Choosing a domain name isn’t that important, right? If my site is professionally made with lots of exceptional content, then an average or poor domain won’t do much harm.
Wrong!
Your domain name is way more important than you may think. It’s the gateway to your online presence and will provide the first impression to your customers. And don’t overlook the influence your domain has over your brand identity. These are just some reasons why choosing a quality and relevant domain is so crucial – so how do you get it right?
First, what is a domain name?
Just like how your home has an address, so does your website. A domain name is what an internet user will type into their web browser to visit your site directly, as opposed to being found through search engines. This is the simple explanation of what a domain name is, and unless you’re planning on becoming a web developer or tech expert, then it’s all you need to know. Domain names must be purchased and linked to your website.
How to choose a domain name
Here are our top tips for choosing a domain name that is both memorable and effective:
- Use a suitable extension, such as .com, .co.uk or .uk
- Incorporate your brand identity in your domain name
- Shorter domains are better and more memorable
- Make it easy to spell and easy to say out loud
- Ensure it is not trademarked already
- Use domain generators for inspiration
- Get advice from your friendly web professionals at WEBPRO Shop
How to purchase and manage a domain name
Domain names are essentially rented and need to be renewed every few years. If you fail to renew then the domain is released for someone else to purchase.
There are lots of sites where you can purchase a domain name, however it can sometimes be hard to tell which are selling available domains at the standard rate and which are selling already purchased domains at a premium. We would always recommend purchasing your domain through a Nominet registrar, such as WEBPRO Shop, to ensure you are not being taken advantage of.
Purchasing your domain through the same company who builds and manages your website is usually the best way to go as this allows for a hassle-free process when making your website live and it allows you to have everything related to your website under one roof.
Do domain names need to be SEO optimised?
Some business owners choose a domain name with one of their main SEO key phrases included. For example, a dentist in Hampstead called Pearly Whites might decide to pick a domain that includes an SEO keyword instead of anything to do with the company name or brand, such as hampsteaddentist.co.uk.
If lots of locals have been searching “Hampstead dentist” online the most, then the business will try to target the key phrase in the domain. Experts have revealed that this is not that beneficial and there is no need to SEO optimise your full domain name. And because domains are better when they’re shorter, you may want to skip thinking about SEO completely when choosing a domain.
