If you’ve registered a domain name only to find yourself asking, “Now what?” then this is the right blog post for you.

After reading this blog post, you’ll gain a greater understanding of all that can be done with a domain. We’ll start by talking about domains, about naming, as examples of linguistic design. From there, we’ll discuss how to best leverage the name you’ve registered according to your personal, business, or brand needs.

Here’s more detailed information on what we’ll be covering in this blog post:

• What’s in a domain name?
• Practical next steps for any domain owner.
• Creating a website or blog.
• Reselling domains and the domain aftermarket.

What’s in a name?

A quick online search turns up lots of advice on choosing domain names, “Make it short! Relevant! Catchy! Memorable!”

And while that’s great advice… it doesn’t help you think about your domain in the larger context of your business.

Did you know that your domain name affects not just how people perceive your brand but how you should go about marketing it?

You see, domain names generally fall into one of two categories: Discoverable or Brandable.

Discoverable domain names are “real world” names. They’re descriptive and made up of dictionary terms, often including generic keywords someone would type into an online search. That means someone who isn’t familiar with your brand could still land on your site if they’re searching for related keywords or topics; this is called “type-in” traffic.

Brandable names are not made up of dictionary terms. Instead, they’re often made up. These domains are designed to relate to the purpose of the brand in an interesting way, usually tapping into people’s associations or experiences. Sometimes, the name is a metaphor or a compound of other words. Since these names aren’t comprised of keywords that could drive type-in traffic, brands built on them need more comprehensive (usually paid) marketing strategies. You’ve got to work a little harder to make the connection between your name and what services you provide in the customer’s mind, but once you’ve done that, your name has the potential to become iconic in your field (hello, Google!)

Think about the type of name you registered: Does it fall into the category of Brandable or Discoverable? Do you have the resources to create a buzz with paid marketing campaigns if it’s the former? Before building a business on your domain, make sure you have a plan for marketing it.

Practical next steps for any domain owner

Now that we’ve talked about domain name types, let’s discuss the practical steps you can take to secure your name and build a strong online presence.

Privacy and protection

First and foremost, make sure your personal information is protected! Certain personal information, like the registrant’s name and email, is collected whenever a domain is registered. That information is made available to the public through ICANN’s WHOIS database. This database allows anyone to search for a domain and find out who owns it. Unfortunately, a lot of bad actors have figured out how to take advantage of the WHOIS database and scrape it to collect personal information.

If you want to protect your personal information from spammers, telemarketers, and bots, then purchase Domain Privacy + Protection. It masks your personal information while still giving you complete control over your domain.

Simplify domain management

Give yourself one less thing to worry about by enabling auto-renew on your domain(s.) If not, you run the risk of losing your domain name when it expires.

Claim your name

No matter what you’re doing with your domain now, you should be laying the groundwork for the future. Do this by creating social media profiles with your name and acquiring a custom, professional email address. Thinking about brand protection now helps avoid headaches in the future. Also, consider registering misspellings and alternate versions of your domain.

Creating a website or blog with your domain

Ready to do more with your domain? Seeing your idea take flight and succeed feels good.

As a starting point, determine your site’s purpose and goals.

Defining the purpose of your website helps illuminate what your requirements will be. For example, if you intend to start a personal blog, you likely won’t need a site equipped with eCommerce capabilities. If you’re launching an online retail business, you’re going to need eCommerce functionality, Terms of Service, and more.

Once you’ve got your requirements listed, you can think about how they affect the design of your site. Will your needs be met with a simple Website Builder? How about an eCommerce Website Builder? Or should you hire a professional to build a site that meets all your requirements?

Reselling domains and the domain aftermarket

Did you purchase your domain with the intent of reselling it?

Well, you’ve entered the world of domaining. Domaining is the industry term for domain speculation.

Domain speculation refers to the practice of identifying, registering, and investing in domain names with the intent of reselling them for a profit.

Is it profitable?

It sure can be! As with all investments, be mindful of risk and carefully consider your opportunities.

How do you choose what domains to register as investments?

Think about what your budget is and the costs of the domains you want. Different domain extensions renew at different price points, so make sure you’ve got the funds to cover the domain registrations and renewals until you sell them.

Is domaining the same as cybersquatting?

Nope! At the heart of the matter is intent.

Legitimate domainers do their research to make sure the domains they acquire aren’t trademarked. Cybersquatters don’t care. They register, traffic in, and use domains in bad faith so that they can profit from others’ trademarks.

How do I advertise my domains for sale?

Good question! You can create simple landing pages for these domains that include your contact information. If you have any other stipulations for the sale, note them where they’re easily seen on the page. You can also list your domains on sites like Namejet.com, a dedicated domain aftermarket service.

Ready to do more with your domain?

We’re excited to see what you do with your domain name and wish you the best of luck with your business! If you need a hand creating a website, designing and implementing SEO strategies, or have any other questions, don’t be a stranger. Our teams are here to help.

Shakespeare famously wrote, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” in his iconic play, Romeo and Juliet. But does that quote stand up under scrutiny?

In this post, we’re examining the question, “What’s in a name?” We’re discussing business and brand names and asking questions like, “How do I come up with a business name?” and “What brand name will resonate in my market?”

By the time you’ve finished this post, you’ll walk away with two things: A solid understanding of how to create your business name and tips to effectively name your brand.

What’s in a Business or Brand Name?

Does your business name really matter?

There are two arguments to answer that question:

1. No, it doesn’t. So long as you provide exceptional service and meet your customer’s needs, then your business name doesn’t matter.
2. Yes, it does! Your name affects how people think of you and therefore, how they’ll interact and engage with you.

Which do you think has more merit? We’re in support of position #2. We’ll explore why that is, but first, let’s talk about the power of names.

Names hold deep personal, cultural, and sometimes historical connections. They are a distilled representation of a thing. For example, instead of yelling, “Short lady with long brown hair, average build, and propensity for discourse” all someone has to do is call out, “Natalie!” and my attention is theirs. That’s a pretty powerful thing, is it not? To give someone your name is to provide them with the power to call you to attention at any point in time.

Inversely, a good name will also capture the attention and mind space of the person saying or thinking it.

What’s important to note about that last point is that people across all cultures and languages have preconceptions about certain names. Or rather, the sounds that comprise names. That means that they’ll have made up certain ideas about you by the sound of your name alone, even if they haven’t met you or had exposure to your brand yet.

Naming and Sound Symbolism

Have you heard of the Bouba-Kiki effect? It’s also been called the Maluma-Takete effect.

Think of two shapes, one round and the other made up of sharp angles. If you had to name one of them “Bouba” or “Maluma” and the other “Kiki” or “Takete” — which would be which?

Did you name the round shape Bouba and the sharp-angled shape Kiki? If so, you’re in good company.

Across a variety of cultures, people think of Bouba as the softer of the two names and Kiki as the spikier one. This assessment could be due to the mouthfeel of the names, with Bouba rolling off the lips while Kiki remains a staccato sound originating further back in the mouth.

Additionally, people can ascribe sharper qualities to Kiki-type names and softer qualities to Bouba-type names. Psycholinguist Penny Pexman of the University of Calgary says, “There’s something about how humans are fundamentally associative,” she continues, “We want to see patterns in things, we want to find connections between things, and we’ll find them even between sounds, and the things those sounds stand for in the world.”

How Should Sound Symbolism Influence Your Name?

As you decide on a name for your business and brand, keep these two factors at the front of your decision-making.

• Your industry.
• How you want your audience, customers, and clients to feel about you.

Let’s use the examples of Joan and Steven. Joan is a family therapist who’s venturing out on her own and starting her own business. Steven has worked in construction for years and is about to build his own steel manufacturing plant. They both need names for their new businesses to draw in clientele.

Joan wants a name that conveys trust and warmth while Steven wants to name his business something that conveys strength and energy.

Knowing that people associate softer, rolling sounds with the qualities her counseling services represent, Joan opts for a Bouba-type name. Steven, on the other hand, chooses a Kiki-type name as it represents the qualities of his business. Not just that, but anyone hearing their business names will associate those qualities with them whether or not they’ve done business together yet.

As you decide on your business name, think about the qualities you want it to represent and allow that to influence your decision.

How to Create a Business or Brand Name

At Domain.com, we’re dedicated to the business of names and naming. We’re often asked, “What makes for a good domain name?” For starters, it should match your brand name.

When it comes to a good name, here’s the basic advice you’ll find just about anywhere:

• Make it short and memorable.
• Avoid unique spelling, hyphens, and an excess of numbers.
• Make sure it passes the radio test.
  • If someone were only to hear your name, could they type it out and make it to your website? Probably not if you’re using “Qu” instead of the letter “K” and have two hyphens in your domain.

Now, while helpful and true, that advice is more suited to evaluating a name you’ve already come up with, not for creating a new name. So, how do you create a name from scratch?

Tips for Creating Names

There are a variety of types of business and brand names. As you come up with yours, think about the following types:

• Descriptive names.
  • These names give a good idea as to what the business is all about.
  • Examples: Cars.com, Domain.com.
• Abstract names.
  • Imaginary or “made-up” names. Not made up of dictionary words.
  • Examples: Venmo, Google.
• Acronymic names.
  • Short names that are made up of letters that symbolize larger names.
  • Examples: IBM, BMW.
• Geographical names.
  • Names that speak to a geographical location.
  • Eastern Mountain Sports, West Coast Choppers.
• Compound names.
  • Names are made up of a combination of two or more names.
  • Examples: Netflix, YouTube.
• Personal/Founder names.
  • Business names are created using their founders’ names.
  • Examples: Cadbury, Ferrari.  

Not sure which type of business name you ought to use? Here’s something else to consider: How will you market your business?

You see, business names (and domain names) can be broken down into two categories: Brandable or Discoverable.

A discoverable name is a name made up of real dictionary words, like “Family Financial Advisors.” A brandable name isn’t composed of dictionary words, instead, it’s made up, like “Optimizely.”

The former name can count on type-in traffic for website visits. That means that people typing those keywords into their browser will likely find that business as a top result. However, it’s going to cost more for their domain name as it’s likely already been registered and is a premium domain. The latter is made up, so there’s a better chance the domain is unregistered and available. However, you’ll need to create a strong content marketing strategy to support your name so it appears higher in search results.

Ready to Name Your Business and Brand?

Before settling on a final business or brand name, make sure it’s available as a domain name and across social media platforms, too.

Once you’ve decided on a name, share it with us below! We’d love to hear about how you decided on your brand name.

But it wasn’t just our personal lives that were affected. It also changed consumer behavior forever and changed how business happens worldwide. So much so that 65% of all brand interactions with customers now occur online. Suppose that’s not enough of a testament to the massive shift in changing customer behavior. How about this: The number of consumers who make online purchases went up from 15% to 30% in 2020.

So, if you’re wondering whether this is an excellent time to open up your business online, you’d be wondering correctly. But all good things come with caveats. And this one’s no different.

A good domain name is one of the first steps in setting your business up for success. And because of this tremendous growth in the eCommerce sector, new businesses seem to be having a more challenging time than usual finding the perfect domain name.

But what if your online store’s domain name didn’t have to be full of strange combinations of filler words, hyphens, and numbers? What if you could have any domain name you desired for your online business? What if there was a special domain extension dedicated to online stores?

You’re in luck because .store is just such a domain extension. It’s specially designed for online store owners to tell the world they’re open for business!

Why Your Online Store Needs a .Store Domain

Back in 1985, .com launched as a domain extension.

The internet of then and the internet of now are entirely different beasts. Today, there are over 1 billion websites in existence. That number grows by 252,000 websites every single day.

In other words, today’s internet is a very, very crowded place.

It’s no wonder businesses and individuals have been struggling to find short, relevant, and meaningful domain names. They’ve had to try and manufacture unsightly names containing hyphens, strange filler words, or mutilated spellings of commonly known words. All so they could squeeze themselves into the .com world.

This pressure cooker situation eventually led to the creation of a host of new domain extensions.

What Makes .Store an Excellent Choice for eCommerce

The .store domain extension came into existence in 2016. In these last six years, it has become the number one choice for over 450,000 business owners worldwide. Here’s what makes it the best option for e-commerce websites and online stores:

1: You’ll find a shorter domain name available with .store

The beauty of choosing a newer domain extension like .store is that your first choice is, more often than not, available. That makes the chances of finding a short domain name on a .store domain extension much higher than a .com extension.

More availability means you no longer have to add strings of characters or unnecessary letters or numbers to your domain name. And it isn’t just about making your life easier. It’s also about the fact that the search engines like Google prefer shorter domain names. If Google came across two absolutely identical websites, their all-knowing algorithm would very likely choose the shorter domain name for a higher search ranking.

2: You’ll get an easy-to-remember domain name using .store

Continuing from the first point above, the shorter the domain name, the more memorable it will likely be. It’s primarily because short domain names are usually easier to type, read, and pronounce. Which means our brains automatically tend to remember them. And we all know the importance of the phrase ‘top of mind’ when it comes to customer analytics.

The more they remember a business, the higher their chances of returning to it, interacting with it, and giving it their business.

3: You’ll secure a keyword-rich domain name with a .store

A .store domain extension doesn’t just make your domain name shorter and memorable. It also brings one of the most common eCommerce search keywords into your domain name. And search engines love this.

This is why they’re (once again) far more likely to rank your website higher when they notice that it uses a very popular keyword in its name and anchor text.

4: You’ll get a highly relevant domain name on .store

The importance of finding a domain name that is true to your business and brand and, therefore, meaningful to you is undeniable. But it is equally important that your domain name feel meaningful to your potential customers. And certain domain names do precisely that.

With the word store integrated right into your domain name, any potential visitor can be sure they’re entering an eCommerce website. It may not feel like much at first glance, but it creates a great impression in their minds. And in doing so, it enhances the perception of your business.

5: You’ll have a voice-optimized domain name with .store

As personal assistants are baked into more and more smartphones, the way we search for information is slowly changing. One of the most significant changes we’re seeing is the rise of voice search.

For all its smarts, voice search prefers ‘correct’ spellings and as many keywords as can be supplied to it. What’s more, voice search uses the entire phrase as a keyword.

So, if a user looks for cool stationery stores, a website called kewl-stationery.com would have next to no chances of ranking on Google compared to coolstationery.store. The word ‘kewl’ does not mean ‘cool’ to voice engines. And really, the odds of someone voice searching a hyphen are… let’s just say… low.

6: You’ll get a credible domain extension with .store

When you choose a .store domain, you’re not only joining thousands of entrepreneurs and small businesses who use the domain extension. You’ll join giants like Emirates, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Dude Perfect. So you can lay any doubts to rest about .store’s validity. While it may be new, if it’s good enough for merchandising big-wigs, you can rest assured that it’s got a big check on credibility.

Ready to register your .store domain name?

When launching your business online in 2022, a .store domain is easier on your pocket, easier to remember, easier to rank on search engines, and easier to leave the competition behind. A .store makes it easier to find lasting success.

Tell the whole world you’re open for business with the all-new, all-powerful .store domain.

Sure, there are a few steps to the whole thing, but they aren’t complex or anxiety-inducing, especially not when you have a guide.  

In this post, we cover the A to Z of how to transfer a domain name. Keep reading, and you’ll learn the following information: 

• What does it mean to transfer a domain name? 
• Common reasons for transferring a domain name. 
• How to transfer a domain name. 
• Cost of transferring a domain name.  
• Whether or not your website and email will go down during a domain transfer. 
• And more! 

Use the table of contents below to jump to a particular section in this guide or start from the top for a comprehensive overview of transferring domain names.  

Domain Name Transfer FAQs 

Here’s everything you need to know about transferring domain names in one place.  

What does it mean to transfer a domain name? 

Transferring a domain name means moving a domain from the registrar where it is currently managed to a different registrar.  

Why transfer a domain name? 

You might want to transfer your domain name from one registrar to another for any number of reasons. Below, we’ve listed some of the most common reasons we hear from our domain registrants.  

• Cost and value.  
  • Registrars determine their own pricing based on the products and services they sell. Some registrars, like Domain.com, offer free perks with your domain registration (like email forwarding, URL forwarding, and more).  
  • If you’re not happy with the pricing structure of your current registrar and the features they offer, it may be time to make a change.  
• Domain management and user-friendliness.  
  • Managing your domain names shouldn’t be a hassle. Choose a registrar who prioritizes ease of use and offers all the features you need.  
  • Some registrars offer their own services and seamless integrations for things like email and hosting — while others offer clunky 3^rd party integrations that may slow you down.  
• Domain name is changing ownership.  
  • Did you sell a domain name? Or purchase one from someone else? That domain needs to be transferred to its new owner. 
• Customer support.  
  • If you run into a hiccup with your domain name, you’ll want to talk to an expert that can help. At Domain.com, our knowledge base and specialists are available 24/7.  

How long does it take to transfer a domain name? 

Transferring a domain name is a quick process. Once you’ve completed a few steps (like making sure the domain is unlocked, etc.), the rest of the process is taken care of by the registrars.  

You can complete your portion of the transfer process in one sitting (which we recommend for security reasons) It only takes an hour or two, max, and that’s being generous. Then, the registrars do their parts to complete your transfer which can take up to 5-7 business days.  

What do I need to transfer a domain name? 

To facilitate a successful domain name transfer, ensure the following four criteria are met: 

1. Domain(s) must be valid and registered with another registrar.  
2. The domain(s) must have been registered for at least 60 days and in unlock status.  
3. Admin contact and domain registrant information must be up-to-date.  
4. You have your transfer authorization, or EPP code, from the registrar you’re moving away from.  

Does transferring a domain name affect my custom email address? 

Moving your domain name doesn’t mean you have to move your email hosting. 

Are you using a third party to host your email? If so, it shouldn’t be affected by transferring a domain name. Domain.com does not make changes to the name servers for your domain during the transfer process.  

If your custom email address is hosted with your domain provider, a transfer could affect you. To avoid that, make sure to transfer your email account’s MX records to your new registrar while transferring your domain. By doing this, you’ll ensure your email account is linked to your domain name. However, you’ll continue to manage your email with your original provider. 

Want to transfer to Domain.com and manage your email with us? Create a Google Workspace account with Domain.com and migrate your email to that account.  

Will my website go down during a domain name transfer? 

Nope!  

When you transfer a domain name from one registrar to another, that’s literally all you’re doing. You’re not moving your email or hosting. During the domain transfer process, your nameservers don’t change — they’ll stay pointed to the same pre-transfer nameservers.  

Now, it’s another story if you’re changing your hosting provider along with your domain registrar. If you decide to change your website host, follow these steps to avoid site downtime: 

• Import your DNS records to your new hosting provider (it may be your new registrar.) 
• Double-check to make sure the DNS information is correct.  
• Change the nameservers at the originating registrar.  
  • You may have to wait for propagation; it could take 24-48 hours.  

Another scenario to consider is if you’re using the default nameservers of your current (pre-transfer) registrar. Many registrars offer access to free nameservers so long as your domain remains registered with them. If you decide to transfer your domain, you could lose access to those nameservers.  

If you’re unsure whether you’re using default nameservers, ask your registrar BEFORE you transfer your domain. We recommend keeping your domain pointed to your hosting provider’s nameservers.  

Will my website content transfer along with my domain name?  

No. Your website content will remain hosted wherever your site is hosted.  

Can I make changes to a domain while it’s being transferred? 

You cannot make any changes to a domain name when it’s actively in the transfer process.  

This means you’re unable to: 

• Update nameservers. 
• Change the WHOIS registration information.  
• Renew the domain registration.  

If you must make one of those edits, you’ll need to contact the originating registrar with a request to cancel the transfer. Otherwise, you’ll need to wait the standard 5-7 business days for the process to finish so you can make your edits.  

Can I transfer an expired or expiring domain name?  

Domain names must be in good standing for transferral.  

Attempting to transfer a domain that is on hold, expired, or expiring within 10 days can sometimes cause unexpected complications. If your domain is in one of those statuses and you’re looking to transfer it, call our transfer team for assistance at 800-403-3568.  

How do I prepare my domain name for transfer?  

Ready to transfer your domain name? Verify that you’ve got the following ducks in a row with your current registrar and you will be.

• Unlock your domain name.  
• Disable your domain’s privacy settings.  
• Ensure the admin contact information is updated and correct.  
• Get your transfer authorization code, also known as an EPP code.  
  • Depending on your registrar, you may need to contact them directly for your code.  
• Ensure your domain is at least 60 days old or opt-out of your domain lock. 
• Make sure your domain isn’t tangled up in any legal disputes as that’s a quick way to get it locked at the registry level.  

What is the 60-day domain lock? 

As of December 1, 2016, domain registrars are required to impose a lock that prevents a domain name from transfer for 60 days post-change to a registrant’s information.  

The good news? Registrars can provide a way to opt out of the 60-day lock. Not all registrars offer that ability upfront, which can make life difficult when managing domain names.  

At Domain.com, we believe you should have total management of your domain name, so we provide the option to unlock your domain right from your account dashboard. Simply toggle your domain lock on or off, depending on your needs.

How much does it cost to transfer a domain name?  

ICANN, the non-profit organization that oversees domains, requires that domain names be renewed for an additional year when transferred.  

At Domain.com, you can transfer your domain name for as low as $9.99. We don’t charge additional fees for domain name transfers, though the same can’t necessarily be said for all domain registrars.  

Transferring domain names to Domain.com 

Looking to transfer your domain name to Domain.com? Thanks for your consideration! Here’s what you need to know.  

Why should I transfer my domain name to Domain.com? 

Domain names are our bread and butter, and we’ve been a leader in the industry since 2000.  

However, it isn’t our age that makes us a great fit for your domains; it’s the fact that we’re designed to make managing your domains a breeze. Here’s how we do it… 

Straightforward domain management. 

Your domain dashboard lets you quickly and easily manage your domain names. That means no hunting around for hidden tools — toggle the most important features on or off as you need them.  

Once logged in, you can manage additional domain features (like pointers and subdomains) from the menu immediately to the left of your summary dashboard.  

Plentiful hosting options. 

We’re here to make your life easier when it comes to domains and to help you create and build your online presence.  

We don’t just offer over 300 TLDs for registration; we offer various website hosting and builder services, email, and more! 

Automatic domain name renewal.  

Your claim to your domain name has an expiration date.  

When your domain registration period runs out, so does your ownership of that domain name. You can leave yourself a reminder on your calendar to manually renew it, or you can use Domain.com’s Auto Renewal feature so that it’s one less thing to worry about.  

Cost-conscious pricing.  

We offer some of the most competitive pricing available in the domain name industry. Don’t believe us? Check it out for yourself. We’re not in the business of hiding our pricing and making it difficult to find.  

24/7 customer support.  

Sometimes, we all need a little help. Our teams are there for you 24/7.  

You can reach our teams by phone or live chat, and you have a comprehensive Knowledge Base chock-full of FAQs and step-by-step guidance at your disposal.  

How to transfer your domain from GoDaddy to Domain.com. 

Ready to make the move to Domain.com from GoDaddy? Here are the steps you’ll take to transfer your domain name to Domain.com.  

1. Log into your GoDaddy Account Manager.  
2. In the “My Products” section, find and click “Domain Manager.” 
3. Use the checkbox(es) to select the domain name(s) you want to modify.  
4. Above the list of your domain names, select “Locking.” 
5. To unlock the domain(s), clear the lock domains checkbox.  
6. Select “OK.” 
7. Click “OK” again. 

To retrieve your transfer authorization code from GoDaddy, follow these steps:

1. Log into your GoDaddy Account Manager.  
2. In the “My Products” section, click “Domain Manager.” 
3. Select the domain name whose authorization code you want.  
4. In the “Authorization Code” field, click the “Send by Email” hyperlink. 
5. Select “OK.” 
6. Click “OK” again. 

After submitting your transfer request to Domain.com, we’ll then send you an email confirming your transfer. Make sure to confirm your transfer via that email. Within it, we provide a link to your account so you can log in and enter your transfer authorization code.  

And that’s it! 

Transfer your domain name and build your online presence  

Transferring a domain name shouldn’t be a complicated process. At Domain.com, our goal is to make your domain name transfer as painless and intuitive as possible.  

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to our teams, leave a comment down below, or check out this Knowledge Base article to learn more about transferring a domain name to your account.

That’s a great question.

And more often than not, the answer is yes. 

Purchasing more than one domain name is an excellent investment when done sensibly. When done right, owning multiple domain names is synonymous with brand protection and business security. We’ll explain exactly why that is in this blog post. 

Yes, You Should Buy Multiple Domain Names

Owning more than one domain is a smart business decision. However, that doesn’t mean you should go out and buy every domain name that strikes your fancy. Instead, approach purchasing multiple domain names with a strategy and plan like any other business move. 

The Importance of Domain Names

When someone asks, “What’s a domain name?” It’s easy to answer with “an online address” because it’s accurate and concise. A domain name is an intelligible, readable address for any web server on the Internet. It’s certainly easier than typing a long-stringed IP address into your browser every time you want to navigate somewhere online. 

But, to leave the answer at that would be a disservice to both domains and your brand. The former is vital to the latter. Often, a domain name is the first exposure someone has to a brand — they type it in their browser and consciously or not make a judgment about the name. 

Building a brand is about building relationships with your audience. You can help to reinforce your brand with strategic domain name purchases and usage. Two opportunities to do this are opening new locations for your business or launching new product lines. Many large companies are known to purchase hundreds if not thousands of domains to build their brand. 

There are other reasons those big companies own multiple domain names, too. When those businesses purchase many names, they do so for brand protection. What are they protecting against? Typosquatting, cybersquatting, and the unfair and illegitimate use of their trademarks.

What is Cybersquatting?

Cybersquatting is a broad term that includes typosquatting. It’s what happens when someone registers or uses a domain name in bad faith. 

Cybersquatting can negatively affect a business, especially one that’s still growing and defining its brand in the market. When someone registers a domain name that uses trademarked words, they’re trying to take legitimate website traffic away from those sites or ransom the names for more money. For example, someone registering a domain name like shophere.amazon.com would be committing an act of cybersquatting against Amazon.com. 

Typosquatting is another form of cybersquatting that involves purchasing domain names that are popular misspellings of other domains or clever spellings and using those names in bad faith. Ultimately, cyber and typosquatters are just looking to make a buck and profit from your name. You can prevent this, and protect your brand, by purchasing those misspelled variations of your domain name before someone else does. 

Though brand protection is vitally important as we mentioned earlier, it’s not the only reason to own multiple domain names. Sometimes, owning more than one domain is in an attempt to help our audience.

User Error and Misspellings

Not everyone is a grate speller. 

Some of us won blue ribbons in our local spelling bees growing up, and some of us certainly didn’t. 

Whether or not you’re a decent speller shouldn’t factor into whether or not you arrive at the website you’re trying to reach. But it often does, and this is something to think about when purchasing multiple domains. 

Once you’ve decided on your ultimate domain name, stop to think about different ways it could be spelled. Is there a phonetic spelling? Can you come up with any possible misspellings? These are the types of domain names you’re looking to register. 

Once you register those domains, just redirect them to your primary domain. This way, you’re ensuring that no matter what, those bad spellers and accidental typos still arrive at your website. 

Leveraging Multiple Domain Extensions

New domain extensions are released frequently, so it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for any that make sense for your business domain name. Names that are sensible purchases would include those relative to your industry or business model, like .yoga for a yoga studio or .online for an online store.

Protect Your Business with Multiple Domains

At the end of the day, purchasing and owning multiple domain names is in the best interest of your business. By owning more than one name, you’re ensuring that your brand grows and those names stay out of the hands of cybersquatters. 

Register the domain names you need to protect and grow your brand today with Domain.com. 

As women continue to be underrepresented in the tech field, we want to learn about their challenges and experiences and grow from them. Neha has had quite the journey through the domain landscape over the years and brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge to the table. 

We’re delighted that she’s taken the time to sit down with us to share her insights and lived experiences, and thankful that we get to share them with you, too. 

Women in Domaining with Neha Naik of Radix Registry

Hi Neha, thanks for sitting down with us today to discuss women in domaining. To start, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Thanks for having me here, Natalie!

I happened to land in the domains industry over 15 years ago, not really knowing that a WHOLE WORLD exists associated with these words you type in your browser! It still blows my mind that most people out there are actually unaware of the existence of this thriving industry that really powers presence on the Internet.

15 years ago, Directi, our parent company, decided to recruit students as a campus batch. And there I was, among the first batch of campus recruits, never imagining that I’d be spending the next years of my career in this industry. There has been no looking back though.

Over the course of my domain industry journey, I’ve worked with a cross-section of partners – registrars, registries, and web hosts across the globe, and in varied roles that cut across sales and account management as my primary role, but also many other aspects.

It still blows my mind that most people out there are actually unaware of the existence of this thriving [domain] industry that really powers presence on the Internet.

Neha naik

I think that’s the beauty of working in a startup environment – you get to wear multiple hats and learn so much. I’ve had the opportunity to plan TLD launches, business migrations, work on policy and product management, and really get a very rounded understanding of the multiple facets of the industry.

We started with Radix in 2012, and I’ve been with the team since its inception. We have come such a long way from spending countless days writing out TLD applications to today, running some of the best new Top Level Domains out there.

While the line between work and other things I do is a little bit of a blur, when I’m not doing ‘domain things’, you’ll find me taking yogi breaks on my yoga mat. Through lockdowns and everything else in the last year, that has been my constant.

Can you describe your company and your role there?

Radix is one of the world’s largest new domain registries with a portfolio of 10 nTLDs and over 5.5 Million domains under management.

We have carefully chosen domain extensions that are semantically relevant and have broad applications. Our portfolio boasts of a good mix of TLDs that have an inherent appeal to a wide audience.

At Radix, our motto isn’t merely to increase our sales numbers; we are focused on helping businesses get good-quality domain names so they can build a strong online brand.

The last year has in fact reinforced the strength and value of the TLDs to really help businesses establish a quality online presence. With TLDs like .store for eCommerce businesses, .tech for startups, and .online for any business or individual looking to go online, the TLDs really cater to some of the most popular themes of what users are seeking when they go online.

Currently, I lead channel partnerships and channel marketing at Radix. We have a team of brilliant folks and we’ve organized ourselves to focus on different geographies. The geo-distributed approach helps us stay better connected with our partners and really cater to what each market needs most.

We have often been called the Radix Radicals, a team of passionate, super-focused people motivated to make a difference, and never shying away from trying new approaches to make that happen.

How long have you been in domaining? How did you get your start?

Like I mentioned before, I chanced upon the industry and I’m so glad I did. I’ve been a part of the domain industry for over 15 years now. I came in straight from college; joined LogicBoxes in 2005, which focused on the Registrar market, and was a part of the Directi Group.

As the first campus recruited batch, they put us through intense training to learn everything about the domain industry – those fundamentals, I’m sure I’ll never forget. I moved on to lead the Account Management team at LogicBoxes.

In 2012, Radix started in parallel and that was my shift from the registrar to the registry side.

As a woman, do you feel represented in the domain community? Why or why not?

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to interact with some great, accomplished women in the domain community across different companies and roles. There has been a gradual shift, and we can definitely see more women take up leadership positions across the board. And it is very visibly happening more today than it did before.

One amazing thing about the domain industry is the camaraderie that we share. I haven’t heard of any other industry that is as close-knit and as helpful to each other as ours is. It is where competitors are friends and that’s very rare to see. We have known so many people for so many years now that it is a mini-extended family in a way.

As far as being represented, I do still think we have ways to go before we see adequate representation, but it is very encouraging to see that shift happen and I’m hopeful of what we have ahead of us.

What are your thoughts on newer TLDs / domain extensions?

Call me biased coming from a company that runs new TLDs, but I believe new domain extensions expand the horizons of what people can do with their online identities.

The 2020 pandemic proved just how important it is for businesses and individuals to have a strong online presence. Domain names can help people cross that bridge from offline to online.

There are so many examples of businesses that are making the most of new domain extensions to stand out and build a strong online brand. For example, campus.site, a remote platform, started as a result of the pandemic. There were many such use-cases like one.fun, building.online, homeoffice.store, and more.

The 2020 pandemic proved just how important it is for businesses and individuals to have a strong online presence. Domain names can help people cross that bridge from offline to online.

neha naik

Awareness for new domains is still something that needs work, but you do see the shift and you do see innovation in the space. As online businesses need better names to stand out and be unique, I think new domains present them with meaningful domain choices that are available today.

We have several businesses on .tech and .online that have established themselves, and have raised funding cumulating to over $3.5 Bn – these are the future movers and shakers. And with the efforts across the industry, new TLDs will become more mainstream and more commonplace.

Do you have any predictions for what will happen and change within the domain community in the next year? Five years?

The domain industry is moving at a rapid pace and there’s a lot that we can hope to see in the coming years. In some ways the industry also seems to be contracting, more consolidating really across the registry and registrars/web service provider space. So we’ll see how it all comes together and impacts the industry dynamics.

Other than that, meeting in person at events and conferences every year was a big part of the domain community and 2020 brought that to a complete halt. But the good thing was that it didn’t stop us from staying connected and doing business.

While meetings were different, they were still productive. And on the social side, we had some great happy hours and group hangouts virtually.

The domain community is quite long-lived — people tend to stay within the industry and once you’ve made a connection with someone, they take you with them to all the places they go; and that’s great because it opens you up to so many new opportunities.

There are a few things that I’m expecting to see in the coming years as far as the domain community is concerned:

• New people coming into the domain industry from related fields. We all know the domain boom in 2020 has really accelerated the movement of businesses online and with that, it will no doubt bring in newcomers and keep the community thriving.
• Conferences and events will have both the offline and online components to them even after things go back to normal.
• The acceleration that the pandemic brought isn’t over yet and we’ll see its true impact in the coming years. It’ll bring in people from other industries and make “being online” absolutely vital for any business.

What advice would you give to women looking to start a career in domains?

My only advice would be to take the plunge. The domain industry offers opportunities across tech, product, sales, marketing, legal, compliance, data analytics, and more. Find what you love and jump in. There are companies of all shapes and sizes, from large corporations to nimble startups.

The domain community is extremely welcoming and you’ll get to connect and interact with some of the best minds from different parts of the world.

And if you do join us, give me a shout-out, and I’ll be more than happy to introduce you to our community.

Thank you so much for joining us and sharing your insights on the domain industry, Neha. We’re excited to see how the domain industry continues to grow and look forward to hearing more about your contributions to the industry.

Yet, despite that, 73% of the world’s countries are only piloting computer science in school or doing nothing at all. In the US alone, only 47% of public schools teach a computer science class. 

We believe that computer science is foundational for students everywhere. This is why Domain.com has partnered with .tech Domains to help expand access to computer science in schools, especially for young women and students from marginalized communities.  

You can be a part of this cause, too!

If you register a .tech Domain between 5th May to 5th July, .tech Domains and Domain.com will donate all the proceeds to Code.org, one of the world’s largest non-profit organizations that is working to increase access to computer science in schools.

Help support the cause and grab your .tech Domain today.

Significance of Code.org

Code.org’s mission is to make computer science education accessible to young women and students from marginalised communities. They strive to ensure that every student in every school has the opportunity to learn computer science as part of their core K-12 education.

They focus on free curriculum and course content for schools, Hour of Code events, teacher training, looking at government policies, and developing international partnerships. You can learn more about their charitable organization here. 

How .tech domains and you can help increase access to computer science. 

Almost everything that we do today is powered by technology and computer science is at the heart of it. Giving students equal access to computer science engenders a more advanced and inclusive future for the world tomorrow.

The .tech domain extension stands for innovation, whether you’re building a startup, coding a new app, or shaping an innovative idea.

You can use your .tech Domain name to:

• Grow your tech business or a startup
• Share exciting information about the tech industry
• Build bustling communities to discuss robotics
• Write a blog to share the latest industry news
• Host hackathon events

With a .tech Domain, you can build a unique space for your content whatever part of the tech world you’re in. Use a keyword-rich domain name to build a tech brand, work collaboratively, or educate the world like Code.org.

Register your .tech Domain today to help young women and students from marginalized communities get access to computer science.

We believe that the Internet has impacted society, culture, and history quite a bit since it became available to the masses in August of 1991. 

And behind the scenes, there are a lot of intelligent, thoughtful, and accomplished women who are influencing the world wide web as we know and experience it today. 

We wanted to speak to those women and find out firsthand what their experiences have been like, to discuss the position of women in domaining, and get their thoughts on the landscape of the future. 

So we sat down with Kelly Hardy, Head of Registry Policy at Centralnic, a leading provider of internet infrastructure services, to speak about her experiences as a woman in this field and why she enjoys working in domains. 

What she has to say is insightful, and provides hope and inspiration for other women who are looking to start a career in tech, which is known to be a male-dominated field. 

Women in Domaining with Kelly Hardy of Centralnic

Hi Kelly, thanks for sitting down with us today to discuss women in domaining. To start, can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I don’t think my story is too dissimilar to a lot of people who’ve been in the domain space for a while in that I didn’t have a structured or expected path to get here. 

I started working as a touring music journalist when I was 16 and did that for a little over a decade with time off to go to college. I’ve been a skateboarder most of my life. I have a degree in comic books as comparative literature and had a ton of really strange jobs in the immediate post 9/11 economy. For instance, I briefly had a job opening “anthrax mail” (mail feared to be potentially laced with anthrax) at a water treatment plant in my hometown. I managed an educational performing arts space where I once brought a celebrated performance artist to lecture to the students not knowing he’d recently become a self-described witch doctor. I’ve co-owned a music magazine and small record label and did a bit of time working for big record companies. 

In my mid 20’s I ended up at a brand protection firm and started working with the ICANN community and fell in love with the domain industry. I then opened my own consulting firm and have worked with nearly everyone in the space, including .ME for nearly a decade. I closed that business almost a year ago to become CentralNic’s Head of Registry Policy. 

That is a really interesting career path that brought you to the Domain industry.  Can you describe your current company and your role there?

CentralNic Registry is one of the original domain infrastructure companies. We are a pure play-back end registry provider and also offer marketing, policy advisory, and a vast registrar network to plug our clients into. CentralNic is a really interesting company to work for because there is a deep understanding of the necessity of looking beyond the way we as an industry have always done things and to reach further, connecting the domain space and our clients to the larger Tech and governance communities. 

I am the head of registry policy, which is exactly what it sounds like, but I also run the registry consultancy which is basically a think tank for our registry clients. 

How long have you been in domaining? How did you get your start?

I’ve been in the space since 2006. 

I was a refugee from the music industry where I’d been working as a consultant bouncing between labels helping the heads of record companies, music producers and legal departments streamline their offices and help them make the transition to digital. That kind of thing really kills your love of the actual art but was excellent preparation for the domain industry. 

After that, I worked with Marksmen for a few years and got involved with the ICANN community through them and then started my own consulting firm. I took some time off in the late 2000s to work in television development until I got a call from Garth Miller to work with CoCCA and that was an adventure I didn’t want to turn down. I’ve been primarily working in the space with ccTLDs ever since. 

What attracted you to the domain industry?

The most obvious thing I would say is the travel, and that it is an unusual industry that is full of fascinating characters. 

But if you scratch a little deeper, I think it is that we are providing the infrastructure that connects most of the planet and that is important work. I think it is really beautiful that we help facilitate a tool that can improve lives and change people’s circumstances all over the world. 

I think that we [in the domain industry] are providing the infrastructure that connects most of the planet and that is important work.

Kelly hardy

The most valuable element of the travel is that when you’re going to really remote places, learning how people all over the world use the internet and seeing first-hand that what might be “normal use” to you at “home” doesn’t resemble someone else’s experience. Understanding that this can range from whether it is the device on which the internet is primarily accessed, ingenious ways that small businesses are set up or alternate forms of banking is so helpful for what we do. 

We can’t design a future if we don’t understand what that means holistically. In developing regions, where less stable infrastructure is available, you see people getting really creative. In these instances, we get to see a piece of the future and I think we are really lucky in that way.

As a woman, do you feel represented in the domain community? Why or why not?

This is an interesting question. 

I’ve been in the domain industry long enough that I remember a time when there were maybe a handful of women who had any visibility in the space and the culture was very different. Now the demographic has shifted radically, and generally, for tech, we may have a statistically larger saturation of women. In terms of being able to look around and see other women present, who are being treated like people, I absolutely feel represented. 

In terms of being able to look around and see other women present [in the domain industry], who are being treated like people, I absolutely feel represented.

kelly hardy

However, in terms of women or people of color in positions of power in the domain industry and representation there, we have a long way to go. I have a lot of hope though, seeing how fast and how much the industry has changed. 

CentralNic is the first large company in the industry that I have worked for in-house and I feel really lucky to be involved with an organization that treats its employees well and is invested in their development. Leadership isn’t strictly male and there is real diversity both racially and geographically. There is still work to be done there, but it feels good to support an organization that is self-aware and leading the industry in the right direction.

What might you change to make the industry more welcoming to women?

We need more women and people of color in leadership positions industry-wide. Everyone benefits and we can make better things when there is diversity of thought and experience in the room. 

What are your thoughts on newer TLDs and domain extensions?

I was an early advocate of new TLDs and I feel the same way now that I did in 2008: this is a long game. 

It is not a get-rich-quick scheme and not every TLD will be a success, but I believe there is inherent value in creating TLD diversity on this scale. 

A lot was learned in the last round about what works and what does not. Hopefully, as an industry, we’ve become wiser and have a better idea of what the public user base wants. 

For adoption to really take off, we have to have meaningful promotion of new gTLDs with widespread marketing and education. It isn’t just about selling domains; it is about teaching people how to use the internet as we’ve structured it by releasing new TLDs by the thousand. 

I believe that for this kind of promotion to be effective, everyone involved would have to put ego and self-interest aside and work together to do what is best for the domain ecosystem and the end-user.

Do you have any predictions for what will happen and change within the domain community in the next year? Five years?

I think that the domain community has to start thinking larger than itself. If all we really focus on is selling more domain names, we will stagnate. 

We need to be thinking about what else we can do to make the Internet grow in a meaningful way and what we can be doing for end-users to make their use of the tool easier. 

What advice would you give to women looking to start a career in domains?

I would tell them that this is the rare sector of the tech industry where you can show up and be your entire self. That even though it might not look like it yet, there is room here for everyone and it is getting better and better. And that if you are willing to put in the work you can create something amazing.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us on women in domaining for Women’s History Month, Kelly. We appreciate your insights and look forward to seeing your contributions and expertise at play in the domain industry. 

If you’re new to domains, you might not realize that they can expire, and that’s because domains aren’t a “one and done” type of purchase. When you register a domain name you’re in effect leasing it for a set amount of time, usually anywhere from 1 to 10 years.  

In this post, we’re discussing the importance of domain names, the lifecycle of domain names, what happens when a domain name expires, and domain name renewal.

Why should you renew your domain name?

The importance of a domain name

Domain names are more important than you might at first realize. They’re a big part of your online identity and represent your business.

A good domain name offers your business credibility and sets it apart from spammy websites. It inspires trust in your customers, gives your SEO efforts a boost, and gives you a central point to grow and market your digital business.

The perils of losing your domain name

When you lose your domain name, you lose an integral part of your brand. Your domain is a pivotal touchpoint that people have with your brand — in essence, it’s the address they need to arrive on your digital doorstep.

If you don’t renew your domain name and it expires, it’s available for purchase by just about anyone, including your competitors. Could you imagine a competitor snatching up your domain name and redirecting it to their main site? They wouldn’t even have to create a redirect to hurt your business, all they’d have to do is hold on to the domain name so that you can’t use it anymore.

Expired domain names are a hot commodity. Once a domain name has been registered and used, it can offer a history of established website traffic and backlinks, making them valuable to a great many people.

It’s not just competitors you have to worry about when your domain name expires. An expired domain name can impact your SEO, or search engine optimization. If your site goes down because your domain expired, it looks pretty bad to search engines, and there’s a good chance your site will lose its ranking in search engine results.

And then there’s the brand-building aspect that you have to worry about. When a domain name expires, you risk losing it altogether to another buyer. That means all the hard work you’ve put into marketing, establishing your site, and creating consumer trust is gone. GONE. It’ll set you back to the beginning of your digital journey and you’ll need to build those things all over again.

Real-life examples of expired domain names

Have you heard of Foursquare? When they were just a startup, they forgot to renew their domain name. For a business that was valued at nearly $80 million dollars at the time, that was a giant mistake and left them open to a lot of ridicule.

An expired domain name can also hit you where it hurts the most — right in your wallet. In 2017, Sorenson communications forgot to renew their domain name. However, they’re a provider of services for many Americans with disabilities and their domain expiration gaff was deemed “a preventable service outage.” In the end, they had to pay $2.7 million dollars on top of an additional $252 thousand dollar penalty. Ouch.

The lifecycle of a domain name

Domain name lifecycles can be broken down into four pieces: Active, Expired, Redemption Grace Period, and Pending Deletion.

• Active
  • When your domain is active, you can change its settings and modify contact information. Having an active domain name is essential to keeping your website online and your professional email working.
  • A domain becomes active once it’s been registered, those registration periods lasting anywhere from 1 to 10 years.
• Expired
  • A domain officially becomes expired one day after its expiration date. Your website and any email addresses associated with your domain name won’t function. Instead, your website will display a “parked” page.
  • Note: Others can bid on and attempt to purchase the domain name as soon as it expires; however, your claim to the domain takes priority over 3^rd party bids if you renew your domain within 30 days of its expiration.
• Redemption Grace Period
  • After about 45 days of being in an expired state, the domain name will enter a redemption grace period. Some TLDs may enter redemption status the day after they expire.
  • Note: If your domain is in a redemption period you can still retrieve it. Most registrars will charge a redemption fee in addition to your normal domain renewal rate. You can contact us if your domain was registered through Domain.com and you need to redeem it during the redemption period.
• Pending Delete
  • Once a domain enters the pending delete stage it can no longer be retrieved. It will remain in this status for about 5 days and then be released back into the public for new registration. If this happens, you can try to purchase the domain name again, assuming someone else doesn’t, and not have to pay any redemption fees, only the regular registration fee.

Domain name renewals

If you’re a Domain.com customer, we make renewing your domain easy. Instead of having to set a yearly calendar reminder or a bunch of reminders depending on how many domains you own, we give you the option of automatically renewing your domain name.

You can find the auto-renewal option in your account once you’re logged in. All you have to do is click “Domains” at the top left of the page, then select “Manage” under the domain name you’d like to set to auto-renew. You should then see the selection for auto-renew, and a quick switch of the toggle is all it takes as you see below.

Domain name renewal tips

Here are some tips we’ve put together to try and help make life a little easier when managing your domains.

• Keep your renewal reminder notices turned on. If you turn them off and don’t have auto-renew set up, it could be a recipe for disaster. We’ll send an email 30 days before your domain is set to expire and again within 5 days of the day it expires.
• Set your domains to automatically renew. This way, you won’t have to worry about missing an email reminder in a potentially over-crowded inbox.
• Update any outdated billing information. If you lose your credit or debit card, or if it expires naturally, you don’t want to find yourself in a bind. Instead of risking the loss of your domain name, go through your statements to see what charges are there and update those services with your new card information.
• Consolidate, consolidate, consolidate! It’s not easy keeping track of multiple domain names with different expiration dates across different registrars. We recommend keeping your domains with one registrar where you can see them all in one place.
• Is your email address up to date? If it’s not, you’ll never receive any domain expiration reminder emails. If the domain is your own, make sure your email address isn’t associated with a school or business you no longer attend or work for.

Protect your business, your brand, and your site with domain auto- renew

Purchasing a domain name is your first investment in your website and online business. Keep the momentum going by setting it to auto-renew so that you don’t lose your domain name and tarnish your brand.

No domain name? Grab yours today at Domain.com!

While every website needs a domain name, not every person who registers a domain name actually builds a site and uses their domain. So, it’s safe to say that there are far more than 1.74 billion registered domain names. 

It’s been over 35 years since the first domain name was registered in March of ‘85, and it’s become harder and harder for people to find the exact domain name they want. Many have already been registered, especially if they’re composed of words found in the dictionary and popular extensions.

So what’s a person to do?

First things first, just because a domain name is already registered doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to be unavailable for your use. There’s a big market of people who buy, sell, and invest in domain names that have already been registered, and more specifically, in premium domains. 

Premium domains have already been registered and are considered valuable — they’re shorter and keyword-rich, and that’s often reflected in their cost. Despite the initial investment, they could end up saving you marketing dollars over time as you won’t need to spend money slinging a second-rate domain name. 

But what other advantages do premium domain names offer? 

The benefits of using a premium domain name for business

Premium domain names give your business an advantage over the competition. Let’s explore how and why that is. 

Branding & Recognition

Branding your business is essential, and there’s a lot to a brand, including your domain name. Consistency is essential to your brand, and that includes having a domain name that speaks to what your business and site are all about. Premium domain names like food.com, cars.com, and vacation.com are all great examples of this, and put your business’s specialty and focus front and center. 

Marketing 

A great premium domain name gives your marketing efforts a boost. Since premium domains are often shorter and contain keywords, they’re easier to remember than a subpar domain name that’s riddled with hyphens and numbers. 

This all works in your favor when it comes to marketing, like word-of-mouth marketing, because your customers will have an easier time recalling your domain and sharing it with others. It also helps people retain and remember your domain name when they see it printed on materials, like business cards or flyers. In the long run, a premium domain name can save you money because people are wont to remember it — you won’t waste funds on constantly getting your mediocre domain name in front of peoples’ faces to try and cajole them into visiting your site. 

Credibility & Authority

In business, credibility is vital. In today’s digital age, a domain name is oftentimes the first interaction someone has with a brand. Your domain name can make or break someone’s first impression of your business and site. 

Let’s set the scenario: You’re looking to buy a new car and want to take out a loan, but you’re not sure who to work with so you hop over to Google and run an online search. Now, you’re going to see a TON of results — but what will you click on — a search result with a domain of loans.com, or a search result with a domain like car-loans1135s.com? 

When it comes to first impressions, premium domain names give you credibility and authority over the competition. 

Website Traffic

Premium domain names are more likely to get you direct, type-in traffic on your website. 

What this means is that people are typing your (short & keyword-friendly) premium domain name into the URL bar to search those keywords instead of using a dedicated search engine. And voila! They land on your site because your premium domain matches their search terms. Direct website traffic is a boon for your business — in fact, direct traffic is known to have high conversion rates. 

SEO Benefits

SEO can seem mystifying — is it a science? Is it some kind of wizardry? SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the practice of optimizing your website so that it performs better in online search results. 

The whole point of SEO is to make sure that the sites that are most useful and relevant to the end user’s query surface first in the results. 

If your domain name is shorter and key-word rich, like with premium domains, it’s more likely to appear higher in the search results. Now, granted, you have to actually have a relevant website, too. Long gone are the days when just a keyword could grant you top placement. But if you have those keywords in your domain name and have a good website, your SEO potential grows drastically. 

How to purchase a premium domain name

Ready to make an investment in your business and website with a premium domain name?

You’ve come to the right place. You can purchase a premium domain through a domain name search on Domain.com, and we also recommend our sister company, BuyDomains.com, that specializes in premium domains. 

When you purchase a premium domain name you’re investing in so many aspects of your business: marketing, branding, SEO, and more. So what are you waiting for? Get a leg up on your online competition with a premium domain name today.