How many letters can I have in my Domain Name?
You may already be confused about the benefits of choosing a short domain name as opposed to a long domain name? A long domain name stuffed with key words is more search engine friendly and can describe your products. However, a short domain name is far easier to remember and type into a browser.
You can use up to 67 characters, so you don’t have to settle for short, obscure, or abbreviated name. However, you may not want to use anything close to 67 characters because it leaves too much room for error unless it’s a memorable phrase. A long domain name could also make it less memorable for people to share your website through word of mouth.
Some of our clients have chosen both options! Choosing a long ‘key worded’ domain name as the primary domain and 2nd far shorter name for branding.
We simply redirect the secondary name to point at the primary domain when its typed into a browser. E.g. type ‘www.im2u.co.uk’ into a browser and you will see the website www.ironmongery2u.co.uk.
Using hyphens in Domain Names
When the domain names you want has already gone you can often add a hyphen or two and find its available. E.g. diypi.com was already taken but we managed to secure diy-pi.com. There are advantages and disadvantages to using hyphens. Your key words are clearly defined for search engines, however the downside is that hyphen can get forgotten and your marketing efforts can lead people to visit someone else’s site, and the chances are the non-hyphenated site is a rival who may have trade marked the name. So check carefully before you create your business or brand.
Hyphenation would have helped these domains…
- Experts Exchange.com –> Expert Sex Change.com
- Who Represents.com –> Whore Presents.com
- Therapist Finder.com –> The Rapist Finder.com
- Pen Island.net –> Penis Land.net
- Choose Spain.com –> Chooses Pain.com
- Go Tahoe.com –> Got A Hoe.com
- The Pen Is Mightier.com –> The Penis Mightier.com
- Powergen Italia.com –> Power Genitalia.com
- Mole Station Nursery.com –> Molestation Nursery.com
- Keywords Extractor.com –> Keyword Sex Tractor.com
- Big Als Online.com –> Bi Gals Online.com
- Pots Of Art.com –> Potso Fart.com
- Alter Scrap.com –> Alters Crap.com
- Via Grafix.com –> Viagra Fix.com
- Now Here.com -> No Where.com
- Mp3s Hits.com -> Mp3 Shits.com
- Teachers Talk.com -> Teacher Stalk.com
- IHA Vegas.com -> I Have Gas.com
- Odds Extractor.com -> Odd Sex Tractor.com
- Web One.com -> We Bone.com
- Speed of Art.com -> Speedo Fart.com
Domains Name Extensions
When choosing a domain name, you also have to decide what your domain name extension to be. While almost everyone wants to be a .co.uk or a .com, those options may not be available. The good news is that there is nothing necessarily wrong with choosing other domain names that end in .net, .org, or even .biz.
Generally speaking Google will show a .co.uk to a UK audience ahead of a .com and most people expect the domain name to end in one of these two TLD’s (top level domains). If your audience in mainly UK based the .co.uk is preferable; if you are a global business then choose the .com. For most people we recommend you buy both .co.uk and .com and make the .co.uk your primary, pointing the .com at it. Also buying the .com ensures rivals can’t easily set up and benefit from your marketing, it also helps with who can’t remember which it was.
