Tips For The Best Domain Name For Affiliate Marketing:

Choosing the best domain name for your affiliate marketing business can be a mind breaking task. 

It’s certainly a juggling act.

This article will help guide you in the right direction.

By the way, it took me – many domain name purchases before, I learned a few important tips that could help you – land that perfect domain name. 

Today, I’m going to share those tips with you.

So that you can choose the best domain name for affiliate marketing, right from the start.

What Is The Best Domain Name For Affiliate Marketing?

Honestly, I don’t know if there is truly a right or wrong here.

You can go with a keyword branded domain name or a generic domain name.

At the end of the day, it all depends on – your end goal.

Ask yourself:

• Do you plan on keeping the website?
• Or selling it?
• Will you even have a website? Or are you just using the for domain name for marketing purposes?
• Are you trying to be brandable?
• Or just follow the brand?

Moreover, using keywords within your URL supposedly helps websites rank better.

In addition to that, having a keyword in your domain name, is also supposed to help your website visitors understand what your website is about.

At the end of the day, I see it as you’re blending in with all the other keyword domains in the search engine.

In fact, if you’re reading this article, what made you click on this article?

Please tell me below. I’m really curious because, my domain name can mean anything.

Shetriedthat.com is definitely a generic name and does not tell you what the website is about.

Furthermore, back in November of 2015 Hover wrote an article, stating that using keywords in the domain name can sometimes hurt your search rankings.

Either way, let’s not just take my word or their word for it.

We’ll need to dive deeper into some research so that you can decide what the best option is for your affiliate marketing domain name.

Does Having Keywords In The Domain Really Help With Ranking?

Here’s the question, “Will having keywords in your domain help you rank higher?”

According to Neil Patel, and many other marketers “Yes” having keywords in the domain name will help you rank higher into the search engines.

However, if you noticed Neil Patel, domain itself is not a keyword based on his industry.

It is his name.

Also, take Apple, Ahrefs, SemRush, and so many others, that are big brands today, and they are not using a keyword.

In fact, you can not tell exactly what they are about just by reading their brand name. I definitely didn’t think Ahrefs was going to be a keyword research tool.

The bottom line here is that, according to the Guru’s a good domain name for affiliate marketing, should use keywords, and this could be true.

On the other hand it could be just marketers following each other. Or they could be setting you up to blend in with the masses.

The truth we will never know until, its tested by ourselves.

Either way, let’s see what the “BIG G” has to say about this.

Here is Googles answer 12 years ago.

– I could also say I’ve personally seen my own websites, not rank really well with keywords in it.

At the end of the day, it all boils down to many factors.

• What’s your end goal?
• Will you be working towards high quality content that uses keywords properly?
• You audience, will they like the domain name?

As I mentioned earlier, your end goal is what matters.

Some affiliates look for the best domain name for Amazon affiliate marketing websites, because, they plan on participating in future website flipping.

If you don’t include a keyword in your domain name, you will need to focus on high quality content and doing proper SEO optimization.

At the end of the day its your awesome writing, that will help you rank within the search engines.

Another important point I’d like to add is that, I’ve noticed not only do you have to like the domain name, it seems like your audience has to love it as well.

From my experience, people tend to love catchy names.

So, will your audience like the domain name?

Either way, there are so many variables that you should take into account – when picking your domain name. 

• Above all, you should know your niche. And what you represent?
• What is the topic that you’ll be talking about on your blog?

Knowing the topic can help you decide where to start.

Let’s take ahrefs for instance, there are no keywords in their domain name.

Then let’s see what Bruce Clays has to say with his expertise.

Don’t Forget To Check The History Of The Domain

Did you know that this was even a thing?

Checking the history of a domain is very important.

It’s almost like purchasing a pre-owned home, where you have to make sure the DEED and TITLE are cleared.

Regardless of what domain name you choose, I would suggest you take the time and check the history of the URL that you’re thinking about building a site on.

When I purchased this domain, shetriedthat.com. I didn’t check anything.

In fact, as a beginner – who has never dealt with purchasing a domain, how would you know to check the history of a domain?

You won’t so that’s why I’m telling you now.

As they say learn from your mistakes.

More importantly, please learn from my mistakes.

Before, purchasing a domain name, check the history of it.

In the next few sentences I’m going to explain why and how.

After purchasing my domain, I checked the DA score of my brand new domain.

That’s when I discovered the domain name that I just purchased had one of the highest spam scores that I’ve ever seen. 

How was that possible if it was brand new? 

That’s because, the domain name was previously owned by another website owner.

Beware Domain Registrars Will Sell You A Bad Domain

Apparently, domain registrars will still sell you a domain name that has had a bad reputation.

At least that’s what the internet marketing world sees it as.

I personally think that should be illegal. But, who am I to say anything.

It’s the same way they do houses, check your DEEDs and or TITLES too.

Why in the world would a bad reputation domain still be sold if it’s considered useless?

So far the high spam score on this domain has not affected me but, only time will tell.

I later learned that you can check the reputation of a domain name before you purchase it. 

The website that you need to use is called waybackmachine(dot)com.  

If you use Way Back Machine it’ll allow you to see screenshots of the previous domain history.

According to WBM archives, shetreidthat.com domain didn’t have anything negative attached. So, I continued to build on the website.

So, the question is, can a high spam score make or break your brand new website?

Great question, I’m still trying to figure that one out myself. 

Also, it’s important to dive a little deeper into the history of a domain name by checking a website called Mtxtoolbox.com.

This site will show you if your domain name is blacklisted.

Spam Score Update June 1, 2021:

Literally, right after I published this article, mysteriously my domain name shetriedthat.com spam score was dramatically reduced.

Why is that? I still have no clue.

The only assumption that I can come up with is the following:

• I have been posting on this website consistently.
• I’ve also been trying my best in writing high quality content.
• On top of that I have linked out to higher quality websites and internally linked the heck out of my blog.

The bottom line is, I did my best to get Google to trust my website. So far, so good. As of June 1, 2021, my spam score has went from 53% to 2%.

And I got to keep the 2 backlinks that came with the website.

Therefore, this proves that you can purchase a domain and potentially improve the website as long as it was or has ever linked to toxic material.

When I did all the research that I could with this domain I never found any toxic material linked to this domain. So, I’m not sure what caused all the high spam score in the first place.

Update 04/04/2023:

By the way, I’m revealing my first case study, in regards to my blogs spam score and beyond. The spam has drastically dropped from 53% to 1%.

Either way, I’ve narrowed down a few tips on – what I believe can help you in finding a good domain name. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide.

The Domain Name Should Be Catchy & Memorable

If no one can remember your domain name.

Trust me your website will sound like crickets everyday because, no one will revisit it.

The idea behind having a catchy domain name, is not only for others to remember the name of your website.

It also encourages people from the search engine or social media to click on your website.

I’ve learned that the more catchy your website name is the more people click.

In addition to that the more catchy your website name is the more other bloggers will link to you. 

Of course, your content plays a role as well.

Either way, I had to learn the hard way that no one wants to be associated with a horrible website name, even if you have the great content.

Truth is, if the website name sounds Spammy, or just plain ole ridiculous not too many people will share the website name on their social media profiles.

Let alone link to it. It’s like even other bloggers are embarrassed to be attached to something like that.

Therefore, in my opinion, your audience must like the domain name as well.

The reasoning behind this is people just don’t want to be associated with spam or skeptical things.

For example, I chose this hideous name for my first site.

It was where I helped people avoid scams.

Therefore the URL had  the word “no scams” in it. 

Needless to say, barely anyone clicked on that site and hardly anyone shared it.

I assume the word scams scared people away. 

On top of that my articles completely sucked.

Well not completely, because, I did have commentors saying “I helped them avoid a scam or helped them save a ton of money.“

Plus, it did make money.

But far as gaining backlinks, and ranking high within the search engines that was a hit or miss type ordeal.

The point is, when I started naming websites with catchy names, that’s when I noticed it attracted clicks and attention.

People become curious of what you’re all about.

They also aren’t embarrassed to share it with their friends, family members, or strangers.

Make It Short And Sweet

It’s tough finding a domain name that’s short – and sweet.

But, it’s still possible.

The shorter your website name, the better.

People’s attention span is all ready reduced drastically, so they tend to remember short website names.

Not only short. They definitely remember catchy!

You can use websites like leandomainsearch.com, which can help you find short website names. 

Additional Websites That Have Domain Name Generators

• Shopify Domain Generator
• NameBoy
• DomainWheel
• NameMesh

Don’t forget to check for the social media handles at BrandSnag.com.

Another awesome option to use when deciding on a great domain name is to use this wonderful website such as WebsitePlanet.com it allows you to find social media handles for Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Your Domain Name Represents You So Choose Wisely

Okay, maybe this should have been at the top of the list. 

If you plan on keeping your domain name for years to come because your a more involved affiliate marketer, here are some suggestions that you can consider.

When choosing your domain name, keep in mind that your website name will follow you everywhere.

More specifically, when you apply to affiliate programs, they will ask for your domain name.

Furthermore, it’s not only a representation of your business but it also represents you as a person.

If you don’t feel comfortable sharing the domain name to the public or online, don’t choose that domain name as your website name.

Instead, go back to the drawing board.

The domain name should make you feel so proud that you could share it with an employer, if asked to.

Or you could wear the brand or printed T-Shirts?

At the end of the day, you want to connect with your entire business, which includes the domain name.

To Use Keywords Or Not To Use Them?

Here’s the big debate, should you use keywords in your domain name or not?

When I first started online, I was told that using keywords will help you rank within the search engines.

Plus, it can help people understand what you’re talking about on your website.

Later on in my journey, I was also told the complete opposite. 

I’ve arrived at a self-conclusion, that using keywords in your domain name does not matter, as much as your content and your website speed.

In fact, there are so many steps that you need to do to rank within the search engines.

It doesn’t stop at the domain name.

The articles that you write will have keywords throughout the entire post- and those play a part as well.

I’ve been online for a while, and purchased many domains. 

Therefore, I do understand why there’s so much confusion in the air. 

Some people telling you to do this, while others are saying no it works this way.

So, I had to test it out myself.

I’ve tried both.

Using keywords in your domain name did receive some traffic but, I didn’t notice that it helped any better with ranking.

It still felt like I was in the Google Sandbox for a while.

Then I’ve used absolutely no keywords in my domain name and it seemed like the no keywords domain name, received traffic a lot faster.

But, who knows these are all just theories at the end of the day.

Who should know better than Google themselves?

And they don’t even seem to give us a straight forward answer.

My final conclusion is keywords don’t help with site or search engine ranking any better than a domain that has no keywords.

At least not as much as people are trying to make you believe.

It seems to me like Google likes domain names that are different than all the others.

Furthermore using my educated guess it tells me that utilizing keywords in your domain, might help your website visitors understand what your site is all about before they click on it.

But, it doesn’t mean that you are guaranteed website rankings because, you have a keyword in your domain name.

Assuming, that you do use keywords in your domain name.

And the visitor doesn’t click – technically, the visitor is assuming you don’t talk about a certain topic.

They could draw a conclusion that you’re only talking about the keywords in your domain name, if you restrict yourself to narrow keywords.

At the same time, not using keywords doesn’t ruin your chances of ranking your website. Don’t let choosing a domain stall you.

To further back this theory up John Mueller from Google, said just because a website has a keyword in the domain name does not mean that it is more relevant.

Please relax your mind, and watch what he has to say.

Well, there you have it! Who knows better than Google themselves?

In any event, John’s video brings me to the next tip.

Pick A Domain Name That Comes Without Restriction

If all else fails – pick a domain name that you can pivot with.

For example, if you purchase a domain name that you no longer like. Plus you want to change niches.

You’ll have to start all over completing two tasks.

1. You don’t like the domain name. So it now the URL name has to be changed.
2. You also want to change niches. So now you have to switch niche directions.

The above will cause you to make two drastic changes, consequently meaning a do over.

On the other hand, if you purchase a domain name that you like and it is not restricted with certain keywords.

You can always change the directions of the topic, if you wanted to later on down the road. All you have to do is change niches.

Only one task to complete, – pivot and change directions.

Therefore, you’ll be able to change directions as long as you use a generic name but, if you use something like ketodiet.com.

As you can imagine, you’ll only be able to talk about the Keto Diet.

So, I’m not really sure how you would add high carb recipes.

Of course you can always do what you like but, if your audience is expecting all keto things, I’m sure they wouldn’t be happy with high carb recipes.

The bottom line here is, think about choosing a domain name that allows you to pivot, – just in case you need to later on in the future.

Remember even, John Muller from Google mentioned this in the video above.

Would You Advertise The Name On Your Car?

Another tip that I follow is, would you be willing to advertise your domain name on a car magnet?

Would you wear a shirt with the domain name on it?

If so, you have a winner!

If the answer was no.

Please, go back to the drawing board before moving forward.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Best Domain Name For Affiliate Marketing

Additional Tips For Choosing A Memorable Domain Name

Okay, so a good domain name should be easy to remember. What else makes it easy to remember? These are not concrete rules but, good tips to follow when choosing a memorable domain name.

• First try to keep the domain name under 15 characters or less.
• Second, please avoid using numbers or hyphens.
• Third, capital letters is the same as lower case letters.
• And finally, using a period is not allowed.

Above all having a shorter and memorable domain, increases your chances of visitors returning.

Final Thoughts Of Domain Names For Your Affiliate Marketing Websites

We covered about 8 tips on how you can choose the best domain name for your affiliate blog.

Take out a pen and start jotting down words. Use adjectives and your niche.

When choosing a domain name, take your time. There’s really no rush.

Make sure your comfortable with it. More importantly, make sure that it fits you.

Let me know how did you choose your domain name? Do you have any more helpful tips to add to this post?

Leave a comment below and let’s hear what you got!