Step 2: Pick a name for your blog + domain name

It’s important to pick a name for your blog (one that will stay & grow with you, plus isn’t hard to spell). It’s not always a simple change, if you decide to go by something else down the road.

The start to any blog is picking a name! Ask yourself, “What do I want my domain name to be?”

A domain name is the internet address (the URL) that visitors type into their browsers in order to access your blog.

Characteristics of a great blog name.

A great blog name gives you credibility, is easy to remember, say and spell (thus easy for others to share). It also SPEAKS DIRECTLY to your ideal reader, is MEMORABLE and represents you and your brand online… And the domain name should be the same name for your blog!

For example, Your Marketing BFF is my blog name and yourmarketingbff.com is my domain name.

So before we get ahead of ourselves, here’s how I came up with my blog name Your Marketing BFF, and how you can come up with yours:

Start LISTING WORDS. Think about your ideal reader and visualize the traits and thoughts that come to mind. Also, think about the results of the service or product offerings and maybe how it’s different. List descriptive words, words appropriate to your topic or topics, and words that tell visitors or hint about what the blog is about.

Tip: Just let your list flow! Don’t over analyze or edit your word list as you’re creating it.

When you can’t think of any more words to add to your list, pull a few of the stronger/key words and look up synonyms for those words in a thesaurus. If any of the synonyms speak to you, add them to your list.

Once you’ve completed your list, choose the words that resonate best with your ideal reader and start to mix and blend or STRING WORDS TOGETHER to come up with possible names.

Now pick your favorite blog name. The name that stands out most to you – the one that will represent you and your blog the best… AND what you believe to be the perfect blog name for you!

Tip: Run it past a few people that you like, know and trust. Ask them if it meets the characteristics of the perfect blog name for you. Does it represent you/your brand? Does it tell visitors or hint about what the blog is about?

Something I almost forgot…

It’s okay if your name doesn’t say what your blog is, but there should be a story – a name that you love, that represents you. What does the name mean to you?? Also, I tell people that a tagline is a great way to clearly describe or define your blog, if your name doesn’t.

And if you’re still not sure what name to use, YOUR ACTUAL NAME is almost always a safe bet to start with!

Have your blog name and domain name (aka URL) match.

I always advise people to:

-Have your blog name and domain name match.

-Buy the domain name for your blog’s name – trust me it will make finding your blog a lot easier!

-Go with a .com whenever possible. People’s natural instinct is to type .com before other extensions like .net, .info, .org, etc.

-Try to not include hyphens or numbers.

-Don’t include uncertain terms or confusing spellings – for example don’t use ‘wyld’ for the word ‘wild’. True story: I know someone who uses her first name, but spells it backwards – I never get it right and it slows me down! Grrr

Now that you’ve picked a name for your blog, you know what to do AND not do, it’s time to head over to Bluehost to see if your domain name is available.

-Click on the green “Get Started Now” button.

-Select the BASIC PLAN. You are not obligated to buy, this just takes you to the page to see if your domain name is available.

-Type your blog name into the box and click the blue “Next” button.

This will tell you if your domain name is available. If the name is not available, you will be provided with a list of alternate suggestions. If you don’t like any of the alternate suggestions, you can try your search using a different domain name.

Yay! Now you know how to pick a name for your blog + domain name.

FYI: You can get your domain name for free at Bluehost as long as you also host your blog through them. I walk you through this entire process, step-by-step on Step 4: Get a website hosting account, here.