEO<\/a>, you\u2019ll know that keywords are the phrases that best describe the content of a page. They\u2019re also what people type into a search engine (like Google) to find what they\u2019re looking for. You don\u2019t have to use a keyword in your domain \u2013 in fact, many websites don\u2019t \u2013 but it can be helpful. Since a keyword describes your content, people will know roughly what your business is from your domain name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An example of this would be if you\u2019re selling <a href=\"https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/design-your-own-underwear\">loungewear<\/a> and you use that word in your domain name. If you\u2019ve decided on \u201cLux\u201d to be the name of your brand, consider making your domain LuxLoungewear.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Put Your Art on Your Website<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that you know how to choose a domain name, it\u2019s time to create your website! Contrado partners with Shopify, where you can create your website and sell your creations. You can purchase your domain right through Shopify, and then install the free Contrado app to seamlessly integrate for dropshipping. Design hundreds of unique products with your art to sell through your very own domain. We offer a wide range of handmade to order items, like genuine leather bags, quality canvas art prints, and modern apparel. All that\u2019s missing is your art!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/drop-shipping\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"825\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/CDO-Dropshipping.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1791\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/CDO-Dropshipping.jpg 825w, https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/CDO-Dropshipping-300x127.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.contrado.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/CDO-Dropshipping-768x326.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 825px) 100vw, 825px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Congratulations, you\u2019re at the point in your seller journey where you need to know how to choose a domain name! By this point, you have the art that you\u2019re going to sell, you have a brand name, and you\u2019ve decided that you\u2019re going to create a website for your business. We have a few tricks [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":2066,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"When you're creating a website, you migh wonder how to choose a domain name. These tips will help you get the most out of your website name."},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v17.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Choose a Domain Name: 8 Must-Know Tips - Contrado Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When you&#039;re creating a website, you migh wonder how to choose a domain name. 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