Choosing the right domain name is a crucial decision when starting a new business or launching a website. The domain name will be your online identity and make a first impression on customers. A memorable, brandable domain can help drive traffic, improve SEO, and contribute to your success.
However, thinking of an available, catchy domain name can be challenging. This is where domain name generators can help. Domain name generators are online tools that automatically generate hundreds or thousands of potential domain names based on your input. They can save you time and provide inspiration when brainstorming domains.
In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of using domain name generators. We’ll also provide tips for getting the most out of these tools and finding an ideal domain for your needs.
Pros of Domain Name Generators
Here are some of the top benefits of using a domain name generator:
Saves Time
The biggest advantage of domain generators is the amount of time they can save you. Coming up with domain ideas from scratch can be tedious and time-consuming. With a generator, you can instantly create hundreds or even thousands of domain suggestions based on your keywords. This allows you to spend more time evaluating and selecting the perfect domain rather than racking your brain to think of ideas.
Provides Inspiration
Even if you have a few domain ideas in mind, it can be difficult to think of variations, alternate spellings, prefixes, suffixes, and more possibilities. Domain generators provide a wealth of inspiration, bringing domain options you may have never thought of on your own. This can spur new ideas and directions you can take your domain in.
Checks Domain Availability
Most domain generators will check if the suggested domains are available for registration. This saves you from having to manually look up each domain only to find it’s already taken. Generators narrow down the options to show you available domains you can potentially register.
Variety of Customization Options
Domain generators allow you to customize the results to fit your specific needs. Options may include:
- Choosing domain extensions like .com, .net, .org, etc.
- Selecting domain length
- Including keywords or business name
- Adding prefixes, suffixes, or hyphens
- Choosing domain categories like creative, branded, descriptive, and more
- Filtering profanity or trademarked terms
These settings allow you to fine-tune the generator to your preferences.
Free to Use
Most domain generators are free tools, making them budget-friendly when starting your business or website. There are no costs associated with generating potential domains. You only pay a registrar if you decide to register one of the suggested domains.
Cons of Domain Name Generators
While domain generators offer many perks, they also come with some downsides to consider:
Overwhelming Results
Some domain generators return hundreds or thousands of options based on your inputs. Sifting through pages and pages of domain suggestions can be overwhelming. It takes time to sort through and make a shortlist of viable options.
Quantity Over Quality
Since generators focus on massive quantities of domains, they typically produce more bad or irrelevant options than hand-picked ones. Much of the list may be unusable domains that don’t meet your needs. Quality is lower than carefully brainstorming a shortlist yourself or hiring a naming professional.
Lacks Context
Generators provide domains “as is” without context around your brand or website. They don’t know your industry, audience, messaging, design, or other factors that should inform a domain choice. The results are generic compared to choosing a domain aligned with your business goals.
Trademarks Not Checked
Domain generators don’t screen for trademark conflicts. They may suggest domains that contain trademarked terms owned by other companies, putting you at risk of legal issues. You’ll still need to do trademark vetting yourself before selecting a domain.
Doesn’t Confirm Searches
Most generators don’t confirm if suggested domains rank well in search engines for your target keywords. You’ll need to evaluate SEO potential manually for each option.
Upsells and Ads
Like many free tools, some domain generators have annoying upsells, limits on results, paid tiers, display ads, or slow load times. These can hamper the user experience.
Tips for Using Domain Name Generators
Here are some tips to use domain generators effectively:
Seed it With Your Brand Name
Start with your company, product, or brand name so the results are tailored specifically to your business. This provides more focused domains to consider.
Add Keywords
Include important keywords like your industry, location, products, services, etc. This gives domains that align with your niche and may improve SEO.
Try Different Extensions
Play around with popular extensions like .com, .net, .org to see available options. Consider alternatives like .io, .tech, .app if the .com is taken.
Adjust Length
Short domains are memorable but longer “dotcoms” may have more options available. Try adjusting the character length to broaden or limit ideas.
Remove Trademarks
Most generators let you exclude trademarked terms so you only get brandable domain suggestions. Use this to steer clear of legal issues.
Filter Profanity
Filter out profanity or slang to ensure your domain is professional for your audience. Don’t let an embarrassing domain slip through.
Check SEO Value
Research keywords each domain ranks for and if they drive traffic for your industry. Prioritize domains with good SEO potential.
Evaluate “Dotcoms”
Dotcom domains (e.g. yourbrand.com) still dominate search results and are valued by consumers. Weigh .com options even if you must get creative with the name.
Use Multiple Generators
Try a few different domain generators to compare results and see more possibilities. Cross-check domains against each other.
Best Domain Name Generators
Here are some of the best free domain generators to consider using:
GoDaddy Domain Name Generator
- Intuitive generator from the popular registrar GoDaddy
- Returns .com, .net, .org, and .co availability
- Filters trademarked and profane terms
- Provides bulk search and export options
DomainWheel
- Simple wheel format to spin domain suggestions
- Checks .com, .net, .org availability
- Allows keywords and prefixes/suffixes
- Filters profanity and trademarks
LeanDomainSearch
- Sliders to adjust domain length and word count
- Advanced filters and settings
- Exports list of available domains
- Checks .com, .net, .org, .io, .ai options
Wordoid
- Focuses on creative, invented word domains
- Customizations for prefixes, suffixes, and more
- Filters profane and trademarked terms
- Checks .com availability
Domain Generators
- Huge database of domain suggestions
- Finds available .com, .net, .org, .info extensions
- Allows keywords and filters
- Exports results in Excel or CSV format
Shopify Business Name Generator
- Created by ecommerce platform Shopify
- Returns brandable, creative business names
- Checks .com, .net, .org availability
- Filters profanity and trademarks
Namelix
- Generates short, branded domains with suffixes
- Filters trademarks and profanity
- Checks .com, .net, .org availability
- Allows keywords and customization
Should You Use a Domain Name Generator?
Domain name generators can be useful tools, especially when starting your naming process from scratch. They provide inspiration and speed up initial brainstorming. However, you likely won’t find your perfect domain solely from a generator. These tools are best used to create a big pool of prospects. Expect to do additional filtering and vetting before deciding on the right domain.
To make your final choice:
- Research trademarks and eliminate conflicts
- Evaluate SEO strength and traffic data
- Ensure it’s brandable and aligns with your messaging
- Check it’s memorable, easy to say and spell
- Determine if social media handles are available
- See if a logo can be designed around it
With the right due diligence, domain generators can help you discover an ideal domain that meets all your criteria. Just don’t rely too heavily on the tools alone when making this critical branding decision.
In summary, domain name generators are useful for inspiration but have limitations around relevance and quality. Use these pros and cons to set the right expectations when using generators to find your perfect domain. With the strategies above, you can maximize the tools to build a strong list of possible domains for your business.
Conclusion
Your domain name is your identity online, so it’s worth taking the time to find one that truly fits your brand. Domain generators can kickstart your brainstorming and provide naming ideas you may not have considered. Evaluate the options critically, do your research, and don’t settle on the first decent domain you come across. With a deliberate selection process, you can find a domain that helps make your website and company a success.