Choosing the right domain name for your small business is crucial for branding, online visibility, and long-term success. Here’s how to choose the right domain name:
- Brainstorm for the perfect domain name
- Check the availability of the domain name
- Check out domain auctions to grab the best domain name at great deals
- Choose the right term for a domain name
A domain name is your digital address on the internet. It’s the first thing people see when they visit your website, and it plays a vital role in your brand’s identity. The right domain name can boost credibility, improve search engine rankings, and make it easier for customers to find you. In this article, we will explore different ways to choose the perfect one for your small business. But first, let’s look at what a domain name is.
What is a Domain Name?
Your domain name is the equivalent of your physical store address. It’s what people type into their browsers to go to your website.
Your domain name is unique to you. Once you register it, no other entity can claim it. But make sure that you renew it every year.
A good and relevant domain name reflects your brand and what you do. If you have the same domain name as your business name, it will reinforce your brand, making it memorable.
How to Choose the Best Domain Name for Your Business?
A business’s domain name is a signal of its potential for success. When your website starts to rank in Google SERPs for industry-specific keyword phrases, its value will increase exponentially.
Here are important steps when selecting a domain name:
1.Start brainstorming and do your research
Before purchasing a domain name, you must decide on the right name. You can devise a list of ideal names and brainstorm them with your friends, family, and colleagues.
Next, browse through Google to see if any existing domain names are related to the one you are considering.
2.Check your ideal domain name’s availability
Now that you have domain name options, you need to see if they’re available for registration.
Though most businesses prefer a domain name ending with .com as it’s easier to remember, it is not easy to find one, as approximately 44% of all the domain names use the .com domain extension. If the .com domain you want is not available, there are various niche-specific and locale-specific extensions you can use, such as .store, .edu, .au, etc.
There are numerous places you can visit to perform your domain search. You can use BigRock’s Domain Name Registration search bar or WHOIS lookup tool.
3.Determine and look at the domain auctions
The cost of domain names can vary widely. It depends on where you are purchasing the domain, as well as other factors.
When considering your domain’s overall cost, it’s essential to consider additional costs like accessory fees and yearly renewals. You also need to be aware of the charges for auto-renewing or transferring your domain.
Oftentimes, proxy bids are accepted, meaning you can set the maximum amount for your bid, and then the system will keep upping your bid until the maximum limit is reached. If you win the domain auction, you will have a specific period to claim and pay for the new domain.
4.Choose your term for purchase
Depending on the registrar, you can purchase domain names for terms longer than a year. With that, you need to consider your business goals before deciding on a term. If you have any plans to change your business name at some point, buying and locking in a domain name for a long period may not be a viable option.
The key advantage of buying a domain name for a longer term is – it’s locked in and there’s no chance anyone or your competitors can snatch it. Other advantages are the lucrative discounts you can get and it saves you time.
Characteristics of a Good Domain Name
1.Short and Simple
The best domain names are concise and easy to remember. Ideally, aim for a name that is under 15 characters. Avoid long, complex words that are difficult to spell or pronounce. If customers struggle to type your domain correctly, they may end up on a competitor’s site or get frustrated and give up.
Example: Instead of JohnsHandmadeWoodenFurniture.com, go for JohnsWoodworks.com.
2.Uses Keyword
Including relevant keywords in your domain can help with search engine optimization (SEO) and improve your visibility. However, keyword stuffing can make your domain look spammy. Aim for a natural blend of branding and keywords.
Example: If you run a bakery, SweetDelights.com is better than BestBakeryinNewYork.com.
3.Right Extension
A .com extension is the most trusted and widely recognized, but other extensions like .net, .co, .shop, or .biz can work if your preferred .com is unavailable. Industry-specific TLDs like .tech, .store, or .photography can also help define your business niche.
Example: A tech startup could use InnovateTech.com or Innovate.tech.
4.Brandable
Your domain should reflect your brand’s identity. A brandable domain name is unique, catchy, and resonates with your target audience. Avoid generic names that blend in with competitors.
Example: Instead of TopMarketingSolutions.com, consider something creative like MarketGenius.com.
5.Avoids Numbers, Hyphens, and Special Characters
Numbers and special characters can make your domain confusing. If someone hears your website name, they should be able to type it correctly without needing an explanation.
Example: Fashion-4-U.com could be misheard as FashionForYou.com, leading to lost traffic.
6.Future-Oriented
Think about where your business will be in 5-10 years. Avoid names that are too narrow in scope.
Example: If you start with BestNYCPizza.com, it limits expansion to other cities. A better choice would be BestPizzaCo.com.
Should you use the same domain name as your business name?
Ideally, it’s important to have a domain name that matches your business name. If you’re starting your business and have not yet decided on the business name, you may even consider naming your business based on the domains available.
The situation is a little trickier if you’re an established business owner searching for a domain to create a website. When you start your search for domain names, you may run across a couple of situations:
- Your businessname.com is already taken, but the domain’s owner is not using it currently. In this case, you may be able to get in touch with them and enquire if they’re interested in selling the domain. Do a WHOIS lookup to find domain owners and/or their registrar’s contact information.
- Yourbusinessname.com is taken, and the domain name owner built a website with it. If you have trademarked your business name, and have been in the business for a while, there’s a good chance that people could confuse your business name with other businesses. In this case, you may file a legal case to get control of the domain name. However, the process can be time-consuming and expensive, so you’ll have to decide if it’s worthwhile.
Summing Up
Your domain name is a crucial part of your business’s online identity. Once you have chosen your domain name, purchase it from a domain registrar like BigRock, which offers domain theft protection or domain locking services. This would protect your domain name from hijacking or unauthorized transfers, ensuring that the domain name you’ve worked hard for is secure.
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