How to Create a Domain Name for Your Business
In today’s world, having an online presence for your business is essential for your success. Potential customers will likely try to reach you through your website before trying any other method, so to avoid missing out on business, it is crucial to create a business website.
Before you can create a website, however, you need to create a domain name for your business. By registering a domain name, you can make it easier for people to find your site, ensuring that you can reap the branding and marketing benefits of being online.
In this article, we will teach you how to create a domain name for your business, the benefits that domain names can bring you, and list our favorite platforms to register your business’s domain name.
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Why Should You Register a Domain Name for Your Business?
Brand Recognition
First and foremost, registering a domain name for your business can help potential customers to recognize your brand. A domain name that is linked to your business website gives your business a unique online identity that can help with brand recognition. In the State of Content Marketing survey, 45% of respondents ranked increasing brand awareness as their number one priority.
Credibility
According to a survey by Weebly, 56% of respondents said that they don’t trust businesses without a website. Having a professional domain name can increase your business’s credibility and legitimacy. Without one, potential customers may not take your business as seriously, and may view you as unprofessional or not committed to your business.
Online Presence
According to a report by Visual Objects, 76% of consumers look at a company’s online presence before visiting in-person. Registering a domain name can help you to establish an online presence that can help you stand out from your competitors and build a brand identity.
Professional Email Address
With a registered domain name for your business, you can create a professional email address that is linked to your website; i.e., [email protected]. This can further help you to come across as professional and trustworthy, and increase your success rates when sending cold emails.
Search Engine Optimization
A domain name that includes relevant keywords can help with your SEO. This can make it easier for potential customers to find your business online. Statistics show that search engine optimization drives 300% more traffic to content websites than social media, thus proving how crucial it is to optimize your content.
How to Register a Domain Name for Your Business
The first domain name in history was Symbolics.com, which was registered on March 15, 1985 for a US-based computer manufacturer. Since then, there have been over 300 million domain names registered in total.
Registering a domain name has become a much simpler process than it was in 1985, and is a common practice for business websites, portfolios, and blogs. Below are the steps that you can follow to easily and quickly register your own domain name for your business.
Choose Your Domain Name
Your domain name should be as similar to your business name as possible, but if that’s already taken, you have a couple options for making sure it’s easy for users to associate your brand with your domain name. You can include another word, such as BrandNameOnline.com, or BrandNameMedia.com, or you can use a different suffix. .com is the most common domain suffix, but there are others, such as .io or .co.
Check Availability
You can check your domain name’s availability on sites such as Google Domains or Namecheap’s domain search tool. Remember that if your preferred domain name is not available, you can adjust it or search for one with a different suffix.
Choose a Domain Name Registrar
Domain name registrars reserve and register domain names on your behalf. There are many accredited registrars to choose from, but it can be easier to go through your business hosting service, such as GoDaddy, or your website building service, such as Wix.
Purchase and Register Your Domain
As soon as you’ve decided on a registrar and the perfect domain name, you can purchase your domain name. Once you’ve finalized the purchase, your chosen registrar will reserve and register it on your behalf. Remember to renew your domain registration at the end of your term, which is usually a year after the date of purchase.
Our Favorite Domain Registrars
NameCheap
In addition to domain registration, Namecheap offers affordable web hosting and domain registration as a package deal. The service also offers email, security features (SSL, VPN, DNS), and WordPress hosting as optional add-ons.
GoDaddy
Despite its slightly higher cost, GoDaddy is one of the most popular domain registrars in the world. The service also offers website and domain security, privacy protection, website building and hosting, professional email setup, and an online store builder. GoDaddy is the world’s largest domain registrar, with over 84 million domain names as of 2023.
SquareSpace
SquareSpace is a website-building platform that also offers domain registration for its users. The registration includes both SSL and WHOIS domain protection, and is completely free for the first year.
Amazon Route 53
Amazon Route 53 is a popular choice for its affordability and ease of use. It is a highly reliable domain name registrar, and integrates well with other Amazon Web Services to give you a comprehensive and well-rounded DNS service.
Conclusion
Creating a domain name for your business is a critical step towards establishing a professional online presence. By registering a domain name, you can increase your brand recognition, online visibility, and credibility. A domain name also allows you to create a professional email address, boost your search engine optimization, and stand out from your competitors.
By following the steps outlined in this article and choosing the right registrar for your business, you can easily and quickly create a domain name that effectively represents your brand and helps you stand out in a crowded online marketplace.
