In Slurls: They Called Their Website What? author, and self proclaimed Chief Slurler, Andy Gelman states “In a world without spaces we mentally insert our own.” But those Speed of Art folks remain unbowed, as do the owners of  Pen Island, and Big Al’s bowling alley in Vancouver, Washington. The “powers that be” at Experts Exchange, however, thought the better of their first URL, and eventually added that all important hypen.

Finding just the right URL for your business website can be problematic at the best of times, but strange how letters without those all important spaces indicating words, can lead to trouble online. It is always a good idea to take a step back from your URL brainstorming session to look at your potential choices with fresh eyes. You may know what the name of your company is, but will someone looking at it for the first time see it the same way? That all-important first impression exists whether your potential customers meet you in person, online, or in print.

Even the smallest detail such as your URL communicates something about your organization. At best it is clear, concise and appropriate, and at worst it can raise a red flag about just what you are all about. So unless your goal is to find your company listed on one of those Biggest/Funniest Mistakes in URL Naming websites, take a moment to consider your options, and better yet, pass it along to a few friends and colleagues and ask what they see!