When you are getting ready to set up a website there are a few very important steps to take. The very first, whether you are building your website for personal or business use, is to choose a fitting domain name. So many things flow from your domain name; it is your web address for starters! This is the URL that people will type into their browser in order to find you so it needs to be good! This article covers three important things to remember when creating your domain name.
Mike, brand expert at Print-Print.co.uk Booklet Printing says "Choosing the right domain is about as important as choosing your business name, if not even more important. This website is going to be your company's presence on the internet and if you want it to be well known, respected and easily found, choosing a great domain is key. Your web address is literally the link between your online and offline world, and needs to be memorable when read on your printed materials."
Registered Domains VS Sub-Domains
Trying to decide on a domain name is hard. One of the very best things you can do right off-the-bat is to choose to buy a domain rather than using a free sub-domain from whoever your hosting provider may be. Websites that are www.example.webs.com or www.example.wordpress.com are far less likely to be found than a site like www.yourwebsite.com, and unfortunately that is a fact.
It is not to say these sub-domains are not a good thing - they are great for anyone looking for a personal site. Especially, if they do not want to invest a lot of money into it right at the start. In the long run though you are better off with a registered and paid for domain that you own.
Keep it Simple
No matter what sort of website you are trying to build, personal or business, ecommerce or social, it is always better to keep it simple. If you want people to remember your website this is the best thing you can do. Domains that end in things like .net can be tricky business because at one point we were all trained to recognise .com as the extension of a website domain. If you choose a .net or similar domain, try to put that as part of your branded name on your website. Restate it over and over so that people remember!
Also, try to avoid odd spellings of words, or using 2 for to in your domain name. People may remember the name of the site but will they remember to use that number 2 when trying to gain access again? Most likely not. If at all possible, try to register the full domain as well and redirect that page to your main website if you really want to put numbers or an unusual spelling in your URL.
Make it Relevant
Have you ever visited a store or website and once you arrived there it was not what you expected? Try to make sure your domain name is relevant to your topic of interest. If your website is for your business, using the business name is a great way to make sure people remember who you are. If you own a business that sells t-shirts and only t-shirts, choosing a domain like designsbyme.com may not be best. Instead try totallyuniquets.com (totally unique t's).
If you follow these simple steps, you will successfully get past the hardest part of creating your web presence. Then it is on to your marketing materials and acquiring customers.You May Also Be Interested In...
