Help with a website name!

[sweet]

Hi peeps,

My mrsite arrived today (SOOOO excited), I cant do much with it today, i shouldnt be on here really, I'm meant to be cleaning my car which is due for its MOT in an hour!

ANyhow, I have no clue about choosing a domain name. Now i was thinking of artbysophie.co.uk what do you think? I paint abstract paintings mostly, I am going to start some more figurative painting tho, so I decided not to have abstract in the domain name, also, I want to branch out into photography, so I'm thinking that I dont want the name to be too specific! Oh dear, i didnt realise it would be this difficult to choose a name. So if anyone has any suggestions that would be cool, either with a name ;) or with some tips on going about choosing a name

I have been reading sooooo much on this forum about setting up your own site and its so mind boggling.

s.x

[sunbatheintheshade]

Hi Sophie,

i like artbysophie.co.uk...if its available you should go for it. it has a nice ring to it! did you say you already have a template for your site?

it would be nice to see some of your work - i have a how to make section on my site, it would be nice to see some of your work on there...have a look (http://www.sunbatheintheshade.com/How-To-Make-Your-Own-Handmade-Stuff.html)

thanks and good look with your domain...

cheets rach xxx

[Debeadz]

I think artbysophie is a good choice especially as you want to branch out and try other forms of art.

I think it sounds sophisicated too :D

Good luck deciding on your name and building your website.

[Focus on Life]

I cant think of anything better right now and I also like the sound of artbysophie - as you say Sweet, its non specific but still clearly shows its an art site which is what you want

I'd LOVE to hear how you get on with it, I know Rach mentioned her fella could do me a website (thanks Rach!) but I've been so busy working for the craft fair and now I'm off to try and get some last minute Mothers Day business, it's on the backburner...along with Etsy...and looking for another home working job...and...

GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR SITE, KEEP US POSTED HOW YOU GET ON!!!! :mf:
(ditto with the MOT)

Shaz x

[Beadservice]

Good choice, stick with it. I like 'artbysophie'

Debbie

[incywincy]

I like {artbysophie} ... sounds lovely :)

[candles by lisa]

I like it too but a little tip that I got my web address is candles-by-lisa.co.uk instead of candlesbylisa.co.uk. I was advised to go down the hyphenated route because when you are advertising your site it is easier to read and therefore for people to remember if the words are hyphenated - if people can't read what your site is they can't remember it.

art-by-sophie.co.uk
or
artbysophie.co.uk

Not much use but hope it helps.

Cheers.

Lisa

[Rodeo Lady]

I like the name... and good luck with it all.

Cheers Janice

[sunbatheintheshade]

message for focus on life
(and anyone else interested in having a site...)

my fellas website is up and running now - so if your interested in a shop send him an email...(or me)
www.fudgetechnical.co.uk (http://www.fudgetechnical.co.uk)
(the product is shopmate)

thanks

rach x

[nattynetty]

I like it too but a little tip that I got my web address is candles-by-lisa.co.uk instead of candlesbylisa.co.uk. I was advised to go down the hyphenated route because when you are advertising your site it is easier to read and therefore for people to remember if the words are hyphenated - if people can't read what your site is they can't remember it.

art-by-sophie.co.uk
or
artbysophie.co.uk


I've also heard that search engines prefer the hyphenated route but I may be talking out of my bum on that one. Personally I would buy both domain names (they only cost a few quid usually), use and advertise the hyphenated address but have a redirect set up so if anyone tries it without the hyphens they still get taken to your site.

[dinkins]

it is very hard choseing a name for a new domain isn't it? its one that will be with your for very long time so you need to be 100% sure your happy with it

I love the artbysophie

Just a couple of suggestions

Artysoph

sophiesartlins

Artysophie

of course don't use caps in your domain name, and i found with names that use - in them, are pretty hard for people to remember to include the -

i know myself when i had a store couple years ago i had Crafty-krafts , well try to explain over the phone how to type your address is? i found it easier with just 1 long word.

[sweet]

thanks everyone, good adice about the hyphens, it does look easier to read. I like the idea of buying them both tho!

I'm going to go for it!

MOT didnt go well...car failed! hoping my partners mechanic mate will have time to fix it (at a decent rate!!)

s.x

[ilovecrafts]

another http://www.getsmile.com/emoticons/smileys/g0/up.gif for your choice!

Not too specific, so allows for future diversification, but still says enough to get people to look.

easy to say and remember

definitely agree, that you should consider getting both the hyphonated and non-hyphonated domains if available

[0103media]

If you can help it keep away from hyphonated as most people are to lazy to tpye them and i'm sure my mum doesn't even know which key she'd have to press..

Regarding my work (seo) make sure your domain tells the user what's on it..

e.g. craftsforum.co.uk is a forum about crafts..

Hope that helps..

[glasskanvas]

If you can help it keep away from hyphonated as most people are to lazy to tpye them and i'm sure my mum doesn't even know which key she'd have to press..

Regarding my work (seo) make sure your domain tells the user what's on it..

e.g. craftsforum.co.uk is a forum about crafts..

Hope that helps..

I agree...I hate hyphens in web titles, I tend to type them incorrectly then give up after the first attempt....Also mrmedia is spot on about the title describing the website. I wish i'd known that before I started otherwise i'd have tried to shoehorn 'dichroic' in there somewhere.

[candles by lisa]

If you can help it keep away from hyphonated as most people are to lazy to tpye them and i'm sure my mum doesn't even know which key she'd have to press..

Regarding my work (seo) make sure your domain tells the user what's on it..

e.g. craftsforum.co.uk is a forum about crafts..

Hope that helps..

I have to agree about being too lazy to type in the hyphen, I don't even type it in for my own web address but it makes no difference what I type my site comes up. I'm not talking so much about advertising on the web it is all the advertising we do out with the web - i.e. I have a car banner from a lovely lady who Incywincy recommended - there is more chance of them reading your banner and remembering who you are if they can understand what your name is - the same goes for banners at fairs etc - if they can read the name they are more likely to remember it when they say your things are lovely and walk off without buying anything (I know I know I am a synic!!!)

Cheers.

Lisa

:mf:

[0103media]

Double check the name..

When powergen opened its italian office it didn't check how the new domain would sound...

hehehehe

[candles by lisa]

Very good, that took me a second or two to figure out!!

Hehe.

Lisa

:o

[missXzzim]

I don't mean to confuse you, and you might not want to hear this, but....

If you include your key words in your domain name Google is more inclined to throw you up its rankings (obviously amongst lots of other factors). It's not a do or die choice, but it can sometimes help. ie. you might want to do a little bit of research into keyword searches used on google, and choose a domain that is more likely to pop up under a search phrase. It does make your keywords stronger.

eg. I am a 'shop' that sells 'alpaca'. Had i gone for handknitsbykerry.co.uk i am far less likely to be found under a search.

However....I really like 'artbysophie' as a company name, and if you do go with that I would write it ArtBySophie.co.uk This make no difference in a browser, but on an advertisement makes it easier for the public to read. I similarly write mine TheToftAlpacaShop and was advised to do so by an experience e-commerce designer.

Hope this isn't a total pain....but at least consider it.

Kerry

[Tip Top]

Well, for my thoughts!

artbysophie sounds fine and I like it but just make sure people can spell it!!!!!!!!!!:D