Where do I start?
One of the first steps for your new business venture is choosing a domain name. It sounds simple enough, but the process of choosing a domain name for your new business can often times be more complicated that you expect.
There are three types of domain names to consider; Brandable Domain Names, Keyword Rich Domain Names and Exact Match Domain Names.
Keyword Based Domain Names
If you are attempting to compete in a specific niche market, a keyword based domain may be right for you. Keyword domains contain specific keywords related to the niche in the domain name. One advantage of a keywords domain name is the fact that a website visitor will immediately know what your site is about, however, search engines don’t really prefer these types of domain names and the mere presence of the keyword does not enhance its ranking potential.
Exact Match Domain Names
An exact-match domain is a domain name that exactly matches the keyword or keyword phrase searched by a user. For example, if you search for the keyword phrase “Website Hosting” then WebsiteHosting.com would be the exact-match domain name.
A few years ago exact match domains were all the rage and many marketers would only develop sites if the exact match domain was available. However, back in 2012, Google made an update to their search algorithm that negated any advantage that was provided to an exact match domain. Some developers would call this an update, while others may call it a “penalty”. So while you will not get penalized for having an exact match domain name, you should also not expect to receive any preferential treatment or ranking enhancement because of it.
Brandable Domain Names
If you are trying to develop a unique identity for your business and “make it big” with your online venture, a brandable domain name just may be the best option for you. Unique, brandable domain names, like Google, Yahoo, Skype, Twitter, etc., are easier to remember than longer keyword related domain names.
Tips for choosing or creating a great domain name for your business
A unique, memorable domain name is a key component of launching any new business venture. As a business owner, you know that a great business name can be the difference between phenomenal success and dismal failure.
Your business name will determine how your company is perceived and, if you make the right decision, it can assist you in creating a visual and emotional connection with your target audience resulting in increases in revenue, enhanced brand awareness, improved customer retention and better lead generation.
Unfortunately, many business owners undervalue the importance of naming their business and underestimate the time, effort and resources it takes to secure the perfect business name.
- Short, Catchy and Memorable – Choose a name that is easy to pronounce, easy to remember and easy to spell.
- Originality – Make sure your new domain name is unique, original and does not sound similar to another domain name or competitor.
- COM, NET, BIZ – TLD stand for “top level domain”. The most popular TLD is .COM and therefore it can be the most difficult to secure. When at all possible, choose a .COM domain name.
- Be Creative – Many single word domains are already taken which means that you may need to get creative when choosing a domain name for your new business. Try putting two words together (ClickBomb), using a phrase (LongTailLeads), blending parts of two words together (Findocs) or making up a completely unique name (iQrop).
In order for you to better understanding the value associated with choosing the right domain name for your new business, BrandBoat has developed a resource library of helpful articles related to choosing the proper name for your business and making sure that the unique domain name that you choose for your brand allows you to stand out from the crowd.
We know how difficult it can be to find the perfect name for your new business, so whether you’ve already started a business or are still in the planning stages, we’re here to help. We offer premium, ready-made branding solutions for all types of businesses. Whether you are a new business startup, an existing business in need of “re-branding”, in need of a unique domain name to launch a new business website or you are looking for a catchy domain name for a new product, BrandBoat has a solution to dramatically enhance your brand interaction.