Author Tech Tips - help for writers timid about technology

When you say your website on the radio can listeners find it? Can they spell it? The radio test is not just important for the radio. Anytime someone talks about your website you want to make sure the listener goes to the right site.

Here are 7 tests to see if your website passes the radio test.

Test 1 – Numbers?

When you say a number over the radio it will fail the test. 12Step.org sounds just like TwelveStep.org. Only one site will help you with addiction recovery.

• 12Step.org (fail)
• TwelveStep.org? (fail)

How to get around this pitfall: Buy both domains then have one forward to the other. So if your book title was 8 Ways to Save Your Marriage I would buy both 8WaysToSaveYourMarriage.com and EightWaysToSaveYourMarraige.com.

Test 2 – Similar Sounds?

My website cgames.com is short but it fails this test. Is it SeeGames.com or SeaGames.com? Can’t tell. I always end up spelling it over the air. To make matters worse, the letter “c” sounds like half a dozen other letters.

• cGames.com (fail)
• SeeGames.com (fail)
• SeaGames.com (fail)

How to get around this pitfall: Before you buy a domain, call a friend and tell them what domain you want to buy. Ask them to spell it back to you.

Test 3 – Acronyms

When your website is an acronym instead of a word you say the individual letters. The letters “b” “c” “d” “e” “g” “p” “t” “v” and “z” all sound the same over a bad radio connection. Buy domains with words not letters whenever possible.

• ccsa.info (potential fail)
• cbsa.info (potential fail)

This not a universal rule. YMCA.com will work. If people know the acronym or what it stands for you can sometimes get away with it.

Test 4 – Underscores?

Avoid underscores at all costs. They are cheesy and they take too long to say over the radio.

• KathyHoward.org (pass)
• Kathy_Howard.com (fail)

Test 5 – Dashes?

Most listeners don’t know what a dash is or how to type it. They also get confused with the difference between a dash and a hyphen.

• FreedomForGamers.com (pass)
• Freedom-For-Gamers.com (fail)
• Freedom4Gamers.com (fail)
• Freedom-4-Gamers.com (epic fail)

Test 6 – Text Speak

Just because “u” means “you” on a text message does not mean it will work for your domain. HelpForU.com sounds cheesy and it fails the radio test.

• HelpForU.com (fail)
• HelpForYou.com (potential fail)

I would completely avoid the word “you” in your domain.

Test 7 – Weird Spelling?

The problem with UmstattdMedia.com and ThomasUmstattd.com is that no one can spell “Umstattd.” If the word is not in Websters it will fail the radio test. If your 7th grader can’t spell it, your domain fails the radio test.

• UmstattdMedia.com (fail)
• ThomasUmstattd.com (fail)

What do you think?

Have you ever been confused with how a URL sounds? How about your domain? Does it pass the radio test?