The world today is a “Digital Hub” Where any and everyone is seeking to improve customer service or experience and to make life more efficient. In this article, we will cover the necessary information about domain names, We will explain how domains work, their different types and we will look at the reasons why choosing a good domain name is an important factor in your website journey
What is a Domain Name?
A domain name is a name you give to your website or your business online. it is an internet way of naming your business online. an example can be, jumia.com or broaddrive.net. A domain name usually has two parts, the website name and the extension.
Cliche? Let’s get into it.
The Internet is a bunch of computers connected through cables, now in other to identify them, each computer is assigned a sequence of numbers called IP Addresses. This IP address is a combination of numbers separated by dots. An example of IP addresses is this: 66.249.66.1
It is important to understand that even though Computers have no problem with identifying basic numbers, humans are very different from computers and there was a need for a more efficient process and so Domain names Were Invented. The invention of Domain Names makes it a lot easier and more efficient because you would not have to think or try to remember basic numbers every time you wanted to get access to a website. Now we’re getting somewhere.
How does it Work?
We understand that domain names are virtually the addresses of your website or any website you visit. So what happens when you enter a domain name into a browser?
Firstly, to create your website, you need a “Domain name” and “Web Hosting”. This is because if a Domain name is the web address of a website, then web hosting is the birthplace of the website or where the website lives.
It is important to note that Domain name and Web hosting are two different Services and should not be mistaken as one and it is also advisable to get both your Domain name and Web hosting from the same company as this makes the process of managing them under the same account easy.
At this point, it should be very clear why a good Domain name is important. Truth is, if this is your first time, your first choice will most likely be unavailable to register. This is because every day, Domain names are created and have been created over the years. This is why you need to invest in getting a Domain name that is not just result driven but also superior. The next question is, why is it so important? First, let us look at domain extensions.
What about Extensions?
Extensions are found at the end of a Domain name or web address. For example ‘broaddrive.net’ the extension is the ‘.net’. There are different types of extensions that you can associate with a website. Here are some examples and how they work:
-
Top-level domain (gTLD): These are domain extensions that are not bound to country codes or regions, and are not always restricted to who can or cannot own them. Examples are .com .net .org .edu .gov .mil
-
Country-level (ccTLD): These domain extensions can be used if you’re building a website in a particular country and want to let your visitors know that you are associated with a particular country and that they’ve come to the right place. Examples are .ng .uk .co .za .in.
Main reasons why choosing a good Domain Name is important
Having a good domain name is the first step in your journey to greatness, here’s why:
1. Marketing Strategy/Increased Website Traffic:
One of the perks of having a good Domain Name is that it markets itself. A good Domain name is always easy to remember and this is a good strategy not only for your customers but also for search engines. This is a good marketing and visibility strategy and guarantees ROI.
2. Seo Advantage:
Search engine rankings are very essential for your website, mainly because a good domain is centred around specific SEO keywords. This automatically guarantees Search engine ranking and more visibility for your website.
3. Brand Integrity and Protection:
Getting a good domain name means securing your domain name. This means that as long as you get your domain name from the right company, you will not be at risk of your competitors using similar domain names and losing your customers.
Now that we’re finally getting to understand why choosing a good Domain Name is important, we can move on to how to choose a Domain Name.
How to Choose a good Domain Name. Here are 4 go-to tips
1. Go for a brandable Name:
It has no particular meaning. It could also be your brand name. This also allows you to diversify in future. For example, if you sell shoes and decide to use a brandable Domain Name, in 5 to 10 years when you decide to add a new product to your business, you won’t have to worry about your domain name. An example is
chickenrepublic.com
2. Go for an easy to remember name:
It is easy to remember and guarantees a revisit. An example is Broaddrive.net. so when people think of hosting or domain names, they can easily remember
akara.ng
.
3. Go for a name that stands out:
Going for a name that stands out ensures that your competition is most likely not using a similar domain name. doesn’t use anything similar. It could be a random word that has little or no meaning. As long as it is short, brandable and easy to remember, it stands out.
An example is jumia.com
.
4. Go for a name that represents your mission:
Think about the mission of your brand, what are you trying to achieve? Doing this ensures that when people come across your website, they see that your domain name represents an action.
An example is buypower.ng
In conclusion, a good Domain name creates mobility for your overall online presence so choosing a good Domain name is very important. If you decide to change web hosting services, relocate to a different country, or shift Seo to using your in-house server, your domain name stays with you, allowing you to continue to build your brand without having to start all over.