Why do you need a domain name?
A domain name (better known as a web address) can set you apart from competitors online. If you want to promote yourself, your brand, or your business, a specialized domain name is a must. The most successful businesses use the same set of words and images to engage customers – on their website, emails, voice message, social media pages and more! This is branding at its best. In addition, the digital footprint of your business grows stronger with domain names.
A domain that is consistent with your brand looks professional and can boost your online visibility. If you’re starting a business, a domain name can build your authority and help consumers find you. We’ve got 6 steps to help you choose the perfect domain name!
Here’s 6 steps to finding the perfect domain name:
Make it easy to remember. A best practice is to choose domains that include your business name. Doing so, will keep you top of mind with customers. Especially, if a customer forgets the complete web address, they should be able to find your business name listed in the search results.
Avoid duplication. Buying domain names that already exist or are being used by another company may cause legal problems. This is because some brand names are trademarked or copyrighted. If your name is already taken, consider including a phrase or call-to-action in front of the brand name to give it some originality. For example: “mealsonwheels.com” is already taken so some other options are “fastmealsonwheels.com” or “speedymealsonwheels.com” or yummymealsonwheels.com?
Shorter is usually better because it leaves less room for error. Shorter web addresses make it easier for people to enter the correct spelling online. It’s more likely for someone to skip a character or type it wrong using longer domain names. While shorter domain names are easier to match with usernames on niche websites and social media pages.
Promote your location. Are you a local business? If so, use this to your advantage by including the name of your neighborhood, city or country in your domain to catch the attention of customers in your local area! This strategy is great for SEO and it helps identify where your business is located.
Keep it simple. There is a saying in sales… “A confused mind never buys.” Using a domain name that’s easy to spell increases the likelihood of customers entering it correctly. Web addresses that have long names, numbers or hyphens may appear spammy. Criminals often use complex domains so avoiding this would look more professional and trustworthy.
Maintain Ownership. Depending on where you are on your business journey, you can buy domains from one year or up to 10 years! After spending hours searching for the perfect domain name you deserve to have it for a while. We recommend registering your domain for at least 2 years. Doing so will prevent you from losing it after twelve months. The popularity of the internet has increased the demand for more domain names and extensions. Which means there’s alot more competition.
If you need help choosing a web address, our domain name search tool offers suggestions and alternatives to any domain you search. By the way, if you’d rather speak to a real person, call our customer support team anytime.