When I started blogging in 2012, I struggled to settle on the right domain name. I spent way too much time worrying about making a mistake and choosing the wrong one.
It felt like a big decision because my domain name would represent my brand, but I wasn’t sure where to start. I decided to go with my name—but my last name was already taken. Instead, I opted for coriwriter.com, and that choice has worked well for me over the years.
If you’re launching a self-hosted blog, one of the first steps is to choose the right domain name. Your domain name is your online address and plays a significant role in defining your brand.
It should reflect your blog’s message, be easy to remember, and help you stand out in a crowded digital space.
In this post, I’ll guide you through four simple steps to help you discover a domain name that’s both relevant to your blog topic and easy to find.
1. Decide on your Blog Niche
The first and most crucial step in choosing a domain name is determining what your blog will be about. Without a clear direction, selecting a domain name becomes challenging. The topic of your blog should guide your decision.
Know Your Audience: Understanding who you’re writing for can help you choose a domain that resonates with your target audience. Think about the topics you’ll cover and the value you want to provide to your readers.
Using Your Name: One option is using your own name or a variation of it. This gives you more flexibility in the future, as your topics can evolve over time while still keeping your domain relevant. For example, if you start with a personal blog and later shift to a niche topic like parenting or wellness, your domain name can remain consistent.
Narrow Niche Consideration: On the other hand, if you’re focusing on a specific niche, such as vegetarian cooking, using your name might not be the best approach. A more targeted domain name will help convey your focus clearly to potential readers.
2. Keep it short and memorable.
When choosing a domain name, simplicity is key. The ideal domain name is typically short and easy to remember. In an ideal world, you would secure a two-word domain name, but given the sheer number of websites online today, this is a rare find.
Challenges with Short Domain Names: It can be difficult to find a short, memorable domain name that’s still available. However, don’t get discouraged if you can’t snag a two-word domain. Many successful blogs today have three-word domain names. For example, a combination of your niche and a creative twist can still work well.
Tip: Don’t be afraid to get creative with abbreviations or word combinations. As a mentor once advised me, enjoy the process and have fun with it.
Your domain name is the first step in building your blog’s brand,
so make sure it feels right for you.
3. Create a Domain and Working Title Combo
If you’re struggling to come up with the perfect domain name, consider creating a working title that complements your domain. This is exactly what I did when choosing my domain.
Example: I went with “coriwriter.com,” a shortened version of my first name, and paired it with the title “Blogging With Purpose.”
The combination of a simple domain name with a longer, descriptive title worked well for my blog.
Finding the Right Combination for Your Blog Topic:
Let’s say you want to blog about vegetarian cooking. You could have a long, descriptive title like “The Best Vegetarian Cooking Recipes from Around the World.”
While this title is clear, it’s too long for a domain name. Instead, shorten it to something like “Vegetarian Cooking.” If that’s already taken, you can personalize it by adding your first name or another unique twist. For example: “Cori’s Vegetarian Cooking.”
The title could be:
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Title: Cori’s Vegetarian Cooking
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Tagline: The Best Vegetarian Cooking Recipes From Around the World
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Domain Name: corisvegetariancooking.com
This way, you’ve got a unique domain name, a descriptive title, and a tagline that communicates what your blog is all about.
4. Choosing the Right Domain Extension: .com, .org, or .net?
Once you’ve decided on your domain name, it’s time to choose a domain extension, or “top-level domain” (TLD). The most popular TLDs are .com, .net, and .org. Here’s a breakdown of each:
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.com: Originally intended for commercial businesses, this is the most widely used and recognized TLD. It’s still the preferred choice for most bloggers, as it’s familiar and easy to remember.
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.net: This was initially used for networking-related domains but has since become a popular alternative to .com. However, it’s not as universally recognized as .com.
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.org: This was originally intended for nonprofit organizations. While you can certainly use it for your blog, .org isn’t as commonly used for personal blogs.
What’s the Best Choice? In most cases, .com is still the most popular and recognizable choice. If your desired domain name is already taken with a .com extension, you can consider .net or .org, but always prioritize .com when possible.
Join the conversation
What challenges have you faced if any in selecting your domain name? How did you finally choose the right one for you?
Helping you to establish a successful online presence.
Hi Cori
It’s easy to get hung up on choosing a suitable domain name, especially for beginners. Your 4 steps really boils down the matter and simplifies the process.
I’ve bought a lot of domain names for affiliate websites, and found that when I get hung up for names that are already taken — free domain name generators can really get my creative juices going. I just google free domain name generators and spend some time with a pen and paper as I look at a lot of variations and ideas to help me choose a suitable domain name.
Thanks
Hi Mike! Thank you for your comment! I love Google domain name generators! Helps get the creative thinking in choosing a domain name.
I obviously second Cori’s advice! This is a great post for anyone who needs advice on how to get the best domain name for a new blog or website.
Sidenote: There is some luck involved. Be open to lots of ideas!
Thanks Greg! So true what you said about some luck being involved. Can be a bit of playing around with ideas before landing on one that isn’t already taken! I remember struggling with what domain name to choose!