How to choose a domain name that doesn't make you cringe in two years
Domain name advice that ages well: keep it short, keep it pronounceable, and stop worrying about exact-match keywords.
What actually matters
Memorable, easy to spell, easy to say out loud. That's 90% of it. If you have to spell your domain over the phone, it's already losing you customers.
.com still wins on trust and muscle memory. .io, .co, .app, and country TLDs are fine for tech audiences but cost you outside that niche.
What doesn't matter as much as you think
Exact-match keyword domains (bestcheapwidgets.com) lost most of their SEO power in the 2012 Google update. They also signal 'SEO project' rather than 'real brand'.
Length matters, but not as much as readability. A three-syllable, easy-to-say domain beats a four-character abbreviation that nobody can pronounce.
Things to actively avoid
Hyphens, numbers, and creative spellings ('flickr' was a one-off success — yours probably won't be). All three make verbal sharing painful.
Trademark conflicts — search the USPTO database before committing. A cease-and-desist letter six months in is the worst possible time to discover the problem.
Questions readers ask about this topic
Should I buy multiple TLDs?
Where should I register my domain?
Does the domain age affect SEO?
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