The Importance of the Right Domain Name for Your New Business
What’s in a name? When it comes to your company’s domain, a whole lot. Guest blogger and web developer Jack Harding explains why your domain name should be carefully chosen and outlines resources perfect for startups looking to establish an online presence.
Selecting the right domain name plays a vital role in the performance of all online businesses. Entrepreneurs usually give special consideration to the domain name they choose for their website when they get started with a new idea. This post will discuss how to choose the right domain name using the $12,000 domain name purchase of Wish.co.uk as a prime example.
Establishing Ownership
Some businesses regard the purchasing of a domain name as being an unnecessary expense, but the founders of Wish.co.uk realized from the beginning of their business journey that the associated values far outweigh the cost. Richard Kershaw and Stephen Pavlovich purchased the domain name for their business at a Sedo auction for the grand sum of $12,000. Within six months of getting their online business off the ground, the partners were able to see profits being generated even at the height of the recession. What was the secret behind their success?
What’s in a Name?
The domain name of a business carries a lot of weight in online ranking. Naming your business and ensuring that you own that name allows you to display credibility to both the search engines and your customers. Registering your domain name enables you to carve out an identity of your own in the realm of cyberspace. When you stop to think of it, a business that bears a subdomain name, or one assigned to it by a free website host, does not have its own unique identity. A domain name is like the title to a property. Without that title, you cannot really lay claim to the business.
Credibility and Professionalism
In order for a business to be taken seriously, it must establish itself as being credible and professional. Your site visitors will more than likely take a look at your domain name as they try to assess and formulate an opinion of your online business. A unique domain name will leave these visitors with the idea that you operate a large, well established company. A subdomain name, on the other hand, may convey the message that you are not a business to be taken seriously. Think of it as being in a rented building instead of your own. Bear in mind that within the web address, the first part is dedicated to the host, and then your name is tacked on at the end (example www.the-host-website.com/yourwebsite.com). This means you do not have your own address. Imagine a company such as Nike sporting a web address similar to that. With your own domain name, your website would be displaying an address such as www.yourwebsite.com. So while it may be tempting to snatch up that 99 cent subdomain name, remember: you get what you pay for.
Building Brand Value
When your visitors go to your site, they leave with more than just a memory of your offers. They also leave with the name of your brand etched on their minds. Your domain name should include the name of your brand as a means of reinforcing it in the minds of your customers. Without a unique domain name, they may quickly forget the name of the website, even though they really want to visit again. This could see them futilely trying to remember the name, typing in the wrong one and then eventually giving up. You do not want your customers to forget your brand and site name.
Online Resources to Help You Choose and Register a Domain Name
If you want an ultimate guide to choosing a domain name, check out Christopher Heng’s site The Site Wizard. The site also has a multitude of web design guides, another vital part of building your website. To register your domain name, check out the article How to Register a Domain Name. The article reviews the top domain registrars, also known as hosting services, and how to determine which service best fits your needs.
The best starting point for creating a memorable presence on the web is to register your unique domain name. Your domain name says so much about you and your business, and can potentially open so many doors. So get to it!
