Selection of the right domain name - for a strong digital identity as an artist

As an artist, there is an essential necessity that you should not do without. You need a website that presents your work potential customers. But before you start building your website, it is important to choose domain name

The selection of a domain name for an artist's website can turn out to be an own creative project. A domain name represents the Internet address that users get to their website, such as Kuenstlername.de , and plays a crucial role in the presentation of their brand.

As soon as you have chosen a domain name, it can be difficult to change it later. Therefore, you should choose as best as possible from the start. "

The decision for a name of your art website is very similar to finding the name for a company and requires thorough consideration. Unfortunately, this often leads to postponement, worries and the question: "What should I do?"

During my time as a web designer and freelancer, I was often asked about it, not just by artists; Many business people also searched for advice. That is why I have already conducted this conversation in a wide variety of industries.

In this article I now explain the basic concepts and share my own experiences in the choice of name for an art website and the moments when I deviated from the usual rules. So if you need support in choosing a domain name for your artist website, take a look at the following tips!

To terminology

The concept of a website is referred to as the "domain name" or "URL" . A domain name is the unique address of a website on the Internet that makes it possible to find it easily from others from others. In the core of the Internet are IP addresses that consist of numbers, such as: 192.168.1.1. These serve as "coordinates" to locate a certain resource. But imagine how difficult it would be to remember numerical combinations for every website. Doma names were introduced to make the use of the Internet easier for users.

A domain name is a kind of "alias" for the IP address, which consists of an understandable letter combination. This allows users to find the desired resource quickly without having to deal with technical details. Our domain name is, for example, " kunstplaza .de". The domain name/URL represents "the name of the website" , which is entered in the address line of your web browser. The web browser is the software with which you use the Internet - programs such as Chrome, Safari, Internet Explorer and Firefox are all web browsers that are used "surf" So far, so clearly.

Buy the domain name

A domain name can be bought and consists of several levels separated by points. These levels have a hierarchy:

• The first level (top level domain) is controlled by organizations.
• The second and subsequent levels are managed by the registrar - the company where you register the domain.

This structure ensures quick access to websites and a clear organization of the data. The levels of a domain are read from right to left. There are usually two levels, but it can also be more. Let's look at the different levels and how they work.

What levels of domains are there?

The levels of domains form their hierarchical structure. You define the way the domain system works and make it easier to find resources. The most important domain levels are explained below:

Top-level domain (TLD)

This is the top level of a domain that stands after the last point. It defines the type or geographical belonging of a website. Examples:

• General domains:  .com , .org , .net - used worldwide, regardless of the country.
• Geographical domains:  .de , .us , .ua - with reference to certain countries or regions.
• Specialized domains:  .tech , .shop , .art - for specific niches or industries.

Second-level domain

This is the part of the domain name that stands in front of the top level domain, e.g. B. Travelart in Travelart.com . This level makes the domain unique.

Subdomain (third-level domain)

This is an additional subdivision of the website that is in front of the second level domain. For example, blog in blog.travelart.com a subdomain. Subdomains are often used to separate functions of the website (e.g. shop.travelart.com for an online shop).

9 professional tips for the appropriate selection of a domain name

01 Use the name of your brand

In 2015, a group of artists gathered in Tokyo to create a fictitious magazine whose title leaves were supposed to map life in the Japanese metropolis. Inspired by the impressive front page of the publication "The New Yorker" and the imaginary magazine "The Parisianer" , they decided to name their own fictional magazine "The Tokyoiter" .

To choose a suitable domain name for your website ( https://www.thetokyoiter.com/ ), the group was based on its branding.

You also have the option of registering your brand's name for your domain. However, if your brand name is not available for the domain registration, you don't need to worry. In this case, you could add suitable words to your brand name to create an alternative - and available - domain name.

For example, if your brand name is "Happy Artisans" (Happyartisans.com is out of print), you could possibly use "Thehappyartisans.com" as a domain instead. However, make sure not to violate any existing trademark rights and to differentiate yourself sufficiently from the already registered domain name in order to avoid confusion and confusion.

Your own name as a domain

Of course, you can also use your own name if you appear under this appearance and want to build your brand on it.

In my case, however, my name is often missed what makes the use of my name as an Internet address ( Joachimrodriguezyzyromero .de) actually makes an obstacle because it makes it difficult for people to remember this.

Many names from other language spaces have to deal with the same problem. 

An uncomplicated solution: to register the usual typing errors of his name and to automatically be redirected to the correct page. For example, JoachimroDrige.de forwarding to Joachimrodriguezyzyromero .de. Registration of names is inexpensive; usually around 15 euros per year.

Frequency can also be a problem . Your name could also be an obstacle, especially if you have a relatively common name. These include classics such as Thomas Müller, Stefan Schmidt or Josef Huber.

It can often be beneficial to link your name to your artistic practice (e.g., stefanschmidtaquarelle.de). For the majority of artists, combining their name with their profession is probably the most optimal and safest option (regardless of the complex spelling).

02 Make it clear what your website is about

If you select a domain name for the website of an artist, you should consider choosing a name that clearly against mirrors T what it is on your side.

This enables potential visitors to get an idea of ​​what they offer before visiting their website. An example of this is the German comic artist Harald Meyer , who runs a website entitled Harryderfeitner.de . Can you guess what type of art he presents there? Drawings, of course!

For branding reasons, you might want to ignore this hint. For example, you would The Tokyoiter with "thetokyoitermagazineillustrations.com" as the domain name. What a load of crap. That's perfectly fine, but you should be careful to avoid a domain name that leaves people confused about what you do.

For example, if you are an abstract painter, the word “sculpture” should not appear in your domain name.

03  Choose something memorable

There is a myriad of artist websites . To get out of the masses, you should first choose a memorable domain name. A memorable domain name reduces the likelihood that it will be forgotten - which means that the chances increase that visitors visit their website or share them with others.

A domain name can be memorable for a variety of reasons, such as being compact and concise, such as “kunsthierjetzt.de”; being based on well-known terms, e.g. “fotorealistisch.de” compared to “bokehandglare.com” ; being modeled on your own name, e.g. “maxweber.de” .

Or it can also be because you have used creative puns when choosing a good domain name (e.g. letsdoshots.com, BIGHTBILDEUS.de, Scharfekanten.de , ...).

04 Take a brief

Doma names are limited to 63 characters. Every name of this length would be unbearably long. Keep a length between 5 and 20 characters. According to a study, the name of the most popular websites is only 6 characters long. Names that consist of one or two words are easier to understand and are ideal for a title.

Therefore, names such as "Dienamenlose ArmeantaSyposterdesigners.de" not advisable for their website. Something like "fantasyPoster designs" or "Fantasticposter" .

05 KISS principle: Keep it easy and clear

When choosing the title of your website, you do not have to show the maximum creativity as with your art. The title should not be too complicated or extravagant.

Avoid unusual and rare words. "Oedipaler complexouvre" is not a suitable name, since some people may not be familiar with Freud's concepts and may type in (foreign word for overall work).

If a completely stranger can easily remember the address of your website, you have done it right! And you shouldn't have to spell or explain anything if you pronounce the name of your website loudly.

06 Avoid numbers and hyphen

Domain names may contain both numbers and hyphens, but it is emphatically recommended to do without their use in their URL.

Google is able to better identify separate terms through beches, but this has no influence on its SEO ranking . A variant without a hyphen and numbers is easier to enter and find it. The use of numbers and hyphen can only lead to confusion and make it difficult to find your website.

In addition, names with hyphen are perceived as less relevant or even inferior compared to those.

07 Choose the best top-level domain (TLD)

Extensions or TLDS are the endings of internet addresses such as .com, .org or .net. These TLDS have little influence on how your page is displayed in the Google rankings. Nevertheless, it can be an advantage in many ways to choose a suitable TLD.

The .Com-LD is one of the oldest and most frequently used, but it is almost impossible to find a memorable name there because most of them are already awarded. A solution for this dilemma is to select a new TLD that will also benefit you. The choice of the right domain extension supports you in discovering the optimal and most appealing name for your website.

Some studies show that new TLDs do better in relation to certain key figures than .Com, while the costs for a campaign with the new TLD were significantly lower. According to the same studies, new TLDs can also lead to more AdWords impressions and improved positioning. You have the option of making your TLD meaningful and industry -specific.

In this context, the right TLD would be a signal of relevance for both humans and search engines and has a positive effect on their image and their reputation. Users will better understand what they offer and-with a suitable website name-what their art is about.

It's quite simple: When users search for information related to art, they are more likely to click on a website with the .ART . .ART acts as a digital dress code for the art world .

Over the years since its launch, .ART has become the most sought-after domain extension for creative minds and has firmly established itself among the top ten fastest-growing domain zones. The community of over 250,000 members includes creative organizations and individuals, as well as renowned companies. These include the Louvre , the Marina Abramovic Institute , the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, Pixar , Kickstarter , Vivienne Westwood , and many more.

08 Add a mysterious level of fascination

When choosing a suitable domain name for your artist website , you can make sure to choose one that piques people's interest in what you offer. It's entirely possible to give your domain a name that clearly communicates what you offer.

But how can you give this name a special note that attracts visitors and makes it explore your website?

The sound artist Samson Young from Hong Kong has a sensational website domain: www.thismicisfalse.com/ . As soon as you hear this domain name, the curiosity in them will be awakened instantly, don't it? It could give the appearance as if he had acted in the music sector, but why does he call his music "wrong" ?

You can find the answer on his website.

09 tell a story with your domain name

Ultimately, you can use your domain name to tell the whole world what inspires you as an artist. What does your art mean for you and why did you focus on the medium you have chosen?

Think about how you can incorporate all of this in the selection of a suitable domain name. 

The selection of a domain name for an artist website is an art form in itself

As you will find out, there are numerous aspects to take into account when choosing a domain name for an artist website. If you start brainstorming, the probability is high that the ideal name will not come to mind immediately.

Create a list of all domain names that you can think of - even if you think you are not optimal. The approach is to collect all ideas before you start reducing the list to your best options.

It is also helpful to check whether your preferred domain names are available during the creation of your list. If you find that a certain domain name has already been awarded, you can decide whether you want to remove it from your list or convert it into a different name.

Choosing a domain name for an artist website requires a certain amount of creativity and self-reflection, as you consider your values as an artist. But once you've discovered the ideal domain name, you'll undoubtedly know it.

And if this moment occurs, register it as soon as possible! You don't want to risk someone else to secure him in front of you.