attorney how to choose a domain name

by Abbie Koelpin Jr. 7 min read

Nine ways to choose the best law firm domain name

  1. Easy to Spell. If your average clients cannot spell your URL, then you could see a drop in direct traffic. Direct...
  2. Easy to Type. Along with easy to spell, you should also have easy to type domain names. Therefore, if your firm is...
  3. Description. If you have a generic practice name like Smith Law, then add more...

Selecting a domain name for your law firm is one of the most important decisions that lawyers make in the early stages of online marketing.
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Take your time choosing a website domain name for your law firm
  1. Don't use word separators. ...
  2. Avoid “uncommon” top – level domain names. ...
  3. Avoid long domain names.

Full Answer

How to choose the best domain name for your law practice?

Choosing the best domain name for your law practice is not going to be easy. Remember that search engines like Google do provide benefits when a keyword is matched in your domain name. However, try to avoid coming off as spammy and use a name that is broad but to the point.

How do I choose a domain name for my business?

Choosing a domain name is similar to choosing a company name — it requires a lot of thought and consideration. Your domain name is your identity on the web; you want to make sure you choose a domain name that not only fits your business, but is also easy to find and promote. Related: Resources for naming a business.

Who can register a law domain?

Most domains can be registered by anyone, however, the .LAW specific TLD requires proof of license before it can be issued. Is a .LAW the best domain for you?

How to choose the right domain name extensions?

Use The Right Domain Name Extensions (.com, .org, .net) When you choose your domain name extension, you can be sure of one thing: “.com” is still the best. According to research from Domain Name Stat, 43% of all domains have the “.com” extension. Why? Well, “.com” is the most familiar and easiest to remember.

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What are the rules for choosing a domain name?

11 Rules for Choosing the Perfect Domain Name for Your NeedsThink about your top five keywords. ... Make the domain name unique. ... Choose only available .com domain names. ... Make sure it's easy to type. ... Make sure it's easy to remember. ... Keep the name as short as possible. ... Create expectations and satisfy them.More items...•

What are 3 tips for choosing a domain name?

How to Choose the Perfect Domain NameUse The Right Domain Name Extensions (.com, . org, . ... Brandable Over Generic. ... Short Is Better Than Long. ... Make Sure It's Easy To Type. ... Make Sure It's Easy To Pronounce. ... Avoid Hyphens And Numbers. ... Consider Using “Niche” Keywords That Reflect Your Website. ... Think Long-Term Over Short-Term.More items...•

Which domain names are the most valid and credible?

.com is the #1 most trusted TLD, with . co in a close second place. When people try to remember a URL, they're 3.8 times more likely to assume it ends in .com than anything else.

What should you not include in a domain to avoid potential issues?

5 Things to Never Include in a Domain NameHyphens. If the two-or-three word domain you like is taken, it might be tempting to just add hyphens between the words to find an available domain. ... Trademarks. Do you blog about a company's products? ... Numbers. Numbers make things confusing, ... Hard-to-Spell Words. ... Homophones.

What is a law firm domain name?

Selecting a domain name for your law firm is one of the most important decisions that lawyers make in the early stages of online marketing. Your domain name will not only be where your clients and potential clients find you, but will also play a significant role in the branding of your law firm.

Why use the delineator "juvenile" in a domain name?

Similarly, if your firm focuses solely on juvenile criminal defense, it may make sense to use the more specific delineator “juvenile,” in your domain name, as it sets your firm apart from competitors. As another example, consider the practices which fall under business law.

What is the purpose of a law firm website?

The purpose of your law firm’s website is to serve your practice, your business, your clients and potential clients, and your reputation. Your website will almost always be the first direct impression your potential clients get of your law firm. Even when they have been referred directly to you, most people will go to your website and check you out before they meet you, and often times even before they decide to give you a call based on a good referral.

Do you use hyphens in a domain name?

Don’t use word separators. While other very credible sources on the Internet strongly disagree with this assertion, according to MOZ, using separators such as hyphens in your domain name can detract from credibility, and can serve as a spam signal to search engines.

Can you draw a gender line in a domain name?

It’s also generally not a good idea to draw gender lines in your domain name. For example, a firm consisting of only female lawyers may not wish to embed that fact into a domain name. On the other hand, suppose you have a niche divorce law practice where you focus only on representing mothers, or grandparents, or men.

Can you put exclusive group delineation in your domain name?

Although there are certain exceptions, is usually not a good idea to put in exclusive group delineation in your domain name. For example, if your firm’s unique selling proposition is that of a religious affiliation, probably not a good idea to include that in your domain name.

Can you use comparatives in a domain name?

Avoid using comparatives, and superlatives in your domain name. Your law firm may very well be the market leader. Your attorneys may be the best in the area, or even in the world. But we strongly recommend keeping comparative and superlative language out of your law firm’s domain name.

Why are Domain Names Important?

A domain name is a crucial part of your brand and business, and you’ll want to keep in mind that your domain name will appear on billboards, business cards, and in many places on the internet. If your domain doesn’t match your field of practice or is too complicated, it might send some potential customers away.

Tips for Great Law Firm Domain Names

If you can get one of your key search terms or phrases into your domain name, that will give you a major advantage down the road, especially when it comes to attorney SEO marketing.

What If the Domain Name is Already Taken?

If someone has the domain name you want and they are not using it, they may sell it to you. If you can’t find an appropriate domain name, ask the firm providing your law firm website design for help.

How to Register

The steps to registering a domain are fairly simple. If you have any trouble registering, contact us! We can help you get a domain that works well for your firm.

Ask a Legal Website Design Company for Help

A law firm domain name is always a central issue for entrepreneurs. Make certain yours is well chosen and your firm will have a higher chance of success. If you need help choosing and registering a domain name, contact us today.

Law firms

Take advantage of a strong keyword by using a .ATTORNEY domain extension.

Law schools

Use a .ATTORNEY domain to direct interested students to information about your law program.

Nonprofits

Pro Bono legal groups can indicate their services by using a .ATTORNEY domain for their website.

Top Level Domain for Lawyers

Top Level Domains (TLDs) are the little part of the domain name found after the DOT. These include, .COM, .ORG, .NET, and .GOV. There is even a specially created TLD for lawyers called .LAW.

What Are Lawyer Keywords?

Consider your domain name as a very important keyword that aides in your website getting found. People looking for a lawyer may search the following in Google: Florida Divorce Lawyers.

Best Domain Names For Lawyers

Creating a domain name that is memorable and brandable is the best approach to take. This is important. Your domain name will serve as a banner that not only catches people’s attention but prepares people for what they’ll find on your website.

Lawyers Starting A Blog

Having a website allows your to showcase your practice, services, past clients, and contact information to the entire world. As well, another useful thing to do on your website is starting a blog.

How many people can pronounce a domain name?

You can test this the same way as with the “spelling”. Write your domain name on a piece of paper and ask 10 people to pronounce it. If more than a few people struggle to pronounce it, you should simplify it. Here’s what to keep in mind: You want your domain name to be passed along easily by you and others.

What is the difference between a generic domain name and a brandable domain name?

Here’s the main difference between a brandable and generic domain name: A brandable domain name is unique and stands out from the competition, while a generic domain name is usually stuffed with keywords and unmemorable.

What to check before you move forward with a domain name?

Before you move forward with a specific domain name, check to see if the name is available on social media sites, as well as if there are any trademarks already registered to the name.

How many characters are in a domain name?

According to research from DataGenetics.com, a blog by Nick Berry, the most common name length is approximately 12 characters. (Popularity, in this case, refers to the amount of web traffic the site receives.)

Is a domain name good or bad?

A good domain name can make a positive and lasting impression, while a bad domain name can send visitors running. It affects SEO. While exact match domains (EMDs) are no longer a necessity, keywords in your domain name can still help your SEO ranking. It defines your brand.

Why choose a lawyer domain?

Why choose a .lawyer domain? In addition to a .LAWYER domain, you can also register .ATTORNEY. You could register your name with both domains to protect your brand and image, or you could choose the extension that best fits your practice. The most obvious use for .LAWYER is yourname.lawyer, but you could also build a web presence around the type ...

What is a lawyer domain?

With the .LAWYER domain name, lawyers, legal firms, and anyone involved in legal services can create a unique and custom web presence. Rather than settling for a generic domain name, you can get a memorable and branded domain name that immediately shows that you’re a legal professional.

What happens when you choose a domain name?

When you choose a domain name, make sure the name you’ve selected isn’t trademarked, copyrighted or being used by another company. It could result in a legal mess that could cost you a fortune, as well as your domain!

What is a domain extension?

Extensions are suffixes, such as .com or .net, at the end of web addresses. These can have specific uses, so make sure to choose one that works for your business. The .com domain extension is far and away the most popular, but it can be tough to get a short and memorable .com domain name because it’s been around for so long.

How to make a website easy to find?

1. Choose a domain name that is easy to type. Choosing a domain name that’s easy to type is critical to online success. If you use slang (u instead of you) or words with multiple spellings (express vs. xpress), it might be harder for customers to find your site. 2.

How to protect your brand?

To protect your brand, consider purchasing various domain extensions, as well as misspelled versions of your domain name. This prevents competitors from registering other versions and ensures your customers are directed to your website, even if they mistype it.

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URL Length & Contents

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Studies by search engine optimization specialists and researchers have found that shorter and more descriptive URLshave a slight SEO performance advantage over longer and/or less contextual links. The table below illustrates the point. Let’s assume that we are working with examplelaw.com We can see different example…
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Branded vs. Keyword-Rich Domains

  • In the world of SEO, there are several classes of domain names for you to be aware of: 1. Branded domain names 2. Exact match domains (EMD) 3. Partial match domains (PMD) Here’s a table that explains each to give a better understanding.
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Intent

  • This tip requires you to perform some careful thinking, planning and thought experiments instead of straightforward, actionable guidance to implement, like other sections in this law firm domain guide. Put yourself in your market and ideal client’s shoes. If they see your domain in the search results, on a social media post or advertisement, TV commercial or radio ad, how might they per…
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Your Law Firm’S Marketing Strategy

  • So far, we’ve discussed how the domain length and type impact your firm’s search engine rankings. We will build on this throughout this short section, seeing how both may tie into your firm’s marketing strategy and impact your decision on choosing a domain.
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User Experience

  • We’ve saved the best for last. This ties it all together and gets you to think about the overall performance of your website’s domain. User experience is important for: 1. Search engine optimization 2. Online marketing 3. Top of Mind advertising 4. Call to actions 5. Expertise 6. Defining your target audience When someone is looking for a lawyer like you or at your office, yo…
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Conclusion

  • There’s a lot of information to process in this article on choosing a domain name. Some of the information here, after your first read, may even seem to contradict other points and examples. Yes and no. It’s not a straightforward decision. However, has any decision you’ve made for your practice’s success straightforward and fast to make? Choosing the best domain for your websit…
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