Common Domain Name Selection Mistakes Made by Newbies

Many newbie internet marketers are so excited to get into the business and start making money, they already know what domain name they want so they go ahead and purchase it. They then purchase a web hosting plan and proceed to build and optimize their website only to lose interest a year later due to lack of visitors and revenue. What many new webmasters don't realize is improper domain name selection can have a significant negative impact on the future of a website's success. Here are some common domain selection mistakes made by newbies.

Mistake #1 - Using a domain that is difficult to spell or difficult to remember.

Not all website visitors are referred by search engines or links from other sites. Many people will type the domain of a site into an internet browser. For this reason, it is very important to use a domain name that is short and catchy. Avoid selecting domains with special characters such as dashes, underscores and punctuation. If you plan to use numbers in your domain, consider also purchasing the spelled out versions of the numbers and have them redirect to your main page.

Mistake #2 - Using an unpopular domain extension.

What is the one domain extension that everyone knows? Of course it is the dot-com extension. The internet started with the dot-com extension and most people can relate to its popularity. This is why you should try to find a domain with this extension. Due to its popularity, it can be difficult at times to find the one you want with an available dot-com extension. If this is the case, you may want to look for a different domain or see if the owner has the one you want for sale. Otherwise, a dot-net extension should be your next choice.

Mistake #3 - Not using domain names that are keyword relevant.

If you want your website to rank well in the search engines, it is important that you select a domain name that relates to the main keywords you will use for your site's search engine optimization (SEO). As a matter of fact, search engines generally favor websites that have their main keywords included in the domain name itself. For example if your website gives tips about home improvement and your main keyword is "home DIY tips" then you may want to look for domain names like: "besthomediytips.com" or "simplehomediytips.com". Just make sure you do proper keyword research for your niche prior to purchasing your domain. If you select the wrong keywords, you could be setting your website up for failure.

Mistake #4 - Failure to plan ahead for potential growth.

Ask yourself if your chosen domain will limit the potential growth of your site. For example, let's say that you are setting up an online store that sells digital cameras. You purchase the domain name "mydiscountcameras.com" and build your website. A couple years later, your website is ranked well for your targeted keywords and has been fairly successful. The market for digital cameras however is not as good as it used to be, so you start looking for other electronic items to sell such as mp3 players or navigation systems. The only problem is your site is optimized for digital cameras and your domain name indicates that you only sell cameras. A much better domain name choice would have been "mydiscountelectronics.com".

Now you know some of the most common mistakes made by newbie webmasters. You should be able to feel confident about selecting the right domain to fit your website's future content, and at the same time make it easier for visitors to find your site. Just be sure to use a domain name that is easy to spell and remember. Use a.com extension with relevancy to your keywords if possible, and make sure to plan ahead for the years to come and you should do just fine.

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