Why are domain names so important in ecommerce?

domain nameWhatever sector your ecommerce business operates in, having strong domain names is vital to your success.

With more than half a billion domain names in existence, a short, memorable domain name is the difference between creating a successful presence online and getting lost in cyberspace.

Your company’s domain name is the first thing that your potential customers will encounter. It is also one of the key things that they will remember your company by. You need to get it right.

Improved credibility and visibility

Your domain name can add credibility to your ecommerce business – it’s about being professional and proving that you deserve your customers’ trust.

A short, descriptive and easy-to-remember domain name is what you need. It gives customers and search engines an easy way to remember and find you.

Mobility

Once you’ve got your main domain name – say a .com domain – you should also consider buying other top-level domains, such as .eu or .co.uk or any other country where you may expand your business.

It’s proven that having a local top-level domain makes local customers more likely to trust, and therefore buy, from you.

Therefore, choosing a domain name that is transferable into other cultures is important. Consider how your brand would appear or be interpreted in different languages and areas. It doesn’t cost very much to register other top-level domains, so it worth speculatively buying them for your brand name.

Search result rankings

Your domain name also plays an important part in where you appear in search engine rankings. In fact, there is even strong suspicion that your top-level domain is considered, too – ie, a .com domain will receive more weight than a .co.uk domain.

It is also worth considering that if your domain name includes keywords, these are likely to appear higher up in the search rankings. (For example, if you sell shoes, a domain name that includes “shoes” in it will do better than without the keyword.)

Choosing the right domain

Choosing the right domain name for your business is key. If the domain name matches your company name, it reinforces your brand. It makes it easier for customers to remember your ecommerce business and return to it. It is also easier to win business via word of mouth, as customers will remember your website address and pass it to friends.

If you are thinking of naming your business after yourself, think twice. When it comes to online, it’s better when the brand does what it says on the tin. Keep it short and memorable, avoid hyphens where possible, and try to reflect what it is you’re selling.

The bottom line is that a good domain name can go some way towards generating traffic to your ecommerce website and building your reputation. In turn, that will result in more customers and better sales.

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