Instinct or random selection is not how one selects a domain name. It is to be done with great thought and purpose. There exists a philosophy to it. Consider the following:

• A common and sensible method would be to use the name of your site as the domain name. Like www.writerfind.com is a sensible domain for a site where one can locate writers or www.dictionary.com for an online dictionary. When the purpose of the site is a part of the URL it makes it easy for customers to remember the site and for new browsers to click on it.

• If the domain name is for an industry then you could think of using a generic name. Select a name that represents one hundred percent the market segment, www.autoinsurance.com would represent to a “T” the auto insurance business.

• Choose a domain with a.com extension. If that is not available then the alternate should also be a top level domain type.

• A short domain name is recommended over a long one just for the sake of easy recollection. However a long domain name can contain more key words and this could be a benefit where search engines are concerned. Research your options carefully. A long name works if it is dead on and meaningful.

• The golden rules are a domain name should be easy to remember, easy to spell, and easy to pronounce. In other words tongue twisters are out. It must be simple on all counts. • Consider all marketing aspects like brand recall. Many profitable enterprises have a domain name that is the brand identity of their business. Examples of successful brands are Hot Mail, Google, Ebay, and Amazon.

• Pause to think and:
A. Write down clearly the focus of your site and its business goals. Namely “what is my site about?”
B. List the key words.
C. Use the description and key words to coin a domain name that represents clearly the two important factors. Make a list of as many as you can.
D. Next test availability at a domain name search engine.
E. If .com is not available check for .net and so on.
F. Be sure to zero in on a name that will serve its purpose. Never choose a domain because its there.
G. Still in a quandary then use domain name research tools.
H. If you find the perfect name is bought by someone then consider buying the domain name from them. This would depend on your budget.
I. Alternately use suffixes for the domain name like universe, world, links, resource, business, inc, store, directory, guide and so on.
The key is to think globally. The World Wide Web has no boundaries. Musts are recall, presence, and functionality.

By Paul W Wilson