Today we live in an era where digital marketplaces are growing at impressive rates. One of the most important parts of online marketing is your business website. Having a professional website is like having a pleasant office, which shows how much you care about providing good services or products to your customers. This is why you have to find the perfect domain name.
When discussing the digital marketplace, purchasing a domain name will give your website a more professional appearance. And it will make it easier for your customers to memorize it and find you online. These are just a few benefits of getting the right domain name.
Although the benefits of a personalized domain name are well known, it still can be a little challenging finding a good domain name for your business.
See below for how to find the perfect domain name and utilize it for your business.
Related: How to Save Money on Business Travel (Save Thousands!!)
Do domain names matter?
Absolutely domain names matter!
Picking the right domain name benefits you in many different ways.
First, it works well with your marketing strategy and branding. It makes it easy for people to find you and allows you to build an online presence that anyone can find.
But, it also helps keeps you protected. If someone were to try to start a business with your name, they wouldn’t be able to have the domain or website because you’ve already secured it. And, should you ever go to court for “name” problems, you’ll have more of a leg to stand on.
Related: Starting A New Business? (Top Tips You NEED To Know!)
Which domain is best?
For most U.S. sites, a .com domain is the best choice.
Most visitors will expect this when you tell them your business name, and it’s the easiest to remember. But it can be difficult to find quality .com domain names, so there are other extensions you can try too.
.org, .net, and .co have been gaining popularity over the years, and you can try one of these if your .com option isn’t available.
How long should your domain name be?
According to the experts, you should aim for a domain name that is between 6-14 characters. And remember, the shorter the domain, the better.
Related: How to Flip a Website: My Recent $1,500 Sale
Is a short domain better?
Yes, a short domain and URL slug is generally better. But even if you have a longer domain name or URL, you can also make this work. Just remember to try to make it easy to remember and catchy. You want it to “stick” in someone’s head when they think about it.
Is it ok to have a long domain name?
Yes, as long as it’s not complicated. No one wants to type in a bunch of dashes, dots, or characters. So while shorter is better, a longer but easy-to-remember domain name can work too. For example, onlinevideoconverter.com is a fairly long domain name, but it makes sense, is easy to remember, and can be typed in quickly.
Related: Common Mistakes to Avoid When Starting Your E-Commerce Store
Does Google penalize long domain names?
Yes and no. A long domain name doesn’t automatically mean Google will penalize you and make your website hard to find. But if you have a long domain name that’s also low-quality, it may be penalized. So really think about what you’re signing up for before you do.
Should your domain name match your company name?
Technically they don’t have to match. But it can be helpful, especially if they are similar. For example, Barnes and Noble has BN.com as one of their domain names. While it’s not the same as Barnes and Noble, the B and N are easy to recognize and remember.
Related: 10 Genius Ways to Get More Sales Conversions in Your Online Business
How To Find The Perfect Domain Name For Your Company
At best, your domain name should be related to your company and represent it as best as possible.
So it’s recommended to choose something short and attractive that communicates what you are selling. This can simply mean the business name you operate under for many people and businesses. Just remember, people have to be able to remember it easily. This will help make marketing campaigns easier.
1) Look Up The Name On The Internet
Using a domain lookup tool on the internet will allow you to check whether or not the name you have chosen is available and original. This will protect your company against possible legal issues, and you can see if any similar competitor websites may confuse your customer.
Normally, if the name you have chosen is not available, don’t worry, the lookup tool will suggest some similar alternatives.
You can also do a search engine search for your company and see what the competition looks like.
Related: How To Open An Online Store (+8 E-Commerce Sites To Start!)
2) Choose Your Domain And Extension
When choosing your domain and extension, such as .com, .org, and .net, it’s important to think about what will be easiest for people to remember and what company you have.
- .org, for example, is usually used for non-profit organizations, government organizations, and more, not companies that are for-profit companies.
There are many different extensions, but you should choose the best one that fits your company.
3) Register Your Domain
Finally, when you have chosen your domain name and verified that all the information is right, you must register it. To do it, you have to find a domain registrar. Many hosting websites offer this service and can also offer personalized email and website building for you. Sometimes you can purchase a bundle and get everything for a slightly better price.
Related: How to Write a Money-Making Blog (And Change Your Life!)
Find The Perfect Domain Name And Launch Your Online Presence
A professional website will open new opportunities and doors for your company. Your customers will also appreciate a website name that is easy to remember and find. Purchasing the right domain name will help you meet both of those needs.
As a business owner, you should spare no effort in creating a professional website. Following the steps above will make getting the perfect domain name easier and increase your website traffic.
Are you ready to start the perfect domain name? What will yours be?
AUTHOR Kimberly Studdard
Kim Studdard is a project manager for online entrepreneurs and small businesses. When she isn’t spending time with her daughter and husband, or reading her growing pile of horror books, you’ll find her working on her HR degree and working towards FIRE.