Here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester, we are Manchester’s leading web design experts. We work with companies and businesses across the North West, from Southport to Wigan, to deliver effective web design solutions. As a result, we have produced this guide to everything you should know about selecting the right domain name for your business.
What are the considerations for selecting the right domain name?
When choosing a domain name for your company or business there are a number of important things to consider. These include:
- There is no perfect domain name- a domain name will acquire value over time, through effective branding and SEO techniques. So if you cant secure the one you want, don’t be afraid to go back to the drawing board.
- Keep it short and sweet- the most effective domain names are short. This is because shorter domain names can be read in full in the URL address bar at the top of a page, either on a laptop or on a mobile device. In fact, some people think shorter domain names are easier to remember, with six to 12 characters and two to three syllables being the perfect option. However, you shouldn’t be restricted by this if it doesn’t suit your branding.
- Company branding- you should consider your company branding thoroughly when deciding on a domain name. This name will be associated with your company online for years to come, and will be associated with your growth online. A unique domain name that reflects your company branding can be the best possible solution.
- Easy to pronounce and spell- as an extension of the point made about the length of the domain name, the domain name itself should also be easy to pronounce and spell. This can prevent 404 and search errors when potential customers or clients try to search for your website, and can ensure that any interested website user finds your content easily and quickly. As a result, they will be less likely to end up on a competitors website, and you can enjoy the maximum selling potential. One thing to consider is making sure your domain name is phonetic, as this is easier to communicate and often easier to spell too.
- Keywords- adding keywords to your domain name used to be a popular practice, although this is currently dying out. Keywords in the domain name can temporarily help your SEO efforts, but this is barely noticeable, and will become completely unhelpful in just a few more search engine algorithm changes. This is true even for EMD (Exact Match Domains).
- Domain name extensions- choose a good domain name extension for your website. Choosing a .com extension will always be the best option, followed by .co.uk for UK businesses. These may not always be available for your chosen domain name, but it is worth trying to secure one of these.
For more information about professional web design, or web marketing, get in touch with the experts today, here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester.