6 Best Practices for your Domain and how it affects your SEO
It’s not as easy as it sounds, but we can walk you through 6 of the best practices!
Your website needs to be more than aesthetically pleasing and fast to navigate. Your domain name will serve as the foundation for your website. This will distinguish your company from other websites. At the same time, your domain will play an integral part in your website’s search engine optimization, otherwise known as SEO. A good domain will increase awareness and click through rate. Make it a priority and do your homework first.
Here are some tips to get you started-
#1 - First, before anything else
Search your Domain Name
Here, you will have an idea of whether your chosen domain name is available and will also give you choices of similar options. If your domain name is already taken, you can start formulating new ones, so you aren’t wasting precious time and money. Make your domain name straightforward. Keep it simple and short for name recognition. People prefer typing short URLs and it’s just easier to remember.
#2 - Most owners will agree that a domain name that ends with “.com” is the most desirable
In a domain name the first part before the dot sign is called the domain and the last part, after the dot sign is called the domain extension. When you register a domain name, you need to choose both the domain and extension. Approximately 49% of extensions use .com but there are several other popular extensions to use such as .org, .net, and .edu. If you want to secure the domain name for your site, the best way to do that is to register yourself on a site such as godaddy.com
#3 - Find a name that includes industry words
No one knows all the details on how search engines work. It’s a complicated process that seems to change constantly. It pays attention to the words used on your site page. A domain name that has the primary keyword gets a better SEO boost. For this reason, it follows that domain name with industry keywords that are most likely taken. These domain names are either being used or being resold. Many brands purchase additional domains even if not used to protect their primary domain.
However, if you are lucky enough to find a domain name with a primary keyword, make sure to take a second look before purchasing. They can come across as spammy and confusing.
#4 - Create a domain name everyone will easily remember
Don’t use any domain name that requires an explanation. When choosing, be sure the name is easy to remember so visitors can return later without having to write it down or second guess themselves. If you need to explain your domain name or spelling, it won’t be natural and you will lose visitors.
#5 - Avoid using hyphens, repeated letters & nontraditional spellings
Be sure to avoid using hyphens for your domain name. Your returning customers may remember your domain but forget about the hyphens. They could end up on a competitor’s website. Hyphens also tend to correlate with spammy behaviors. If you must use one, limit it to only one. Double letters directly next to one another, such as “ss” or “tt” will confuse people who never know if it’s one or two (“s” or “t”.) This also goes for nontraditional spellings. Unfortunately, you will likely be sending people to the properly spelled domain name – most likely a competitor. Many customers won’t remember the odd spelling, they’ll just go to what is expected.
#6 - Have fun with your domain, but also be professional
Think of the message you’re sending and whether it portrays a professional image for your business. For example, an air freshener business might not want “smell” and “odor” in their domain name even if they are descriptive.
While your domain name is important, it’s just one of many steps in developing rankings for your website. Once you’ve chosen the domain name of your choice, you’ll want to work on a full SEO strategy. Every SEO win you have will make the domain you chose stronger in your eyes of the search engines.
If you’re still feeling a bit overwhelmed or have questions, we have a team here to guide you. Feel free to send us an email or DM!
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