I was writing some copy for a client brochure the other day, and it came time to include their web site URL. I was immediately thankful for the blog Good URL Bad URL, because its consistent excellent advice influenced how I formatted the address. What might have been illegible was now at least a little better, thanks to this great resource.
Good URL Bad URL is worth a spot in your Google Reader on on your blogroll, but the site's "URL Best Practices" provide a great overview of what you'll find there:
Do'sA well-formatted URL is one of those little things that can help your message stand out. And that's what makes Good URL Bad URL a standout blog.
1. CapitalizeTheFirstLetterOfEachWord.
2.UseDifferentColorsOrBoldToHelpEachWordStandOut.
3. Whenever possible, use YourBrandName.com.
4. If .com is not available, use YourBrandName.net.
5. If .com and .net are taken, find a new brand name. Seriously.
6. Use YourSlogan.com when running an integrated media campaign.
7. Use subdomains when driving people deeper than your homepage - e.g. Product.YourBrandName.com.
Don'ts
1. Don't include www. We know to go to the World Wide Web to find you.
2. Don't include http://. If your audience isn't web savvy enough to know where to type the URL, you shouldn't have a website.
3. don'tusealllowercase (canyoureallytellwhereonewordendsandthenextbegins?)
4. DITTOFORALLUPPERCASE
5. No-hyphens/or slashes.
6. Don't use acronyms, abbreviations, or numbers unless your brand is widely known as such.
7. Don't bury your URL at the bottom of a billboard. I'm the only nerd driving around with a 4x zoom lens to find URLs.
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