How to Choose a Domain Name: Top 5 Ways to Boost Your Online Identity
Updated
Choosing a domain name isn’t just an essential step for your business, it can also help draw customers to you. When deciding how to choose a domain name for your business, think about choosing a descriptive domain. A descriptive domain describes your business and makes its meaning clear, which can take the guessing game out of what you provide and who your services are for. While a descriptive domain is only a few words, it is a valuable marketing asset and a significant part of your digital identity.
Choose A Descriptive Domain Name
What is a descriptive domain?
A descriptive domain contains relevant keywords and tells someone what a business offers. For example, if your business provides concerts in New York City, a descriptive domain could be BigAppleConcerts.com. A descriptive domain can help people find you better by exemplifying your service or product.
Choose A Top-Level Domain
What is a top-level domain?
A top-level domain (TLD) is the final component of a domain name. It includes all the letters following the dot of a domain name, such as .com, .net, or .org. The domain name, combined with your TLD, is called a root domain. While a domain name and a TLD are separate components, they can enhance a descriptive domain together.
There are a few types of TLDs. You’re likely most familiar with .com as a TLD. However, TLDs, such as .gov, can be sponsored or a country code, such as .us. There are also reserved TLDs that are unavailable to use. Despite the popularity of TLDs like .com, .co, or .net, there are over 1000 different TLD options to choose from.
When it comes to TLDs, your options are not limited to generic ones like .com. You can get creative and choose from a wide range. For example, an artist may use the TLD .art or .design after their domain name to further describe their services. TLDs can be a great way to express your uniqueness, especially if you have a specific descriptive domain name in mind, but .com is unavailable. A TLD can heighten your descriptive domain.
Choosing the right TLD can do more than enhance the description of your name. It can also help you attract a specific audience and boost memorability. This strategic use of TLDs can help impact your online presence and marketing efforts or how likely your business is to expand its reach.
Weigh the Pros and Cons of a Descriptive Vs. Branded Domain Name
What's the difference between a descriptive domain and a brandable domain?
While a descriptive domain describes what a business does, a brandable domain does not. Brandable domain examples include Google, IKEA, Yahoo, Starbucks, and Apple. Essentially, if you heard these words for the first time, you couldn’t decipher what each brand offers. Brandable names can be a catchy and concise choice for brand identity.
People may be more likely to search for and remember descriptive domains than brandable ones, especially for businesses in the early stages of development. Choosing a brandable or descriptive domain name depends on your business goals. If you want to prioritize brand recognition, a brandable domain may most align with your intent. You may choose a descriptive domain if your business wants to focus on a keyword and prioritize how likely a name will appear during relevant internet searches.
Choose A Descriptive Domain To Boost Your Business Credibility
Reasons Why Descriptive Domains Can Boost Business Credibility
Descriptive domains can better help people find your business. But they also can be an important part of your brand voice, using words that describe who you appeal to or the ethos of who you are. This consistency is vital for branding or your business identity as you develop your business.
Using a descriptive domain allows you to appeal to your audience directly. For example, if your business is in a specific city, listing your location will help draw relevant customers. You can utilize the niche in your descriptive domain to help attract people searching for those keywords. HathaYogaSchool.live is an example of a descriptive domain that appeals to a niche—those searching online hatha yoga classes
Descriptive domains can elicit a sense of credibility in your business. When someone searches a keyword and sees your brand provides the service mentioned, this can help pinpoint you as an authority in your niche.
If your desired domain is unavailable or too expensive, you can use creativity with your TLD to boost your business through a more affordable option. Descriptive domains can also improve your resale value, meaning they will cost more in the future because they can have a broader reach than brandable domain names.
When you choose a short, concise, and creative domain, it’s generally easy to remember. If a business chooses a descriptive domain that matches who the brand is for, it can enhance memorability, making your business closer to the forefront of someone’s mind. Memorability is necessary to draw new and returning customers to a business. In terms of marketability, a descriptive domain can impact who sees your business, driving potential customers to you.
Go With A Descriptive Domain To Boost SEO
How Descriptive Domains Can Boost SEO
SEO improves the likelihood of finding a business in an internet search. When someone prioritizes SEO, they aim to improve web traffic and findability for their business. Using a descriptive domain can be a helpful way to boost SEO.
Consider that someone looking for a dog walker in Orlando will likely plug this term into their search engine. It makes sense to click on a relevant domain, such as OrlandoDogWalker.Pet, which simplifies someone’s search; you know immediately what they offer and where they are located. The descriptive domain also uses the keywords “Orlando dog walker” to improve SEO.
Remember, when thinking about how to choose a domain name, think about a descriptive domain. A descriptive domain can be a powerful business asset. It can target everything from memorability, marketability, branding, cost-effectiveness, and SEO. Regardless of your business type, descriptive domains can be a helpful tool. Get started choosing the perfect domain today.