Hi-
Working on a website launch early next year and I am struggling with picking the domain name and would appreciate your thoughts.

Ok, here we go:

• I am changing my marketing to go after a segment of the small business community.
• I can use my current domain http://www.stevecurran.com or buy a more specific name for the segment I am going after.  Let’s say I am going after Mom’s who are small business owners (not really, but good example!).  Such as: http://www.smallbusinessmom.com or http://www.momsmallbusiness.com, etc.
• Either way, my site will be redesigned.
• My goals are to be a be a prominent resource for and about Mom’s who run their own small business.
• The site will have a blog and some eCommerce.

HI @stevecurran –  @johnkelly has it just right.  Choosing a domain with keywords is a must these days.  It wasn’t always that way.  

Unless there is a prohibitive cost involved I’d keep the domain you now have as the age is a huge plus for SEO (as already stated), and build your service (to whatever demographic) with your new venture. You can link back and forth between those two to show off your personal expertise at the older domain while keeping the new venture cleaner for the members and clients you draw there. 

Keyword research is a must though before delving into actually purchasing the domain name.  Of course, you could purchase several and re-direct those to the one you choose to use.  Depending on where you reserve your names, it’s pretty darn cheap these days and you’d be protecting your investment too. I would also assume that at some point branding for this venture will be an important factor. More reason to find the right name. 

Eileen

How about … momco.com … probably taken already, but catchy

Kathy Bernard

Getajobtips.com

@stevecurran It was a toss up for me – keep building your known brand (which doesn’t specify topic) or create a new one. I had not heard of Google Instant before -thanks  @johnkelly! Maybe I should’ve used it before falling into my name

Would it be too weird to have the “momco” as a subdomain to stevecurran? Or perhaps buy the domain and then have it forwarded to a page under stevecurran. 

Check out this cool SEOmoz article: http://www.seomoz.org/blog/domain-name-hacks

“Recently, a startup that I work with (full disclosure: I’m the part-time Director of Marketing for this company) undertook this naming process. Here’s how it played out:”