When I was searching through Twitter for some questions to answer for this week’s blog post, I was happy when I found someone wondering how to come up with a name for your blog. Now, I’m no expert, but I do have a few favorite tips and tools that might help you out when you’re trying to figure out a name for your blog or brand.
1. Do not get your heart set on a name for your blog without checking to see if the domain is available. I have come up with amazing names for things and been really disappointed when the domain was already taken. Especially when no one is doing anything with the domain so it’s basically just a waste of space!
2. If the domain is available, buy it immediately! I have also come up with a great name for a blog with an available domain, and closed my browser with plans to purchase it the next day. NOPE. I’m 99% sure there are people who keep an eye on recently searched domain names and snatch up the ones that seem kind of good in the hopes of making a lot of money. So when I went back to buy the domain name the next morning, it had already been taken. Don’t be like me – if it’s available, grab it while you can.
3. If you have an idea of what you want your blog name to be, but you can’t find an available domain, try using Bust A Name. You can type in a lot of words that you’re thinking about including in your blog name, and it will randomly combine them and only serve you the ones that have available domains.
4. I think it goes without saying that your blog shouldn’t be thefabbrunetteandherclosetfullofshoes.com. If it’s too long to be your Twitter handle, then it shouldn’t be the name of your blog.
5. Use Wordoid to create a unique, made-up word to use as your blog name. This tool is really fun and actually works better than any other “name generator” tool I’ve seen. You can filter through settings of quality, pattern, word length, and language to get a set of new, made-up words. If there’s a root word that you like, you can include it in the tool. Like Bust A Name, there’s an option to only show words that have an available domain.
6. Old-fashioned whiteboard brainstorming! This is how my co-worker came up with the name “AmpliFound.” We spent a few hours writing down every related word that we might want to include that had to do with “getting your ideas found.” We really liked the idea of “amplify” or “amplification” and she came up with AmpliFound and it felt pretty perfect.
For those of you who have been blogging for awhile, how did you come up with your name? Share your story in the comments below!
