How to Choose a Domain Name for Your Personal Brand

If you’re looking to launch your personal brand, you have to think about how your brand will play out in the digital world. Consider how it will appear on your website’s homepage, social media handles, and most importantly, how your personal brand will work as your website address. Personal branding online has become more important than ever as remote and hybrid work continue to shape the labor economy.

First let’s visit the three main options for branding yourself and your domain online.

A) Use your own name. You can make it as simple as your first name and last name for example, JohnSmith.US). Whether you’re a world-renowned business figure or a new UX designer aiming to build a digital portfolio, a URL with your first, or first and last name, is one of the best options to help followers or potential employers find you online.

Using your personal name is also helpful if you expand your services or change your career direction entirely. For example, if you’re a UX designer who decides to specialize in copywriting, this decision doesn’t impact your domain name as it still operates under your personal alias. While there are endless benefits, you might want to think twice about using your personal name if it is difficult to pronounce or spell, as potential customers might have trouble remembering it or spelling it.

B) Use your brand name. You can use your brand or business name for your personal brand. For example, many lifestyle influencers have online brands with catchy names and creative monikers.

Or, if your business already has a following in the physical world, then consider using the exact same name in the digital realm. For example, let’s say you are an aspiring stylist with a local clothing store in Brooklyn called Bubbly Style Boutique. You notice that tourists want to continue buying from your store long after they’ve left the Big Apple. So you set out to launch an e-commerce for this audience. When it comes to picking the domain name, you will likely want to choose one that matches your storefront signage, like BubblyStyle.US. In other words, you can leverage your pre-existing business to grow your personal brand.

But how do you make sure your personal brand shines alongside your business? You want to make sure that your business website is infused with your personality, be it your personal story, professional headshots and photos, and an active blog to keep you connected with your online audience.  

C) Use a keyword. Some domains include a relevant keyword that your target customer or audience would type into a Google search field. For example, if you’re a catering business in Detroit specializing in smoked ribs, you might opt for a domain that includes the word Detroit and BBQ. It helps searchers on Google know exactly what you do and where you’re based.

Sounds like a no-brainer, but be careful not to choose a web domain that runs too long. You might also want to think twice about a keyword-driven domain if you plan to change business direction in the future or expand your services. For example, if you decide to ditch barbecued fare and pivot to sweet pastries, your website domain would not be able to pivot with you.

Whether you choose option A, B, or C, there are general rules to consider when finalizing your domain name. If you’re in the early phases of naming your business, you want to think about the following factors that lead to a strong and consistent domain name.
 

• As mentioned but worth repeating, make sure the URL is memorable and easy to spell so that potential followers can find your website.
• Skip any special symbols (like dashes) or confusing numbers that might lead to a typo.
• Consistency is key. If your personal name on your resume is Cece Hernandez, then don’t add your nickname into the domain name mix. This could confuse potential clients. If your business name is known as Reiki Runners, for example, then make sure your domain sticks to the same wordage. Consider TLDs like .us to ensure brand consistency, and most importantly, convey professionalism.
• Deciding on your personal brand is a major step in starting a business. Whether you go with your personal name, business name or want to bet on keywords, make sure you create a dedicated business website with a domain that matches your brand name.