Use Your Domain Name To Localize Your Business
Succeeding in the competitive online world takes time, effort, and the continuous investment of money and expertise. You need an amazing website, a strong digital marketing strategy, you need to publish amazing content and you need to invest in paid ads to get our landing pages to the top of the SERPs. These are just some of the investments that will allow you to establish a strong online presence, but the factor that you might not have taken seriously before is your domain name.
Choosing and creating the right domain name can nowadays mean the difference between having a stellar online presence and never getting to the first page on Google. That’s why today we are taking a look at the top reasons why your domain name is crucial for the success of your business. While we’re at it, we will give you the top tips to make the most out of your domain name.
The obvious SEO benefits of domain names
First things first, you need to understand that your domain name can have direct and indirect effects on your ranking in all the relevant search engines. Google, for example, is very picky when it comes to trusting certain websites and domain extensions, so it’s imperative that you structure your core URL properly, optimize it for user experience, and choose a top-level domain that is trustworthy, reliable, and relevant in the online world.
Otherwise, you risk losing out on some serious SEO potential. The domain you choose should ideally contain an important keyword that pertains to your business and your industry, but without making the URL too long or confusing for the user. You can also opt for a purely brand-oriented domain name to boost branded searches in the long run. Be sure to think about your domain name carefully before deciding, and try to optimize it for maximum SEO impact.
Reinforce your brand and build brand awareness
Building a thriving online brand takes time and effort, and it certainly won’t come down to your domain name only. However, we mustn’t neglect its role in building up your brand through online recognition, awareness and trust, and of course, a continuous high ranking in the search results. One of the most obvious ways you can boost your brand’s presence in the online world is to choose a branded domain. If you can also squeeze in a keyword next to the brand without making it look confusing and long, then go ahead.
If not, never mind, because the most important thing is to use your domain name to promote your brand and capitalize on branded searches. If your domain name matches your company name, then you will invariably reinforce your brand’s position in the online world and make it easier to create branded marketing and sales campaigns later on.
Personalizing your digital presence with the right domain name
One of the ways you can capitalize on choosing the right domain name, a way you might not have considered before, is by using your domain name to personalize your online presence. For example, business leaders building a personal brand can leverage the .me domain to create a more personal experience for the user, while corporate brands can do the same to create a more approachable and down-to-earth brand image.
It’s important to choose only top-level domains to make your website as relevant and trustworthy in the eyes of the search engines as possible. The .me domain is a rare example of a TLD that bridges the gap between SEO and personalization. That said, it’s also important to personalize the very name of the domain if you have a personal brand, so make sure to use your name plus a relevant keyword to enhance personalities and visibility.
The right domain name structure boosts brand stickiness
Some domain structures are more trustworthy, memorable, and relevant in the eyes of Google and the online audience than others. You need to choose the right structure and optimize your domain name for high brand and business stickiness. Stickiness is simply how easy it is to remember your domain and type it into the search box.
If you use special characters and numbers, of course, the stickiness of your domain name is going to decline. Make sure to keep your domain name structure short and to the point, using online letters and avoiding hyphens, numbers and other special characters.
Last but not least, keep in mind that you can also use your domain name to promote your business locally and build a powerful online presence in your local market. When people are searching for local businesses, they invariably type in the location they’re interested in along with a search term, and that is your opportunity to appear at the top of the SERPs. You can combine a location keyword with your brand name, or use a keyword plus location to create a localized domain name that will be more relevant to the local audience than the rest.
Wrapping up
Your domain name can have a big impact on your digital presence, so choose wisely. Now that you know how it impacts your business and how to choose the best domain name for your brand, you can enrich your digital strategy with another powerful tactic that will skyrocket your business.
Author’s Bio: Jolene Rutherford is a marketing specialist – turned blogger, currently writing for technivorz.com. Interested in digital marketing and new technology trends. Love sharing content that can help and inform people.