Why choosing your domain name is so important
Your domain name is the first part of your online identity. It’s often the first part of your website seen by a potential visitor, and it can play an important part in driving traffic to your site. It’s a personal decision that can be a challenge when considering how you’d like your website to be perceived online. It only takes seconds to form a first impression so the name you choose needs to stand out from competitors. Focus on how to show clearly what your business is and your all-important values and missions.
Anatomy of a Domain
Domains are typically made up of number of elements, not all of which are relevant to this post so we’ll pick these up again in the future. We’re going to focus on the Root Domain elements in this post, the Top Level Domain (or TLD) and the Domain Name.
A TLD is the formal name for the suffix at the end of your root domain. TLD’s ending in .com, .net and .org, are the most popular and should be the first choice for your website if you intend to trade internationally. However if your business is going to be more localised, choosing a co.uk or other appropriately localised TLD is perfectly acceptable.
Domain Names and Search Engine Optimisation
Simply put, search Google with your brand and discover what resources are ranked against your chosen name. If the term is popular, remember you’ll be competing against others using these so make sure that the name you choose is unique. Being the only one of its kind means that it’ll be easier for your customers to find, and could help with SEO.
Dominating Domain Names
The key to an effective website name is one that can withstand the test of time. This means a name that is unique, memorable, pronounceable and trustworthy. Use broad keywords when sensible and stay away from keyword-targeted domains such as best-dog-food-for-dogs.com. Try and avoid too many hyphens where possible, these can correlate with the sort of spammy behaviour punished by Google.
Short vs Long
Try to limit your domain name to a maximum of three or four short words. Although it can be difficult to sum up your business in a single word or phrase, it’s worth spending a little time doing your research. Ideally, a domain with two words or less is likely to be more engaging and beneficial in the long run. Not only are they easier to read, they’re concise and memorable, which makes them easy to transfer onto offline printed materials like business cards too.
Consistency
Once you’ve decided on your domain you need to register it with a domain provider to secure it. This may mean purchasing other possible alternatives as well, including variations that can be used for things like Social Media. Doing this early on prevents possible competition down the line with other sites that contain the same terms but with different extensions.
Still lost?
It can be daunting when deciding on a domain name for your business, so we’re here to help. When you ask Burns Creative to build your website design, we’ll take the away the stress of choosing a domain name too. We’ll work with you to understand your business goals and vision and suggest some great options.
Reach out and speak with a member of our team today…but act quickly – someone else could register your dream domain name as we speak.
Other great articles on choosing the right domain name:
Choosing an Effective Domain Name (Google)
How to Choose a Domain Name That Will Stand the Test of Time
