There are several things that will help your cause with Google, Yahoo, and the other search engines when you are picking out a domain name. There are also a number of things that are critical to consider for your branding. Marrying these two sometimes contradictory marketing facets can be tough. Ultimately, your domain will probably embody more branding or SEO optimization, but the best names do both. Here are four guidelines to help you ensure that when you pick a domain, you choose having taken both sides into consideration.

1. Is the domain name short?

The shorter your domain name, the more likely it is that it is easier to remember, quicker to type in, and faster for the search engines to see your content. Every character counts! Make your domain compact.

2. Is it easy to remember?

This kinda goes hand in hand with the first consideration. Still, there will be cases where your short domain is just tough to remember. Avoid abbreviating words in your domain name; that’s a common way to make short domains harder to remember than they need to be. Also, dashes can make the difference between someone finding you or finding your competition (by using the non-dashed version)! So if your domain contains dashes… well it better have some PRIME keywords in it to justify the damage it will do to people trying to find your site for a second time or off the top of their heads from a radio ad you placed.

3. Does it contain highly relevant keywords?

This is the most important thing from a search engine optimization standpoint. If your domain contains your most important search phrase, it already sets you up as a potential authority on whatever it is you’re in business for.

4. Is it an established domain?

This is often overlooked, but those who spend the time to hunt down an existing relevant domain (or entire site) with existing links and buy it out will be handsomely rewarded. Your new content will get indexed faster because of the trust built up with that domain to the search engines.

Hopefully these tips help you land that dynamite domain name you have been looking for that will not only brand you well, but also help drive some free natural traffic your way through SEO. If you have any questions, we do offer domain name consultation as a service to our clients. We’ll give you a free initial consultation if you fill out one of our forms.