Naming Your Blog: How to Create Catchy Blog Names

Tips for Creating the Best Blog Names

When I chose my domain name I went for “me”, brevity and spelling. So many people get my surname wrong (even good friends of mine), keeping ‘Garrett’ (two r’s, ‘e’, two t’s) out of it seemed a good idea at the time. This site is about branding me, and by extension my business. I also registered my company name (which was one of the last remaining four letter .coms!), and of course Authority Blogger which is used for my forum, newsletter and the online blogging course and service selling coaching product I am developing.

Developing a Descriptive and Brandable Blog Name

My simple technique for a descriptive but brandable domain is to combine target audience with benefits.
Your Audience + Benefit = Targeted and Attractive Name
So Authority Blogger shows bloggers how to grow their authority. RemarkableParents teaches parents how to be remarkable parents. OK, some great names are all benefits, but if you think about it they also select an audience, because the audience who wants those benefits is specific, such as ZenHabits.

About Using Keywords + ‘Blog’ in the Name

Some names are all target audience, SEO keywords, or very plainly descriptive, for example I used to own a blog called DSLRBlog. This was a blog about DSLR cameras and photography. Actually I now think “blog” might be as bad or worse than the generic names I list above and the combination of keyword+blog, though initially seeming a good idea for search traffic. It probably held the site back. You see, nobody searches for “DSLR Blog” apart from people were looking for my blog. So while keywords do have an SEO benefit, I wonder if branding combined with killer content has as much or more benefit longer term.
Lately I’m actually steering away from “blog” in the name because I come across more and more people who are put off or confused by the word. Also I see those domains not aging or expanding as well. It could well be in a few years we don’t call it blogging, or you might want to develop your blog into a member site.

Have Fun With Your Name

If your blog is not going to be mega serious then have fun with it. Fun, humor, are incredibly effective for both getting noticed and being memorable. A perfect example in my mind is MenWithPens, it’s both evocative of their service and fun. Another is RottenTomatoes.
One thing to avoid though with humor or fun is inside jokes as they have a tendency to exclude rather than attract.