We’ll get into the benefits a strong domain name adds to your brand in just a minute! To begin with, let’s focus on how awesome it is to have a domain that exactly matches your name. For example, let’s assume that your name is Emily Jones. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to own www.EmilyJones.online? No matter what your name is, there is a good chance that there are hundreds, if not thousands, of people who share the same name, and sometimes that can mean that your first idea for a domain name could already be in use. With so many options for domain extensions, you can definitely find one that no other Emily Jones is going to own. It’s almost equivalent to being the sole and rightful owner of the online version of your name. Needless to say, having a unique presence on the web gives you a distinction, almost this kind of superpower – an expert status – even.
Domain names are much more than just an online presence. A good domain name can be the differentiating factor between creating a successful web presence and getting lost in cyberspace.
Branding benefits of a good domain name
The ever-growing Internet space has opened a host of branding opportunities for businesses of all sizes and operating in every niche.
At this very moment, there are businesses, brands and individuals choosing primary website names matching their business name (www.topcoat.store, www.yogaclicks.store, www.emirates.store) and making the most of relevant new domain extensions for their marketing and branding.
Whether you specialize in social media, web development, brand strategy, public relations or marketing, there are many creative and branding benefits of domain extensions that go beyond being the URL of your home page. There are over 1200 new extensions for marketers to use on their websites. These range from specific ones such as .TECH, .STORE, .PRESS to more open and versatile extensions such as .ONLINE, .WEBSITE, .SITE, .SPACE, and more. Adopting new and unique domain extensions not only shows your viewers that you’re creative but it emphasizes how you’re staying ahead of digital trends. This specific aspect in itself can increase the reach and awareness of a brand’s marketing campaigns and lead generation efforts, resulting in a good word-of-mouth for your brand.
Here are a few branding benefits of a domain name.
1. A domain name says you are forward-thinking
The fact that you have your own website and a domain name shows that you’re part of the digital revolution and that you’re up-to-date. What puts you ahead of your competition is getting creative with your domain name by choosing a unique domain extension. For example, if you’re a tech blogger, having a .TECH domain name will brand you right from the very beginning.
2. It helps you interact with a niche market
If you’re dealing with a very specific audience, then a hyper-specific domain name should be in your toolbox. Consider the example of Amazon; the brand sells everything from books to kitchenware to gardening tools, jewelry, clothes, shoes, etc. So, instead of letting its users weed through the website, the brand created specific domain redirects that point customers directly to what they want. For example, contextual domains such as www.kindle.store, www.alexa.online, www.dash.tech, and similar redirect customers to the corresponding product pages on Amazon’s primary website.
Moreover, if you are monitoring marketing analytics, using these multiple domain names that point to your primary website can help you gauge what most of your customers are interested in and you can allocate your marketing budget accordingly.
3.It helps establish the business identity
More often than not, people’s first point of contact with your business would be your domain name. Which is why it is important that your domain name communicates something about your business to the visitors. Linking your business with a brandable domain extension helps establish your business identity and industry. For example, if you own a co-working space and your website and domain name are the same (e.g. www.worktogether.space), it increases qualified Internet traffic and stands out to your customers.
4. It helps with memorability
A good domain name that is short and brandable is easy to remember. In addition to being memorable, they also increase your word-of-mouth By being short in length, they can be easily incorporated in your other marketing material. What’s more, short names are less likely to be misspelled by users, resulting in fewer errors and lesser missed opportunities. For example, it is easier to remember and type www.jutebags.store compared to www.buyjutebagz.com.
5. It helps with contests and promotions
Contests and promotions are typically significant investments for companies. They are great opportunities to raise awareness and improve lead generation. And the one element that can kill all this excitement is a URL that no one can pronounce or remember. Contests and promotions are examples of good opportunities to make the most of clever domain extensions. For instance, www.bestfriends.fun sounds a lot cleaner and easy when compared to www.brandname.com/2018-new-year-contest.
Since domain extensions, such as the .FUN domain name, are still relatively new, they tend to garner significant buzz on their own that increases word-of-mouth marketing too.
Wrapping up
More than anything, a domain name can help you build your brand! The more creative and forward-thinking you are in your approach, the more you will stand out from the competition.
