HOW TO NAME YOUR BLOG

I loved writing this post!  Coming up with a great blog name is like coming up with the perfect baby name and just as fun!  When Dr. Mom and I decided to start a blog together, the first thing we did was come up with a name.  We texted our ideas back and forth and soon after, we had the perfect name and our fabulous blog 

was born.  You don't have to be a master writer or brand expert to find the winning name for your blog-baby.  You just have to have a beginning idea of what you may want to write about and go from there.  Here are a few quick tips on how to get started and birth the best blog name ever!

1.  BE CLEAR.  People should be able to tell what your blog is about just by the name.  Being vague or too poetic with your blog name will make it hard for people to relate and connect with you and your blog.  Remember, nouns and adjectives are your blog naming friends.  Come up with a list of nouns and adjectives that can describe your blog and have fun combining them to find potential names.  There's more to it but if you nail step #1, you are on your way!

2.  KEYWORDS ARE KEY.  The internet is very crowded and one way that we navigate it is by using keywords and key terms.  If your blog is about new parenting, make it kinda obvious in your blog name (binkiesandbottles101.com).  If it's about crafting (ribbonsandglue.com), traveling (passportdiaries.com),  reading (mybooknook.com), beauty (beautyandbrains.com,) or something else, include an obvious hint in the blog name to let people know what they're in for when they drop by your blog.  You don't have to include the actual subject in the blog name but your name should ultimately point readers in the right direction.  

3.  STAND OUT IN THE CROWD.  I think we can all agree that the internet and social media,  in general, can be a fun and quirky place so free your mind and experiment with fun, quirky and memorable names to help you stand out in the internet crowd.  Don't forget to follow rules #1 and #2 while incorporating rule #3.  

4.  MATCH YOUR WRITING STYLE.  If you are dreaming of writing a whimsical girlfriend's guide for mom-beauty or journal about all things weird and funny about motherhood then think outside the box and come up with a fun, kitschy name.  However, if you are looking to become a marketable internet business in the corporate world, then a sober, more formal name may work best.  Both types of blogs can be great but be sure to match the tone of your blog name to the style of your writing.   

5.  KEEP IT SIMPLE.  Your blog name is your introduction to just about everyone who's in your niche so keep it simple, catchy, and on topic. Remember, shortcatchyandsimple.com is king when it comes to naming your blog baby.   A vague and longwinded blog name can mean certain death in the blogosphere.  

6.  SAY IT OUT LOUD.  Once you narrow down your top picks, try saying them out loud and say it in a conversation.  Does the name sound clunky and awkward or does it sound like music to your ears?  Is it fun to say and do you want to spread the word to friends and family?  Alliteration and rhymes are two great ways to find a cool name: mybusybeesbake.com, and fununderthesun.com are two examples.  Also, how does it look when you type it out?  Does it translate well on paper or on a screen, in your font of choice?  

Are you getting excited yet?  I hope so because you are almost there!

7.  ​SPLLNG KOWNTZ.  I hope I made my point.  Be unique.  Be memorable.  But most importantly, be easy to spell.  If you choose to go off-road when it comes to spelling, stick with the easy-to-remember misspells like dollz.net or xtremeparenting.com.  Unique spellings that are not obvious to most people can trip up traffic to your site so keep the unusual spellings simple and to a minimum.

8.    BLOGS, LIKE BABIES, GROW UP.   Pick a name with the future in mind.  Will your blog name still be relevant to your niche as your life expands?  For instance, if you start a mommy blog as a new mom but plan on growing your family, onlychild.com would not only work in the short term.  You can always continue to grow and add new layers to your blog but find a name that has stretch and elasticity in meaning so that it will still be relevant as you and your world grows over time.

9.  IT'S TAKEN!  Bummer.  You followed all the steps and found the absolute perfect blog name, only to find that it's taken.  If that doesn't happen to you at least once, you are either very lucky or an absolute blog naming wizard!  Many names and terms are already in use  and it can be challenging to come up with a truly unique name.  Don't give up!  Grab a thesaurus or download a thesaurus app, order some Chinese takeout and get comfortable because it's time to do some serious brainstorming and find your REAL name gem.  There are great domain name generating websites such as  www.panabee.com/ and www.namemesh.com/ that can help if you get stuck.  You can use their name generating ideas to come up with an entirely different name or find one that closely resembles your original top pick.  Good luck and have fun!


​​