Selecting a Domain Name For Your Association

While there are many views on what makes a good domain name, associations would be best served by a short, easily communicated, and meaningful domain.

Short means preferably 3-5 and no more than 7 characters in addition to the domain extension ( e.g. .ca, .org, .com). Meaningful requires a good connection to the organization's name, constituency or site name.  To be easily communicated, the domain should contain characters that can be clearly understood whether conveyed in writing or verbally.

Keep in mind that your domain name may be used:

• for both web and e-mail.

• everywhere, and on everything.

• by people that may not be great spellers.

• by people who may not have great enunciation.

• using fonts, handwriting, etc. that are not always perfectly legible.

• without or instead of your organization name when referrals are made.

• for the long term!

The practices described in this area are described as Better Practices for a very good reason. We have a great deal of difficulty with the term best practices used in any other context than to refer to the results of benchmarking exercises involving real and relevant organizations with tangible results.  We offer Better Practices related to areas where we feel that change is needed in associations. Better Practices are intended to provoke thought, and to encourage organizations to think about what they are doing and how they are doing it.  

OUR MISSION

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to their staff and
volunteers.