Client’s usually discuss their choice of domain name after they’ve bought one. It’s a shame because the selection of a really good domain name can have a tremendous impact on how many visitors you get to your website.

Here’s how the usual conversation goes. .. “I really need a website. My daughter, Red, loves these little red hooded riding capes I make and I’m ready to start selling them to everyone.  I picked out a great website name , www.redsmomsews.com.  Isn’t that cute?  Let’s get started.”

Here’s our hottest tip for selecting a strong domain: PICK A DOMAIN THAT INCLUDES YOUR KEYWORDS. If in doubt, your keywords are the words or phrases you think people will search to find you, your services, or a product. Red’s mom would be better served by www.ridinghoods.com, www.buyridingcapes.com , www.isellcapes.com.

I know the optimum domain names aren’t always so cute. But cute doesn’t count when trying to build a website’s position in the search engines. The boost of a good domain name is undeniable. Recently I reviewed several client sites being tracked with Google Analytics. Roughly 30 to 50% of the visitors who found the site by Google, searched by using the  same keywords from the domain name.

Vanessa Wood of Design to Spec partners with Ronnie Ann Ryan of Success Express under the umbrella of Mac and Cheese Web Marketing. Mac and Cheese Web Marketing helps you determine the strongest keywords… before you buy a domain.  If you want people to find you, that’s by far the best time to make this type of strategic decision.