Estimated reading time: 3 minutes
What do Apple® and Microsoft® have in common? Yes, they are each multibillion-dollar companies with brand recognition that spans the globe. However, that is not the only thing they have in common. They each have a domain name similar to their business name, making it easy to remember and helping pave the way for online success.
If you plan to start a small business or already own one, you cannot compete in today’s digital world without having a business website. But before you hire a content writer or a web designer, you need to get a domain name. This is, without question, the most crucial step in website development. This Balboa Capital blog article can help guide you in the right direction. It explains how to pick a business domain name.
Brainstorm business domain name ideas.
Remember how difficult it was to come up with a name for your small business? Well, it might be equally challenging to find a domain name. VeriSign® has hundreds of millions of registered domains across top-level domains (.com and .net). To get started, write down your business name on a piece of paper and then come up with a list of various alternatives.
This is necessary because your business name might not be available as a .com or .net domain. Once you come up with about a dozen or so options, check to see if the user profiles are available on the various social networks. The ultimate goal is to have consistency. Your business name, domain name, and profile name on each social network should be the same. If you cannot achieve this, you will need to develop slightly different options that will not create a disconnect with your online audience.
Keep it short, memorable, and branded.
If your business’s name is long, do not worry. Many small businesses and large corporations have domain names that are much shorter than their actual names. For example, your business’s name is Nicol’s Happy Pet Supply Warehouse of Indiana. The domain for this would be far too long to use for a website and business marketing materials such as business cards, letterheads, and invoices.
Additionally, long URLs are difficult to remember and perform poorly on search engines. If your URLs push 80+ characters, they will have less SEO value. A domain such as petsupplyindy would be a good choice for the business mentioned earlier. It would also keep each URL on the website at a reasonable length.
Search domain names.
Once you have narrowed down your list of favorite domain names and confirmed their availability on the leading social platforms, it is time to see if they are available to purchase. There are a few ways to look for domain names online. One of the easiest ways is to use the search option on sites like GoDaddy™ and Network Solutions®.
Not only will you find out instantly, but variations of your available domain name will also appear. This can open the door to new, and perhaps better, domain ideas that you did not come up with during your initial brainstorming session. Once you find the best domain name for your business, purchase it immediately. Of course, it would help if you then created social media profiles with your name immediately after that.
Balboa Capital, a Division of Ameris Bank, is not affiliated with nor endorses Apple, Microsoft, Verisign, GoDaddy, or Network Solutions. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.