Locationlocationlocation.com – now that’s one real estate brand name that packs a punch, but no prizes for guessing that the domain name is already taken. In fact, it was registered over 30 years ago. You’re probably looking at the cost of a small house to buy it. If it is ever released for sale.
So where do you start when it comes to picking a name? Whether you’re a realtor setting up a personal brand, or establishing a new estate agency, it’s undeniably one of the trickiest things to get right.
For anyone who’s tried, you’ll agree the struggle is real. Very often you’ll think you’ve hit the jackpot. You’ve come up with the most perfect name ever, only to find that all worthy domain names associated with it, are taken.
So to make things a little easier, we’ve listed some tips and tricks to help you navigate your branding journey towards finding a name, and domain, that’s engaging and rolls-off-the-tongue.
#1 – You don’t know what you’ve got ’til it’s gone
One thing you have to just accept from the start is that the best domain names are already taken 99% of the time. When it comes to registering the domain it can often be impossible to find something that’s not already been snapped up.
But even though locationlocationlocation.com, or the like, is probably never going to be available for anything less than a 7 figure sum, don’t give up.
For at least a decade, people have been scouring domain names in the hope of finding that diamond in the rough. Don’t get discouraged, but equally don’t waste your time searching for the “perfect” one.
#2 – One to remember
If you want people to visit your site, make sure the name is unforgettable. Sounds easy enough. It isn’t.
Don’t kid yourself. Real Estate agents and agencies are a dime a dozen. To stand out, you must think outside the box. Like the A.I. tech behind OVERWRITE, you must play with words. Do you think the founders of Krispy Kreme get hung up on the fact that they butchered the word ‘cream’? Take a quirk and own it. Make it work for you.
The more wordplay you can introduce, the more likely your brand name will stick in memories like glue. Better still, the more likely that the domain you’ll want to accompany it will be available.
When you think you’ve found the one you’re looking for, ask a relative or a friend their opinion. Gauge their immediate reaction. Tap into the creative minds of your loved ones.
#3 – Don’t break the bank
A good brand domain name doesn’t have to be crazy expensive. Unless the name is already owned by someone else and you’re willing to buy it from them, domain names don’t come at a significant cost. Some of them cost as little as $5 to purchase.
There are a number of domain purchasing sites. Try GoDaddy, 123reg, Bluehost or Google Domains. To find one that’s available, simply type in what you’re looking for and see if it’s free to register.
#4 – Sell it with a story
Get creative. If your name is fairly common and there are no .com domain options available, consider incorporating phrases that relate to your core services, or build action words into the domain name. List with. Sell with. Buy with. Rent with. This way, you’re getting a unique name that’s easy to remember and conditions your audience to what you want them to do.
#5 – Cover your (social) bases
Consistency across multiple marketing channels is critical. When you’re checking if the domain name is available, make sure to also do the same on your social media platforms. Find something that works on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Your socials shouldn’t be an afterthought. They should be considered at the beginning of your naming journey to avoid later obstacles. The last thing you want to do is register the domain name, build the website, roll out the marketing collateral, and then find yourself having to add a bunch of awkward dashes, underscores or numbers to your social media handles.
Common sense rules
A good serving of common sense, a dollop of due diligence and a pinch of creativity goes a long way.
These general rules of thumb will serve you well.
- If someone needs you to clarify how to spell your domain more than once, it’s not a good name.
- Watch out for those cheeky innuendos. Sometimes when you take two perfectly innocent words and put them together, you end up with something that’s not quite what you intended, like Double-Up Homes! 🙊🙉🙈
- Find a name that that’ll give you mileage for the years to come. Too many businesses limit themselves because they don’t think long-term when conjuring their name. Don’t be that person that finds themselves in 12 months, wishing they’d not restricted themselves to a particular geography (Marina Properties) or service (Justrentals.com). You might start off in one direction, but life may have other plans. Give your name the room to adapt to an unpredictable future.
And lastly, enjoy the process. It’s a creative one. It’s iterative and it’s fun. Remember why you’re putting yourself through it. Because you’ve always dreamt of more. Because you believe in yourself, and you want to stamp that self-confidence into a brand that says what you want the world to know about you.
OVERWRITE.ai is a world first, user-friendly marketing solution that allows estate agents to instantly autowrite unique, search-optimised property descriptions, taking the boring out of the daily grind.
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