How to Choose a Blog Name?– Coming up with the perfect name for your blog is an important first step when starting your blog. The name you choose sets the tone and brand for your blog, and it will make a first impression on visitors checking out your site. Follow these tips to know how to choose a blog name and create a catchy, memorable name that represents your blog well.
1. Describe What Your Blog Covers
Think of descriptive words and phrases that characterize what your blog is about. Is it focused on fashion, food, parenting, travel, etc? Including this topic helps communicate the blog’s theme to readers. For example “The Budget Fashionista” or “Nom Nom Food Blog”.
2. Make It Memorable
Keep the name short, snappy and easy to remember. Avoid complicated phrases that are hard to recall or spell. Use creativity to come up with something unique. Include rhymes, alliterations, plays on words or other techniques to make it catchy.
3. Check for Availability
Do a search to see if your desired name is available as a .com domain and on relevant social media networks. You want something that ideally isn’t already in use and can represent your brand on all platforms.
4. Choose Something Evergreen
Don’t use names or phrases that have a short shelf-life. Consider if it’s something you’ll still like 5 or 10 years from now.
5 Turn Personal Inspiration into Ideas
Draw inspiration from your own hobbies, life experiences and personality to make it meaningful. Examples: “Courtney’s Kitchen”, “Amanda’s Adventures”.
6. Imagine How it Looks in Writing
Envision how the name looks stylized with fonts and logos. Does it stand out? Will it look good with imagery? Say it out loud to make sure it sounds appealing too.
With this checklist, you’re ready to brainstorm the perfect, personal name for your dazzling new blog! What ideas do you have?
Blog Name Ideas for Writers
Here are some creative blog name ideas for writers:
The Writing Desk – Simple and descriptive, perfect for a blog focused on advice, tips, and inspiration for writers.
The Quill Chronicles – Evokes classic writing and has a nice ring to it. Great for book reviewers or literary fiction bloggers.
Syntax and Sentiments – A clever play on words, suited for writers interested in technique and craft.
Word Wanderlust – Captures a sense of adventure and curiosity. Good for travel writers or blogs on exotic locales.
Pen and Prose – Short and sweet, emphasizes writing topics. Easy to remember.
Literati Log – “Literati” gives it an academic tone, “log” implies an ongoing journal. Good for critical analysis.
The New Scribbler – “Scribbler” makes it creative yet informal, “new” shows this offers a fresh perspective.
Wordcraft – Simple but powerful. Suggests writers focused on honing their art and skills.
Storyteller’s Nook – Conjures images of a cozy space where tales are spun. Perfect for narrative writers.
Blue Pencil Blog – Refers to the editing process. Great if critiquing or reviewing manuscripts.
Word by Word – Emphasizes building writing piece by piece. Good for blogs on technique.
These names capture the creativity and craft of writing from many angles. Adapt them or come up with your own spin using these springboards!
What’s the Difference Between Blog Names vs Domain Names?
There is an important distinction between a blog name and a domain name, even though they are closely related. Here’s a breakdown of the key differences:
Blog Name
- The official title of your blog that describes the topic, theme, or purpose of your blog content.
- Helps readers identify at a glance what your blog is about based on the name alone.
- Usually includes descriptive keywords relevant to your niche so search engines can categorize your content.
- Has no technical restrictions – you can get creative with spacing, punctuation, captions, etc.
- Examples: “Budget Travel Tips”, “Baking Addict’s Kitchen”, “Jane’s Fashion Diary”
Domain Name
- The web address that leads internet users to your blog when they type it into their browser.
- Typically uses suffixes like .com, .net, .org to function as a URL that directs traffic.
- Restrictions apply in terms of length, use of special characters, symbols, punctuation, capital letters, etc.
- Often registered and renewed annually for exclusive web usage rights.
- Examples: budgettraveltips.com, bakingaddictskitchen.net, janefashiondiary.org
While coming up with these names independently, the best practice is to choose complementary blog and domain names. This helps boost SEO and keeps things clear for your audience.
How to Choose a Domain Name
Choosing the right domain name is an important decision when starting a blog. Here are some tips for selecting an effective, catchy domain name:
Make it short and simple. Opt for something clean and easy to remember and spell. Stay under 20 characters.
Incorporate target keywords. Work keywords relevant to your blog’s focus into the domain to help with SEO.
Check for availability. Verify the exact .com domain is available to register by doing a domain search. Consider other extensions like .net too.
Consider future goals. Pick a name that will still work if you expand your website down the road beyond a blog.
Use dashes wisely. Dashes can improve readability and separation, but use sparingly. Example: wellness-for-life.com.
Avoid numbers and hyphens. Exceptions could be made for dates or years. Numbers and hyphens can confuse readers.
Make it brandable. Choose something that can translate well into a logo and complement your overall brand identity.
Consider pronunciation. Say it out loud! Domains that are intuitive to pronounce typically perform better.
Steer clear of trademarked terms. Do research to avoid any legal issues. Refrain from using popular brand names.
Following these guidelines will lead to selecting a domain name that is short, catchy, describes your blog perfectly and sets you up for long-term success online.
How Much Does a Domain Name Cost Per Year
Registration fees – Most domain registrars charge an annual fee to register and reserve your domain name, typically $10-15 per year. Some offer multi-year discounts.
Renewal fees – You must pay this annual fee consistently to retain the rights to your domain. If you fail to renew on time, you risk losing it. Auto-renewal can help avoid lapses.
Premium domains – If a domain is short, catchy or in-demand, some registries auction it off at a higher “premium” price that can be pricier.
Domain privacy – You can pay extra (around $10/year typically) to hide your personal contact details from WHOIS lookups for more anonymity.
Other administrative fees – Some registrars charge small additional fees for setup, transfers, extensions and more. Read the fine print.
Many web hosting companies include a free domain name with an annual shared hosting plan, so your custom domain may come bundled with web hosting costs. Shop around for a provider that offers the best rates and terms on both.
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How to Set Your Blog Name and Domain Name
When launching a blog, an important first step is configuring your chosen blog name and custom domain name. Here is a simple guide:
1. Register your domain
Search domain registrars like GoDaddy, Namecheap etc to see if your ideal .com is available. Register and pay annual fees to purchase rights.
2. Get web hosting
Since blogs need servers, get set up with web hosting through a provider that enables you to use your new domain name.
3. Point domain to host
Via your domain registrar and web host account settings, set your domain to resolve to your hosting account’s servers through changing “nameservers”.
4. Install blog platform
On your hosting account, install an easy blog platform like WordPress. Optimize settings for site name, admin accounts etc.
5. Set blog name
Within your blog platform’s settings, configure your official blog name & title. This will customize your site’s visible branding.
6. Redirect domain to blog
Finally, set your registered domain to route all traffic to your newly created blog! Add site files and go live.
Following those steps allows you to seamlessly register your ideal domain name, match it to your blog hosting/platform, and set your blog name up with your domain for a professional site. Maintain both registrations annually.
Conclusion
In conclusion, selecting the perfect name and domain for your blog is an exciting first step when starting an online presence. Your blog name sets the tone and brand for the site, while the domain name functions as the address that routes visitors to your content.
When choosing names, it’s important to make them descriptive of the blog’s focus, short and memorable, available to register or purchase, and complementary to establish cohesive branding. Consider costs of registration and renewal fees for domains when budgeting for your blog launch.
With some thoughtful planning and search optimization, pairing a great blog name and domain can lead to an impactful platform that effectively reaches your target audience. The name and domain are building blocks that anchor the foundation for your blog and entire website’s future success.
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