You might not pay much attention to the importance of domain names – that is, until you need to use them to make money. We’ve all been to a site with an annoying domain name, and most of us have stopped visiting great sites because their names were too much trouble to type or remember. There are much easier competitors out there, after all.

If you’re running any kind of business, you don’t want that to be your site! A name that’s memorable, easy to spell, and easy to use can be an important factor in getting people to visit you. If they don’t make it to your site, they can’t buy anything, after all. But how do you get a great domain name – one that’ll attract visitors, not drive them away? Let’s take a look at some important tips on choosing the right domain name for your site.

1. Keep it short and sweet. Long domain names are easier to get, and there’s less competition for them, certainly. But how easy is it to remember them? The more words there are in your domain name, the greater the chances of someone forgetting just where you are. A shorter name is more valuable and will bring in more visitors. Use long names only when they’re very simple.

2. Avoid punctuation. A name with a hyphen in it seems like it wouldn’t be a problem, but it makes it that much harder to type. If you have a close competitor with a domain name that lacks the punctuation, they’ll probably end up getting your visitors, at least once or twice. While punctuation can’t always be avoided (a short name with a hyphen is better than a long name without one in many cases) you should always look for alternatives.

3. Check your spelling! You’d be surprised how many people register for domain names without being sure they’ve spelled all words correctly. Unless you’re being deliberately cute or marketing to an army of people who can’t type, be sure your domain name is really spelled correctly.

4. Register variations if you can. That means registering common unusual spellings of the domain name, the plural (if applicable) and the .net and .org variations if you can. Not everyone can afford to do this, but doing so means that you can redirect people who get the wrong domain name. Then they’ll still end up where you want them to. If a variation isn’t available, keep an eye on it. The owner may abandon it, leaving it available for you later on.

5. Choose something that’s associated with your company. Company names are a common choice, but are sometimes hard to type, spell and remember. If you’re in a situation like that, or if your company name is already taken, focus on what you want people to associate you with. A major product or service is a great choice. After all, you might have an unusual company name, but you can’t go wrong with something simple and easy to recall.