Your domain name is such an important part of your brand. It is how people recognise your business, which is why it is so important to choose one that fits your business and what you are trying to portray.
Some of the main reasons you need to think carefully about your website domain are:
- It is the first impression that the majority of customers/clients get.
- It helps to define your brand and what your business is about.
- It’s not always straightforward to change at a later date.
- It can have a positive impact on SEO if it contains a keyword or related term.
- Bad domains can cost you sales.
Keep these things in mind when you think of your domain name:
1. Check It’s Available:
This one might seem obvious, but it is really important you make sure the domain name you want is available. You probably already have a business name in mind and will most likely want your domain name to match, so start checking what is available. If the one you want is taken, then there will be alternative options available that are very similar so don’t get too disheartened. Make sure to check social media as well because it is best if all your social media accounts match too.
Also do some research to make sure no other businesses exist with the same name already, as this can lead to confusion for your customers or even legal issues, which is definitely something you want to avoid during the start-up phase of your business.
2. Think Long-Term:
Your domain is such a big part of your brand. You have to think carefully about it. Will you still love it in 6 months’ time? What about 6 years down the line? It isn’t always straight forward to change a domain name (although it can be done), so try to avoid it if you can and start out by choosing the domain you are going to be happy with for a long time to come.
Another thing to keep I mind is where you see your business going over time. If you plan to expand your business or services in the future, try to keep that in mind when choosing a domain name. Make sure it isn’t too niche or specific if in a years’ time you will be expanding into other areas, but at the same time, if you are planning on staying niche for the full length of your business lifespan, then you can pick a niche name.
3. Keep It Short:
You want a domain name that is easy to remember, easy to spell, ad easy to type. If your domain name is too long, then all of these things become quite difficult and you could lose out on sales and clients to competition who have a more memorable name than you. It is an unfortunate possibility currently because people want everything to be as easily accessible as possible, that includes finding a website.
4. Avoid Hyphens and Numbers:
This point is similar to the previous because adding hyphens and numbers to your domain can cause lots of problems. Both numbers and hyphens can cause confusion. Having to remember a website can be hard enough, let along trying to remember where the hyphen goes or if the 5 in the middle is the number or spelt out. Potential visitors spelling your domain wrong will just result in them going elsewhere rather than spending time trying to figure out the right name.
5. Choose the Right Domain Extension:
Once you have a name, you need to pick the extension. ‘.com’ is still the most common choice for all websites, and it is a good one if your business is fully based online or you offer services worldwide. If you are based only in one location, for example the United Kingdom, and aren’t planning on taking your business global, then stick with ‘.co.uk’.
There are other extensions like ‘.blog’ or .’photography’ etc. but try to stay away from these types of extensions as they can be very limiting to your growth.
6. Act Fast:
Once you have decided on your domain name, make sure to buy it as soon as possible. So many websites are created every day, so make sure you get the name you want before it is gone. If you can’t decide between a few different ones, get them all and decide after. They are cheap (most of the time less than £1) so if you are able to, this is better than missing out all together on your dream domain.