5 Keys to Picking a Domain for Your New Business |
Since we opened our doors in 2004, we have worked with a bunch of startups. We're usually brought in to the process to make suggestions about the company's domain name. It's one of the best/most fun parts of being involved with a brand new business.
Here are some things to keep in mind as you select a domain name for your new business:
- .com or nothing. Don't ever settle for a .net domain as your main domain name. People these days always assume a company's domain ends with .com. If the .com is not available or is being sold or auctioned out of your price range, move on to the next best name.
- Keep it short. There are always exceptions, but whenever possible you should keep your domain name short because it will be easier to remember.
- If it's within your budget, think about buying a domain that has existed for years. This one is relatively unknown, but powerful. Domains that are not new might carry some extra clout. For example, an older domain might already be listed in worthwhile directories (like ODP) and have valuable inbound links. If you acquire such a domain, you'll be hitting the SEO ground running, as opposed to having to start from scratch.
- Try to use the best keyword or keyword phrase in your industry. Do some keyword research to find out what the most popular keyword or search phrase is for your products or services. If it's available, grab it and use it. You'll have a huge advantage SEO-wise over your competition. For example, if you build custom homes and"custom homes" is the most popular search term for that industry, then the most valuable domain for your business is "customhomes.com". If you get the domain for your most popular keyword, don't be afriad to use is instead of your companies name. Being ranked #1 for that term is worth it.
- Make sure the Twitter handle is available. Ideally, your domain and Twitter handle will match. If you couldn't get the killer keyword as your domain, try to scoop it up it for your Twitter handle as use it.
Depending on the industry, it can be difficult to follow all of these keys. The most valued domains might already be owned or in use. But the more you can follow these five tips, the more your website will reap the benefits of solid search engine optimization tactics. This means your website will get more qualified leads. And for a startup, having a strong SEO presence from the beginning is critical.
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