Whether you own an existing business or have an idea for a startup or need to build your personal brand, you need a strong online presence. Usually, the first thing your potential customer will do when searching out your product or service is to conduct a web search, and if your website is relatively easy to find and navigate, you’ll greatly increase your chances of getting contact with customers, and of course, make sales.
With the majority of shopping happening on the internet, the dynamic of marketing has changed significantly, and one of the most effective and lasting methods of reaching potential customers is through a well-developed and maintained website. From a marketing standpoint, you can create a lasting brand image with the right domain name.
Why Should You Get a Domain Name?
The online world is rich with opportunities to create a business or blog on free or paid hosting sites, or even on social media. Free Facebook pages and blogging platforms like BlogSpot or Medium allow users to claim a space for posting content and images of all kinds. Online marketplaces like Shopify and Etsy provide storefronts for entrepreneurs to sell physical and digital goods. Sites like Squarespace make it possible for creatives like photographers and designers to set up an online portfolio without creating a whole website from scratch.
These sites demonstrate that it’s possible to have an online presence without owning your own domain. But if your aim is to be widely visible and build authority for your brand, these platforms and social media sites have considerable drawbacks — problems that can be avoided with the purchase of your very own domain name.
A Domain Name Is Unique and Searchable
When you sign up for space on a third-party website hosting site or create a page or account on your favorite social media platforms, you’ll typically be provided with a subdomain on the hosting site’s domain. In other words, your “address,” would look something like this: hostsite.com/yourname. Depending on the site where you’re posting your content, it can make for a long, unwieldy, and highly forgettable address.
Your own domain name, especially with the very familiar .com extension, clearly communicates your identity and purpose in a way users are likely to remember. That’s why it’s a good idea when choosing your domain that you pick something that explains your purpose right within the name. Number and hyphens make a custom domain more difficult to remember. When registering a domain, stick with simple, straightforward, and creative options that can be remembered by all.
A Domain Name Has Authority
Hosting your content on a third-party blogging or social media platform can seem unprofessional, and undermine your efforts to build a business or professional identity. Since these hosted platforms are often used for personal blogs and other kinds of informal sharing, it can be harder to establish your site as a trustworthy, authoritative source in your niche. That’s where domain name registration comes in. Your own domain name can let potential customers and clients know that you’re a legitimate business with long-term plans.
A Domain Name Builds your Brand
More than anything else, a domain name can increase awareness of your brand. If your domain name matches your company name, it reinforces your brand, making it easier for customers to remember and return. It will also be easier to win business via word of mouth because customers will remember your name and pass it along to friends.
The bottom line is that a good domain name can go a long way toward generating traffic to your website and building your reputation. That, in turn, will result in more customers and better sales.
The Right Domain Name Can Attract Business
If you decide to register a domain name that matches the concept of your business (instead of your exact business name), you might draw Web surfers in search of that topic. For instance, a hardware store that registered Swimmers.com might get visitors looking for swimming stuff on the internet. Also, although search engine results are hard to predict, Swimmers.com could show up more frequently in search results when someone searches for information about swimming.
Find a Domain Name your Customers will Remember
A strong domain name is important for any size business, at any stage of development. It will entice consumers with a snappy slogan or unique title, it should promote a sense of professionalism and satisfaction, and it should separate your business from others in your industry. Think of it like you’re deciding on a company logo because the two should go hand-in-hand. Your domain name must be a reflection of your brand, simple, and memorable.
