Before you begin web design, you need to know this

Before you begin web design, you need to know this

Domain Names 101

Every good website needs a domain name. Very often people focus exclusively on web design without investing the right amount of research into choosing a good domain name. The domain name is basically like the sign hanging outside in front of a brick and mortar shop. If the sign looks good, people may be tempted to enter the shop. Likewise, if the domain name is catchy and well represents your business then you”ll have a much easier time at attracting new business. Below are 5 essential points to consider when choosing a domain name.

  1. Decide whether you want to buy a new domain name or purchase an old domain name on the resale market. Unlike used cars, old domain names are actually more valuable than new domain names. The reason for this is that a domain name builds up value over time in its ability to rank high in online searches. The number of credible back links, age of the domain name and other factors are the cause of this. Purchasing an old domain name requires a good amount of research to make sure that it is a good buy. Sometimes the cost is not worth the value. However, an old domain name can save you many months, if not years, of SEO work and development. It’s of course critical to follow a couple of key guidelines when looking for old domain names, including purchasing one in your niche. If you are a plumber then purchasing a high ranking accounting firm domain name will be of little help. There are many places to purchase old domains names, though one of the best places is Expireddomains.net.
  2. Before you settle on a domain name, check its availability on different platforms and also see what happens when you type it into search engines like google. In addition to your website, you want to have social media presence to bolster your exposure and your SEO. It is always best if your name is consistent across all these platforms. When you type your proposed name into a search engine what happens? If it brings up products or services in your niche, then that’s great. But if it by default brings up things that are not at all related to your niche, you may have a harder time optimizing. If it brings up pages that are already connected to your online presence, then even better.
  3. When it comes to web design, it is very often the out of the box, unique designs and messages that get noticed. This is probably the case in all of advertising. And it is no different when choosing a domain name. If your domain name is catchy, people will remember it and look you up online. If your domain name succinctly expresses who you are, then that’s great too. Sometimes the bet domain name is your name or the name of your company. And sometimes something more generic like Springfield Lawyer will work well.
  4. Make sure you follow some Domain Name basic rules of etiquette. .com are the best for businesses, and in general the best all around. Unless you are a non profit (.org), school (.edu) or government agency (.gov), your should get a .com. You can save money by getting a different domain name like .net or .info. However, unless a web developer tells you there is a significant SEO advantage in these other extensions, you want to stick with a .com when available.
  5. Good SEO sometimes starts with a good domain name. If you are a plumber, then having the word plumber in your domain name is helpful. As a digital marketing agency, we deliberately chose our business name to include the word marketing, and we likewise include it in our domain name – designerpromarketing.com. Web design is not just an art, it’s also a science. Part of that science is choosing a domain name that sets you up for success.


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