Choosing a domain name for your website is almost as important as choosing your business name. Your domain name represents your identity on the internet and is the first impression many internet users will get of your business. It helps define your brand and should set you apart from the competition. Your domain name makes your business easy to find on the web.
Tips for choosing a domain name for your business
- A good domain name establishes trust. It's important that your domain name represent your business in a way that doesn't cause people to question whether they're going to a site that is trustworthy. This is why it’s ideal to include your business name or some form of your business name in your domain name.
- Keyword-based domain names are untrustworthy. The way domain names are used today is very different than how they have been used in years past. When you registered a domain name, you could use keywords such as “bestatchisonpharmacy.com.” Years ago, you’d get first rankings in Google because you had “best Atchison pharmacy” in your domain name. Of course, now, Google is way too smart for anything that tries to trick the search engines. Now keyword-based domain names are considered spammy and often untrustworthy. It's easy to choose a domain name with a bunch of keywords in it, and then redirect it to wherever you want, but even Google itself tends to question the authenticity and value of keyword domain names.
- Your choice of domain name is often most important when it comes to print use. Not only does your domain name represent your business’s identity on the web, it will also be used on business cards, brochures, and other branded materials. You're likely to use it with business email addresses. Therefore, a shorter name that fits well on business cards is most ideal and helps with branding when it includes your business name itself.
- The best domain name you can get is, of course, your actual business name. Unfortunately, that has become increasingly difficult to do because so many great names have already been snatched up. It's okay to use alternate extensions rather than just the .com. Try some of the new extensions such as .shop, .studio, or even .ninja. when you want to really make your domain name branded to your business.
Good things take time.
The choosing of the right domain name for your business deserves hours, if not days, of careful thought and consideration. Many marketing experts believe that choosing the wrong domain name could even hinder the success of your business. Feel free to ask for opinions from other small business owners who have gone through the struggle themselves in our Facebook Brown Bag Marketing group.
The fruit of your own hardwork is the sweetest.
Deepika Padukone