SEO plays a crucial role in reinforcing brand values and domain names are vital. First impressions are crucial and users will instantly form an opinion about your brand and site by simply reading the domain name.

The key to success is choosing the right domain name, whether you are starting a business or expanding your product line. A right domain name can help you attract highly sought-after search traffic. However, a wrong domain could cause revenue growth problems.

We’ve put together 10 tips to help you get started with your new venture.

1. Know Your Keywords

Before you register your website, ensure it contains keywords that best describe your brand, product, or service. It is a good idea to first list the three most important keywords that summarize your business.

Simplicity is the key.

2. Avoid using dashes and be concise

Your target users shouldn’t forget your domain name from the start. Shorter URLs are SEO-friendly and fit better in Google SERPs. They also look better on business cards and social media content.

Use as few words as possible and be concise. Avoid using dashes Users often overlook the use of dashes, which can be linked to spammy keyword-stuffed domains.

3. Mobile Awareness is a Must

In most industries, mobile visits have now outpaced desktop visits. You want to make sure that your domain name is easy to use on touchscreens, and not difficult to type for returning customers.

4. Choose a Unique Domain Name

Your URL will always be part of your brand. It is important to choose a domain name that matches your message, products, and services.

Be careful with domain names that use non-standard spellings. You could lose tons of traffic if people go to a domain name that is not correctly spelled.

You can purchase the correct-spelled domain name, and redirect it to your website. This option can be costly.

5. Never Trust Trends

It’s possible to leverage trends in SEO and content marketing. However, choosing a domain that is compatible with the current trend could be detrimental to your brand’s long-term success. It can be a serious risk to your brand’s survival and longevity if you don’t know your market.

It’s important to create a URL that is unique from your brand, not copied from competitors or following a trend. Trends are temporary and can be costly if you use trendy spellings.

6. It is crucial to have a “.com.au” domain

However, just because custom domains such as.net ,.org, and.io gain popularity doesn’t mean that the a.com domain won’t be useful any longer (quite opposite). Long-term goals should be set for businesses that own the a.com domain.

A.com.au domain is trusted by many users more than other domains, especially by those who are not as familiar with domains (think: the aged demographic). Long-term, brands who choose.net or similar domains might need to buy an a.com counterpart. If the domain is in the hands of someone else, they may have to pay more.

7. Select a memorable domain

For small and medium-sized businesses, word-of-mouth marketing is often the best way to build a strong following. We recommend that you choose a memorable domain to help your brand spread more quickly and bring more people to your site. 

Ask your target audience to give feedback. How does the brand name sound to you on first impressions? What are you reminded of? It will quickly become clear how your target market will view your brand.

8. Use domain selection tools

There are many domain selection tools that you can use online to help you brainstorm the perfect domain name. This should not be your last resort as it might not be the best for SEO.

9. Exceed Expectations and Build.

Your customers will expect great products and great shopping experiences on your website. You need to meet their expectations. Websites with SEO-friendly domain names must make a great first impression.

Once you have chosen the perfect domain name, it is time to start branding and content marketing.

Last Thoughts

Domain names can be compared to billboards and storefronts. They are designed to attract customers and users. A domain that represents your brand to search engines will make it easy to build a strong digital presence.

Don’t pick a random domain. Spend some time brainstorming ideas and talking to your target audience to imagine what it will look like in 2, 3, or 5 years.