How to Choose an SEO Friendly Domain Name

There are many factors to consider when it comes to choosing a domain name; it should be memorable, reflect your brand and ideally be SEO friendly.

In the early days, selecting a domain name was simple; today the pool is considerably smaller. According to The Atlantic, there are probably more than 1 billion websites in existence today. That's a lot of websites!

So how do you go about choosing a domain name that is both marketable and SEO friendly?

Branding is important.

Firstly, you need to decide between a branded domain (one that includes your brand name) and a keyword-rich domain (one that includes a keyword you want to rank for via Google). Recently, Google de-prioritised websites with keyword-rich domains that were otherwise not of a high quality.

Therefore, as the experts at Moz state, you need to tread carefully when it comes to selecting a keyword-laden domain as it can lead to closer scrutiny by Google. That's not to say you shouldn't do it – but it's certainly not the best option for everyone.

Generally speaking, a branded domain name works best for most start-ups – after all, how many famous brands can you associate with a keyword-rich domain name? When choosing a domain remember that it will appear everywhere; your email address, your social media account(s), product packaging and most forms of advertising material.

Ideally, choose a domain name that is memorable – in a lot of cases, your brand name works best. There is also evidence to suggest that single-word domain names outperform longer domain names; simply put, they are easier to remember.

Should you choose .com or .com.au?

Local businesses and professional start-ups within Australia need to make a decision regarding whether their domain ends in .com or .com.au.

How do you choose? Well, if your target market is confined to Australian shores then it's best to stick to a .com.au domain. Generally, this means that you will rank better when it comes to nationwide searches.

On the other hand, if you are planning to shoot for the stars and target a global audience then your domain name needs to reflect this. A .com domain is the best option in this instance.

If the time has come to choose a domain name, it always pays to keep Google in mind. However, in 2016 an SEO friendly domain name doesn't necessarily equate to a keyword-laden domain name. The most important thing is to select a domain that will help you to build your brand; this is the real key to success!