Purchasing domain names is usually the first step to take when launching a website. If you are one of those people who purchased dozens of domain names “just in case“, it is time to go through them and decide which ones are the most valuable. We are going to help you decide.
Search engines consider domain names as an important factor in their ranking algorithm, meaning a “good domain” name can help search engines find your website. So, what do search engines consider when it comes to domain names?
The 2 biggest factors: Domain Age AND The Length of Registration
- Domain Age – the longer you had a domain name, usually the better. You can even buy previously used domains that already have some weight.
- Registration Length – buying a domain for as many years as offered is recommended.
If you purchase a domain name for only one year, a search engine may devalue it thinking that this website will only be around 1 year (maybe for spamming purposes); so right off the bat, purchasing the domain for multiple years shows your site is here to stay and that you are not trying to clutter the web with a “get rich quick type of site.”
These are other factors to consider when it comes to choosing a Domain Name:
- Easy & Relevant – Choose one that’s easy to remember, pertains to your service or product, and keep one domain as the primary (The Mothership Website). If you already have a domain or multiple domains, stick with one that will be the primary one and try obtaining links to it.
- Extensions – Start with .com or .net (or .org if you are part of an organization). Try to stay away from .biz,.us, .info or any of the newly added extensions. These are often used for spam or advertising purposes and are rarely ranked by search engines.
- Keywords – If possible, use keywords in your domain (these should be targeted keywords that you want visitors to find your website with).
With that said, choose your Domain Name wisely!
