Does Your Domain Name Really Matter?
Domain Name
Domain names, of course, originally developed to translate the string of digits that make up an IP address into words to make it simpler for internet users to access websites. This idea came to fruition in 1985 with the registration of the first .com domain name, and today, some 32 years later, domain names still provide us with this indispensable function.
Whether you have an existing website, or are looking to start working on one, one of the best first steps you can take is registering a domain name.
Reasons Why a Strong Domain Name Still Matters Today:
Here are some of the key reasons a strong domain name matters today and will continue to be a critical factor in your online success.
1) Security and credibility
As much as we rely on search engines to help us find what we’re looking for online, the fact remains that we ultimately make the decision about which links to follow and which sites to visit based on our assessment of the credibility of the name displayed in the search results.
With malicious domains on the rise and the exponential growth of new and more destructive forms of malware, domain trust and credibility are more important than ever for businesses and individuals alike.
2) Improved SEO
While SEO experts continue to debate the relative importance of specific ranking factors used by Google and others, there’s no question that a website’s domain name is inextricably tied to its ranking.
Adding keywords to your domain, for example, has the potential to improve your site’s ranking and can also boost your click-through rates. Domain names prominently displayed in search results. So if a site ranks highly for a particular keyword, one of the first things the user sees in search results is the name of the domain associated with that keyword.
Google’s algorithm also looks at the number of other sites that link to content on your site. It considers the authority of the websites linking to your site and uses. This as a major factor to determine your site’s authority. Which it ultimately associates with your domain name.
3) Brand and marketing
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, domain names are essential to your marketing success. Regardless of which marketing strategy and tactics you adopt. Whether inbound, outbound, content, referral, growth hacking, events, social – all roads lead to your domain name.
It’s use in your email address and in your social media profiles; its use in every marketing campaign, every call to action, and at every event. It appears on every piece of collateral and every business card.
Good Domain Name
By knowing your name beforehand, customers won’t get lost on other SEO and PPC results in the search engines. Which can also increase your chances of appearing at the top of the search results.
A good domain name is essential for making yourself heard and seen online, and generating much-needed traffic onto your website. This attracts more potential customers and results in better sales, so what are you waiting for?