In this week’s SEO Tip of the week, we decided to share with you from a new SEO Training Series we currently have in production “How to Build and Optimize WordPress Websites”

Video 1 of this series is titled  “How to Pick Your Domain Name” and provides simple strategies and SEO Tips you should consider when selecting a domain name for your new website:

Step 1 – Brainstorm

Your first step in selecting your domain name should be doing some keyword research.

Brainstorm your top 5 keywords that best describe your business and then start pairing them together with regional terms, prefixes and suffixes.

As an example, we are in the process of creating an online and Word Press training video series.

We have come up with some keyword ideas such as:

• WordPress Training
• Online WordPress Training
• WordPress DVD training

Step 2 – Make it Unique

Obtain a domain name that is unique and isn’t confusing to your customers.

Check the different variations of the domain name you are considering to see if they are already taken or if they are available.

If they are available consider purchasing them now, before it is too late.

Step 3 – Register the Dot.com

Registering the correct domain name is all about branding and nothing speaks louder than having that Dot.com address.

However, I would also urge you to also register the .org and the .net just to keep your competitors locked out.

Step 4 – Make it Memorable

You want your customers to remember your domain name so they can share it with their friends and family, so make it memorable.

Step 5 – Avoid Trademark Infringement

Nothing is worse then spending hours, days, months and in some cases years building up a website, only to have it snatched away from you because you have infringed on someone else’s trademark.

An easy way to check if a word or term in the name of the domain you are considering is already registered is going to the United States Patent and Trademark website and doing a search.

Step 6 – Avoid Dashes and numbers

Avoid dashes or numbers in your domain name, as it is hard to explain to many people that they need to add dashes as they are very confusing.

Step 7 – Build a Brand!

The final question to ask yourself is can you build a brand using the domain name that you’ve selected.

Domain Selection Tools

There are a couple of websites I recommend when brainstorming for ideas for your domain name.

DomainTools.com and DomainsBot.com.

Using the DomainTools website go to the tab Buy Domains and then Domain Suggestions.

brainstorming ideas is DomainsBot.

Now that you have a list of various domain names consider asking some of your prospective customers for their input.

When you finally decided on that one domain name that is keyword rich, memorable and brand able your next step will be to register it.