Domain names are an important part of online branding and advertising. They are the first thing people see when they visit your website or blog, and they can make or break your business. What makes a good domain name? In this article, we’ll provide you with some tips and tricks for picking the best one for your website or blog.
Why is the domain name important?
Most people today use the internet every day. In our phones, laptops, or tablets – we’re simply a few clicks away from accessing websites all over the world at any time of the day. This means that companies need to focus on online marketing in order to attract customers, and the domain name is a big part of that, just like your logotype and business name.
Picking a good domain name from the start means you won’t have to spend time later on trying to change it. Changing the URL could lead to less traffic and higher costs, having to redirect all of your old web pages.
Your URL will be the first impression for many of your customers or readers, so of course, you want to make sure it gives a good impression! Lastly, the domain name could affect your SEO and will most definitely have an impact on your brand recognition.
Keep the domain name short, simple – and relevant
When it comes to picking the best domain name for your website or blog, there are a few things you need to keep in mind. First of all, your domain name should be relevant to your business! You can check which domain names are available on domain registrars and even get free domain registration. Use domain name generators if you’re out of ideas.
People are more likely to visit sites with easy-to-remember URLs than those that are long and hard to remember. The URL should be easy to type, but also to pronounce since word-of-mouth is effective advertising. Avoid numbers, hyphens, or words that can easily be miss-spelled.
Stand out in the crowd
At the same time, as it’s beneficial to use relevant keywords and simple words, your URL should be unique. This allows you to stand out in the crowd. You want people to be able to find your page without having to scroll through numerous websites with similar names to yours when they type it into Google Search.
A unique name also means that you won’t risk any trademark issues where companies or bloggers may accuse you of copying their branding.
Is .com the best extension?
The domain name extension plays an important part in your URL. The most used ones are .com, .net, and .org. Using .com is a safe card since people are used to typing this, and many smartphones have a .com button on the keyboard. Your biggest challenge with .com may be that many domain names are already taken. There are plenty of alternative extensions for you to try – make sure to choose a relevant one for your business.
Using keywords in your URL for better SEO
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimisation and is essential in order for your website to show up in the Google search results. By including a keyword for your business, you could improve your position on search engines like Google and thereby get more visitors. For example, if your blog is about traveling, you could include the word travel or other related terms in your URL in order to improve your SEO.
Claim your domain name quickly and protect it
If you already have decided on a name for your business or blog, make sure to quickly claim it before someone else does. Many companies choose to buy several domain extensions with their domain name, in order to prevent others from buying those and hence potentially losing traffic.
Today, the market for registering a domain name is competitive and you’re likely to find good deals, meaning it’s easier for you to afford to protect your branding. Look for deals and remember that it’s possible to transfer your domain. Don’t forget to claim your username or website name on social media platforms, too.
Think about the future
Our final tip is to consider your future plans before registering your domain name. Does the name allow for you to grow and maybe expand your business into other areas? If your current business is all about selling a particular product in a webshop it might be appropriate to include that product name in your URL. However, if you think that you might expand or change the products that you offer in the future, it may be a good idea to avoid using a single defining word that could become irrelevant.