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Short is best, as it's easy to type, easy to remember, easy to fit on a business card, and HARD to mistype... Long URLs are more descriptive, though (vba, as in the example, would for me imply VisualBasic for Applications, not an apartment locator service for Vermont, as I would think the long URL would describe), easy to mistype, complicated to say (or heaven forbid, SPELL when necessary -- try phoentically spelling the long URL over the phone... vee ee are em oh en tee bee ee ay you... ;-) ), and difficult to squeeze onto a business card and still be legible AND in a semi-valid format. Both methods have their pluses and minuses... The biggest, however, is that short names are almost always already in use for something, and long ones are not, so long may be your only choice. The current allowance is for 67 characters, including the TLD (.com, .net, etc), so you've got a lot of leeway if you do have to go long... Kehvan ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: NORTON ANTI-VIRUS 2002 scanned this email prior to sending. It is free :: of any known embedded or attached viruses, trojans, or internet worms. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ----- Original Message ----- From: "John McConnell" <form(at)narwhaldesign.com> To: <hwg-techniques(at)hwg.org> Sent: Tuesday, February 12, 2002 06:05 Subject: URL length > Hello everyone, > > I have been going back and forth with a client about the length of a > url for his new website. According to an Alert Box from Jakob > Nielsen that's 3 years old, he says names need to be short and easy > to type. Makes sense. But, since people are more and more using > bookmarks and search engines to find sites, I'm wondering if it's ok > now for urls to be much longer and descriptive so they can be used in > ads. My client wants to use the url in ads and that would be the > name of the company as well. For instance, > www.VermontBeautifulApartments.com instead of www.vba.com? > > I was the one saying it needs to be short, but maybe it doesn't. Any insights. > -- > John McConnell > Narwhal Design > 126 Covered Bridge Road > North Ferrisburgh, VT 05473 > 802.425.7037 > john(at)narwhaldesign.com > http://www.narwhaldesign.com > > >
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