Domain Name Lengths

[SimonMac]

Someone is wanting me to knock up a website for them, they are a local charity and have quite a long name (Hyphenated-DistrictA and DistrictB Children's Center) I know I could go the full name but obviously something snappier will be better, but HDDCC doesn't give an idea of the organisation.

Is there a good rule of thumbs for choosing a domain name?

[northernladuk]

Two things I would consider. Firstly can you communicate it word of mouth such that people will remember and find it and secondly I would try and use the URL to show relavance to the site for search engines.

Based on that I would personally look at HHDChildrensCenter. I am not a fan of hypens in URLs so would try and avoid that.

[TestMangler]

Be careful adding words together would be my advice.

The new Gas Safe Register http://www.gasheating.co.uk is a prime example of that)

[SimonMac]

Be careful adding words together would be my advice.

The new Gas Safe Register Central heating - Answers - Central Heating is a prime example of that)

There are so many good ones.

http://Www.Penisland.com
http://www.Therapistfinder.com

[garethevans1986]

HHDChildrensCenter

or should it be HHDChildrenCenter?...keep it simple, without the pluralisation if possible.

Also remember that you can use SEO for somebody typing the name of the place in to find hhdcc.org.uk or whatever, so you dont have to use the name of the entity in the domain name.

GE

[v8gaz]

Do they have a snappy tagline in their advertising?

Don't forget that you can point several domain names at the same site, if you think of a better one later, or they run a particular campaign.

[Scrag Meister]

http://www.Therapistfinder.com

Now wisely called http://www.counselingcalifornia.com/

[eek]

What are they known as locally.

Its the shortened version of what people call them that you need to use.

[doodab]

I would personally look at HHDChildrensCentre

Unless your client is actually American, of course.

[wim121]

Do they have a snappy tagline in their advertising?

Don't forget that you can point several domain names at the same site, if you think of a better one later, or they run a particular campaign.

Personally, I would go with something like this, something snappy like kiddycare.com or whatever ..... What exactly does the business do? Is it just a network of nursery groups?