Does your Domain Name Really Matter?
July 12th, 2007 | Posted by Ben KeoghJust like any business, your domain name is your identity. Think of it as your online business card. If you are serious about marketing your products and services on the internet, do it right from the start.
What are domain names?
Domain names are hostnames that provide more easily memorable names to stand in for numeric IP addresses. In fact, this reminds us a little bit of phone numbers. Would not it be easier for us to dial M-C-D-O-N-A-L-D-S instead of having to remember their ten digit phone number?
They are sometimes colloquially (and incorrectly) referred to by marketers as “Web addressesâ€. The following examples illustrate the difference between a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) and a domain name:
URL:
http://www.comunica-group.com/
Domain name:
comunica-group.com
Domain names can contain numbers and letters, plus the hyphen. And the domain name can contain up to 67 characters.
Top level domains
We also have this domain name extensions or what we call the Top Level Domain (TLD), which is always either one of a small list of generic names (three or more characters), or a two characters territory code. It is the letter combination to the right of the domain name, after the “dotâ€. Therefore, a domain name like comunica-group.com has what we call a “.com†(read as “dot comâ€) extension. You will also find others:
- Unsponsored: .biz, .com, .edu, .gov, .info, .int, .mil, .name, .net, .org, .pro
- Sponsored: .aero, .cat, .coop, .jobs, .museum, .travel
- Infrastructure: .arpa, .root
- Start-up phase: .mobi, .post, .tel
- Proposed: .asia, .geo, .kid, .mail, .sco, .web, .xxx
- Deleted/retired: .nato
- Reserved: .example, .invalid, .localhost, .test
- Pseudo-domains: .bitnet, .csnet, .local, .onion, .uucp
- Country code TLDs: .ph, .sg, .uk, .us (and many more)
Does it really matter?
A big YES! is the answer. A good domain name is an asset especially if you have your own domain name. Why? Because of the following reasons:
- Build name recognition for your company
- Create a professional image
- Cyber Mobility – you can move your site without loosing your domain name
- The domain name can be optimized for your business, like bestdownload.com. It is much easier to sell and advertise with good domain name. It will most likely be the first thing that your potential customers will encounter, and remember your company if they find your business online.
Tips in choosing and creating a good domain name
- .com is the most common TLD. So it is better if you try to go with it, because it associates with the web and it easy to remember. If you choose to have other TLDs like .edu for education, .net and even similar domain names, it may confuse people and may cause mistaken identities, unless it may sound better than the .com.
- Maximize your domain name into advertising your company as well. Like bestdownload.com, people will understand what that means and make them want to visit your site. It gives them question on what kind of best downloads you offer.
- Do not use worthless double letters. It may cause confusion that may lead to misspelled words like blooogs.com. Choose a domain name that is easier to remember.
- Do not use long domain names. Describe exactly what you do and use few letters if possible. Every additional letter is a potential typing error.
- Opt out hyphens or dashes and useless numbers. No one cares to put the dashes or the numbers in unless they are an important part of the name like studio23.com or e-vans.com.
- If you cannot come up with a descriptive domain name, choose a memorable short name that is attractive. Brand it! Meaning, choose a great logo and advertise always (by including prominently in your ads and marketing) and make a slogan that will really reinforce the name in people’s mind.
