According to a report, the makers of this smartphone hired a marketing company to help them with branding. And one of the shortlisted names was Strawberry.

But it was rejected because its pronunciation was slow while the smartphone device was all about speed and rapidity.

Blackberry, besides having a fast word pronunciation, evokes high-tech. Also the keys on the phone look very much like blackberry drupelets. The name “Blackberry” suits the phone so much that now we can’t imagine it being called anything else.

The same level of care should go into picking a domain name. It is your first impression online. To make a good first impression on internet users, pick a domain name that people can easily remember and associate with.

However, picking a great domain name is anything but easy. That said, when you think of it, this couldn’t have been otherwise. There are millions of functional websites and many more registered domain names. This means all the obviously good names are likely to be already taken.

But this doesn’t mean you can’t find a suitable or memorable name for your business. All you have to do is put in a little bit of effort, don on your creative hat, and follow these smart tips.

Pick a brandable name

Above we talked how the name "Blackberry" perfectly fits the products for which it is used. However, it is not always necessary that your domain name should be relevant to the products or services you offer.

As long as your domain name is short, easy-to-remember, and memorable, you’ll be fine. A case in point is the brand name "Apple". It has no direct relation whatsoever with the products for which it’s used. But the name is simple, unique, and easy-to-remember. You are not likely to forget it when you hear it. The same is true for the domain name "Google".

Pick a name that’s easy to pronounce and spell

This is very important. We remember names which we can pronounce easily, and we type names correctly if they are simple to spell. For instance, a domain name such as Svtble.com can be difficult to spell.

Avoid numbers and special characters

You should avoid using numbers or hyphens in your domain name. For example, if your domain name is infinity3.com, many people will be confused whether the number 3 is written out as a numeric or word.

Go with the .com TLD

Many people ask, "Why the .com TLD is still important when there are a host of new other options?"

The .com TLD is the most recognizable one.  That’s reason enough.

People tend to use it automatically when they are typing a domain name in their web browsers. That’s why you should always try to go with this TLD.

Also 133.9 million domains use the .com TLD. Now, all these sites can’t be wrong, can they?

However, there are certain situations when it makes more sense to give the .com TLD a pass. In case  you are a local business and don’t plan to enter into new markets in the future, you’d be better off with a regional TLD.

To know more about other popular alternative TLDs and domain names in general, check out this fact-rich infographic.