It is tough deciding what domain/website name to pick.   

             Check out this site for brainstorming domain names.  Try and think outside of the box. 

 

Things to consider with domain names:

• Avoid using YOUR name. 
  • Think about the future if you ever want to sell, retire, join a team. Do they want to use your name, which is linked to everything?
  • Most names are hard to spell.  Is it Terry, Terri, Terrie, etc...Ideally, you should NOT have to spell it out so your clients know what it is.
• Shorter URLs/names are better than longer ones
• Avoid words that can be spelled in different ways. 
  • WestPointeRealty.  Could be WestPointRealty.
• Avoid using words that can be plural or buy both names
  • BestListing.com might be typed as BestListings.com 
• Make it easy to spell and remember
• .com or .ca extensions most people know about, but did you know there are other extensions you can use?  Here is a list as well. 
  • .homes 
  • .RealEstate
  • .Realtor 
    • I really don't like the NAR-promoted .realtor extensions.  They never really quite made it, but of course, it is available and up to you. 
• Don't use acronyms or abbreviations. 
  • Unless you are so famous, everyone knows what it stands for.  I have seen an Agent start out with something like RealEstateInBrenwoodPlazaOregon.com (Made up 😁), then later realized it was way too long, so they then shortened it to REBPO.com. Who knows what the heck that means?
• Avoid hyphenated - or underscored _ domain names
  • It is super hard for people to remember where you put -'s so we don't ever encourage - or _ anywhere. 
• Avoid being too specific. 
  • Let's say you farm an area called Point Grey right now and you bought a domain called www.PointGreyHomes.com then 5 years from now, you moved 25 miles away from that area and now want to farm a different area. Oops.  So being more general is better unless you KNOW you will always be farming one specific area or it redirects to another, more general website. 
  • What if you buy a domain that is yourcity.com but you also service nearby areas, would they know that?
• Buy More Domains
  • If you have a site like VancouverRealty.com, you should also buy RealtyVancouver.com and .ca.  That way, if anyone mistypes anything, it will still go to the right website (after you tell the registrar to do that.)
• What about using a phone number for a domain?
  • If you have a memorable phone number, we have seen this to be very successful. Just remember when you go to 'sell' your business, your phone number goes with it!
• If you have a short and great catch phrase, maybe that is an option for your domain.
• Never use the word REALTOR® as it is trademarked. (I believe they have allowed this now but always check with your broker if you are unsure if you are allowed to use any specific words in your business name, or domain name.
• Look at what your competitors are doing and do something else.  Stand out!

WHO DO YOU USE TO BUY A DOMAIN NAME?

• It would be in your best interest to buy your new domain from GoDaddy.  Why?  Because if you end up working with us, the new account is linked directly, so it makes the setup super easy!  If you don't want to use GoDaddy, no worries, keep using your current service.