One of the most critical business decisions you'll make is deciding on a domain name for your eCommerce website. Your name is the first piece of your brand that users will encounter, and it serves as a symbolic placeholder for your company. The domain name must be available for purchase and is identical to (or closely matches) the name of your brand or business. Begin by answering the following questions when deciding on an eCommerce domain name:
- What ideas and emotions do you want your store's name to evoke?
- How do you choose a memorable domain for your business?
- Do you want your domain name to contain a specific keyword or phrase?
- What is your financial situation? An unregistered domain will be inexpensive, but an established domain may be costly.
When naming your e-commerce site, you have two options: sit back and wait for inspiration to strike and hope your domain is available, or initiate and conduct some genuine, effective domain name research. Today's how-to choose a domain name guide will walk you through those steps using home care and medical supply store as an example. We'll cast a wide net to gather as many potential domain names as possible. Then, we'll provide guidelines to assist you in eliminating non-starters from your list until you have a small number of appropriate, available domains to choose from.
Make a vetted list of an eCommerce domain name using our guide. The major challenge in creating a name that stands out is searching for the best domain names available to register, so we'll show you how to do that. We'll also show you some real-world examples of how to intensively brainstorm about your business and customers’ nature to create something exceptional.
The Value of a Domain Name
A domain name is a website's URL. Consider its online real estate. It is essentially where your brand conducts business and establishes itself. Your own domain is where your customers will make their purchases. It is the stage at which you establish your authority and expertise. This is why it is critical to choose the appropriate name domain. Domain names are the result of people remembering names better than numbers. People, in fact, tend to remember the shortest domain names the best. There are numerous compelling reasons to obtain a good eCommerce domain name.
∙ A Domain Name Lends Credibility to Your Company
Your business will appear more professional if you have your own domain name. If you publish your site through an ISP or a free web-hosting service, your URL will be something like www.yourisp.com/-yourbusiness. Compared to a www.yourcompany.com domain name, this generic address does not instill trust in a customer. Because there are some less-than-reputable websites on the internet, you should do everything you can to demonstrate that your small business is one that customers can trust and that deserves their money. If you're unwilling to pay the money to register a suitable domain name, why should customers believe you'll put any effort into developing valuable products or services?
∙ A Domain Name Gives Your Web Presence More Mobility
When you own your own domain name, you can take it with you if you change web hosts or switch to your own in-house server. If you don't own your eCommerce domain name, you'll need to create a new URL, which will wipe out all of your previous branding and search engine rankings.
∙ The Right Domain Name Can Bring in Walk-in Customers
If you register a domain name that matches the concept of your business (rather than your exact business name), you may attract web surfers looking for that topic. For example, a hardware store that registered Hammers.com may receive internet visitors looking for hammers.
Furthermore, while search engine results are difficult to predict, Hammers.com may appear more frequently in search results when someone searches for information about hammers.
∙ A Domain Name Helps to Build Your Brand
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More than anything else, a domain name can increase brand awareness. It reinforces your brand and makes it easier for customers to remember and return when your eCommerce domain name is the same as your business name. It will also be easier to gain business through word of mouth because customers will remember your name and tell their friends about it.
Guidelines for Choosing the Best Domain Name for Your Store Website
In a world where online presence is increasing, you must consider your brand name and how well it will perform as a domain and as keywords in general. In this section, we'll go over how to choose the best domain name for your online business. These are pointers you can use whether you're buying a domain name for yourself or a client.
∙ Keep it Brief and Simple
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If you want your visitors to remember your website, make sure the domain name is short and easy to remember. When they recall your eCommerce domain name, they will simply open a web browser, type in your name, and press Ctrl + Enter.
∙ Learn About Psychology
Every word in every language has a connotation that causes our brain to associate it with an emotion of some kind. On the other hand, the connection and inference is a tricky business. If a word's definition is positive, it does not always imply that the word has a positive connotation. So, before deciding on an eCommerce domain name, make sure you understand how others will perceive it.
∙ Examine the Competition
You will undoubtedly check the competitor's domain name and place it in one of the above naming techniques. However, make certain that you do not duplicate or have a similar name. You want to establish a brand identity, which cannot be accomplished with a cloned name. Furthermore, if you have a similar domain name, most customers may end up on your competitor's website.
∙ Avoid Using Someone's Name
The issue with using a person's name is that the person cannot be forever associated with the brand. It does not convey a brand image; rather, it conveys the feel of a startup. So, instead of naming your eCommerce domain name after someone you admire or who is a role model for you, think creatively about what else can be done in a similar context.
∙ Be Inventive
It is not uncommon for a name you like for your online business to already be in use. One workaround is to use a related word that sounds similar to the original word. Examples are Digg (dig), Flickr (Flickr), and other popular sites. This gives your company a memorable name and gives you a distinct identity.
∙ Subfolders Rather than Subdomains
Subdomains are typically formatted as www.aboutus.companyname.com.
Subfolders, on the other hand, are typically formatted as www.companyname.com/aboutus. They may appear to be the same, but Google interprets them differently. Sub-Domains are read as separate pages, whereas sub-folders are read as part of the original domain name. The latter is preferable because Google considers it to be building a library of expertise on a specific keyword or topic.
∙ Simple to Type, Read and Say
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You want your domain name to be remembered by everyone who comes to your website for the first time. The word(s) used in the domain name should be simple to type, read, and pronounce. Simple to type so that people do not have to learn the spelling of your eCommerce domain name or misspell it when typing it in a web browser. It should be easy to read and tell others because people prefer those easy to read and tell others.
How Do You Register an eCommerce Domain Name?
Image is taken from Strikingly user’s website
Strikingly is one of the best website builders on the market. Strikingly allows you to start a free online store and finish it in minutes. Our services are completely free, with premium features available to help you and your business stand out. In addition to being a website builder with various features and Happiness Officers to assist you in growing your business, it also assists you will be assisted in selecting and registering the best e-commerce domain name for you.
- Begin by going to your site editor and clicking on "Settings," where you will find a menu for "Domains." To begin, click the "Register New Domain" button.
- You will then be guided through the process of entering and searching for an e-commerce domain name. The system employs an algorithm to determine whether the domain name you entered is already taken and registered. If it is already taken, it will notify you and provide you with some alternatives. Strikingly offers some intriguing deals that allow you to register for free or at a reduced price for your first year.
- Once you've decided on an eCommerce domain name, you can register it for one to ten years. You would be directed to a page that would request personal information from you.
- After entering your personal information and confirming your purchase, you can now link your eCommerce domain name to your business website. Return to your site editor settings and paste your domain name to connect it to your website.
Final Thoughts
Domain name selection is a long-term investment. If possible, buy your main domain for at least five years. This ranking factor allows search engines to see you as a more reputable and trustworthy company. Finally, don't jump into this too quickly. Conduct keyword research. Discuss the name with your friends and family. Make a list of several options and talk to some customers about what they like.
Finally, search engine algorithms are constantly tweaked to better match the expectations of the humans who use them. So, enlist the help of humans to test your concept. Keep the eCommerce domain name brief. Check to see if it is in keeping with your brand. Include keywords if they are relevant to your business. Then, launch your online store and begin earning money while you sleep.
