Every website needs a domain name. It is unique address that computers (and human visitors) use to find your website on the internet.
A typical domain name looks like this:

www.lizwilkinson.co.uk

Alternatively, the end part of the  name can  be .com (dot com):

www.lizwilkinson.com

You have to choose one or the other (or perhaps one of the large number of domain name endings that are now available). If you want to emphasise a UK bias only, .co.uk or just .uk names are a good choice.  If you want to emphasise an international bias, a .com name is the best choice. Generally, if you are not too concerned about budget, .com names are the best choice for authors.

Once your website has been set up you need to broadcast your address to the world by putting it on all your marketing materials, letterheads and email signatures etc. to encourage people to visit your site.

How to choose a domain name – tips for authors

The name you choose depends on the nature of your website – but keep it simple! Long names are difficult to remember. The name you choose also has an  influence on how easy your website is to find on Google – so keep it relevant to the content of your site. Here are a few guidelines:

– If you use a pen name, choose your pen name
– If you want to set up a website to promote a single book, choose the name of your book
– If you are a new author and have written one book, it may be best to opt for your name rather than the name of your book (as you may write more books in the future)

Many domain names are no longer available, so you may need to append the end of your name  www.lizwilkinsonauthor.com

Names not to choose:

– Generally, do not choose silly or obscure names UNLESS they are directly related to the content of your site – eg the name of a book you have published.
– Try to choose a short name – longer names are more difficult to type and people may get it wrong.
– Try to avoid hyphens and numbers in a domain name.

Please browse the articles and get in touch if you have any queries.

Email: yvm@obbxjrof.pb.hx