Make your domain names work for you
By Beth Alcorn, in Web Design, Web Development
Registering the right combination of domain names can make all the difference to your website’s performance. Once you have additional domains licensed to your business, you can redirect these to your primary website. Holding a variation of names across several domains helps to build and grow your online presence. Here we will explore how to get the most out of your domain names to enhance your online marketing strategy and grow your website’s profile.
Multiple domain names
Registering multiple domain names boosts the likelihood of new visitors finding your site, and assists with search engine optimisation (SEO). Domain names are like labels for your sites. Most businesses register at least the domain names with the label of their business name (ie. we have getstarted.com.au). If you can find domains available with labels of products or services that your business features, it is a good idea to register these as well. Themes or keywords relevant to your business also make great domain names, if available.
Choose the right names for your business
Any name or group of words that people think of when searching for products and services in your field is a great idea for a domain name! If a prospective client types this in, they will reach your business and your website, rather than one of your competitors. If a client is searching for your area of business online, it is likely they will reach your site several times if you have the right domains registered. This makes your site appear trustworthy and reputable.
Attract more traffic to your website
If the only domain pointing to your website is your business name, visitors have to know your site by name, or be directed to it from a link, or find your site listed near the top of a search-engine results list. By registering domains for your products, services or themes, you will now attract additional traffic. Many users simply type the product or service desired as the website address to find what they’re looking for! These users will now find your site (ie. users may type: glassrepairs.com.au). Users believe that the best businesses will make themselves very easy to find, so they will use the easiest method to find you.
What do your customers call you?
Another way to determine which names to register is to think about the nicknames for your business. Identify what people call your business when they have become familiar with you – if your full business name is ‘Peter’s Piano Tuners, Eltham Pty Ltd’, and most of your clientele refer to you as ‘Pete’s Pianos’ when in conversation, you would be best to register both ‘peterspianotuners.com.au’ and ‘petespianos.com.au’ to make your site easier for your current customers to access. Furthermore, if your current clients tell their friends or colleagues about your business and use the shortened version of your name, their friends will be able to access your site by simply typing in the name they heard.
Make room for typos
The most frequent block between users and your site is spelling! Simple spelling mistakes can lead users away from your site. Unfortunately, you can’t cover yourself against all possible typing errors. If your domain name includes a word that many people misspell, however, you can protect yourself. It is a good idea to register these common misspellings of your domain names, to ensure users reach your site regardless of their spelling ability!
Think beyond .com
If you spread your domain names across different domains (.com, .net.au etc) you will enhance your online profile even further. Think of the number of times you have entered in a web address and forgotten to include the ‘.au’ at the end. Not only that, but many users confuse the different domain-endings, and will type, for example, ‘.net.au’ instead of ‘.com.au’. To avoid the risk of prospective clients being led away from your site, register names that are available across several domains. (This could mean you register the .com, .com.au and .net.au domains with the same name, or any other combination). This way, visitors that accidentally enter incorrect endings on your domain name will still come safely through to your site.
Build trust with .au domains
Some domain endings have other benefits, such as the ‘.au’ domain that can only be registered to an Australian business or entity. Most Australian users view the ‘.au’ ending as being trustworthy and safer than other generic domains (ie. .com or .net). Many search engines have an option for users to ‘Search only Australian sites’. ‘.au’ domain endings will ensure you are not precluded from the results lists when this option is used. An ‘.au’ domain can help your online profile, especially if you wish to market your site to an Australian audience.
Protect your business from competitors
Finally, registering names across several domains ensures other parties do not register these domains! If someone snaps up one of the domains perfect for your business, it’s like sharing your brand with another company – and sharing your customers with them too!
A good domain name strategy can build your business
So if you want your website to be as accessible and easy-to-find as possible, registering different domain names across several domain endings is the perfect strategy. An effective domain name strategy raises your online profile with existing clients, and increases the likelihood of generating more incoming new visitors. Make the most of your domain names - it could make a big difference for your website.