This is day one of my Booming Business of Blogging Experiment. Follow along over the twelve month period as I take the steps required to (hopefully!) meet the experiment’s goals. There will be many helpful tips and tricks for you along the way and no doubt there will also be lessons where you can learn from my mistakes. Today’s topic is about choosing a name for my blog. Other topics can be found throughout the Booming Business of Blogging Experiment series of posts.

I’d already decided that I wanted to have as much control as possible over the design and features of my blog and this definitely includes having my own domain name. So when it came to choosing a blog name it also needed to be something that was short, easy to remember and type and still available to purchase as a domain.

This is much harder than you first think! There are a number of things to keep in mind when brainstorming your blog name. And brainstorm you should. Many people don’t think much about it until it’s time to fill in the box and click ‘Apply’. Spend some time trying out some names in your head while thinking about these points …

1. Your blog name should be easy to remember and easy to type Try to make your blog’s name succinct and easy to spell. Sometimes mis-spellings are not really as cute as you think they are and just make your blog’s address harder to get right for readers trying to find you again. The same can be said for blog names that are almost full sentences. You might find you have your heart set on a name for your blog but the domain name is already taken. So, you end up trying all sorts of wacky spellings and using hyphens and the like. Going down this path, you might just end up sending your traffic elsewhere – to the sites with the correct spelling! Keep it simple.
2. Your blog name should be relevant to your blog topics
   If you can, make your blog’s name reflective of your blog topic. For example, if your blog is on photography try to incorporate the word photography or a word relating to photography in your blog’s name. Sometimes it is easier said than done, but it is worth persevering with an intuitive name.
3. Your blog name should say something about you
   Does it suit the style of your blog? Does it suit the tone and language of your blog? Does it suit the intended audience of your blog. Your blog name should indicate whether the blog is humorous or serious, reporting on news items or ranting on your observations. Think about the future too. When your blog really takes off do you want to be recognised in your work environment as the author of imfullofcrap.com? Will the name stand the test of time through industry changes or market expansions?

Under pressure to get the blog started, and having most of my brainstorming ideas not available as a domain name I have settled for http://www.kdays.com. Now I just have to start thinking of a catchy byline!

Popularity: 4% [?]