Domain Names and Your Business

A domain name is a like a street address on the Internet. Registering a domain name, like www.biondocommunications.com is the first step to creating an online identity. A domain name adds credibility to your small business and helps build your brand. Having your own domain name makes your company look professional to web users.

If you publish your site through an ISP or a free Web hosting service you will typically end up with a URL such as www.yourisp.com/-yourbusiness. This generic address does not inspire confidence in a customer like a www.yourcompany.com domain name does. And since some people still do not trust the Internet and E-commerce, you will want to do what you can to prove that your small business is professional and reputable.

A domain name says you embrace technology.
Having your own domain name indicates you are part of the Digital Revolution and it implies that you are up-to-date on emerging technologies. Whether this is true or not, having your own domain name might just put you ahead of your competitors and help you gain business from customers worldwide.

A domain name adds mobility to your Internet presence.
Owning your own domain name lets you take that name with you if you transfer Web hosts or switch to your own in-house server. If you do not own your domain name, you will have to take a new URL, which will destroy the branding that you built up with your first address.

The right domain name can attract walk-in business.
If you decide to register a domain name that matches the concept of your business (instead of your exact business name), you might draw Web surfers in search of that topic. For instance, a hardware store that registered Hammers.com might get visitors looking for hammers on the Internet. Also, although search engine results are hard to predict, Hammers.com could show up more frequently in search results when someone searches for information about hammers.

A domain name builds your brand.
More than anything else, a domain name can increase awareness of your brand. If your domain name matches your company name, it reinforces your brand, making it easier for customers to remember and return. It will also be easier to win business via word of mouth because customers will remember your name and pass it along to friends.

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