Almost all businesses can gain from having a dedicated website that promotes their brand and sells a service. While it is possible to rely only on social media channels like Facebook or TikTok for business, a website simply offers so much more in terms of visibility, versatility, and the ability to craft something utterly unique related to your brand. However, in order to create a website, you must first have a domain name. This domain name will serve as your online address, which is where your customers will be able to locate you. This post will explore the primary reasons, outside of being a mere address, why it is wise for businesses large and small to invest in their very own domain name.
Domain names are not only a wise investment but also affordable and readily available. This accessibility makes it feasible for businesses of all sizes to secure their own unique online address. While the cost of a domain name can be as high as the multiple tens of thousands of dollars if you purchase a particularly unique offering, in most cases, you will only be expected to pay around $12-$50 per year, depending on the TLD you opt for. The ease with which you can acquire a standard domain name is also relatively straightforward. In most instances, all that you need to do is create an account with a domain registrar (the company that has the rights to sell domain names), search for the name that best matches your requirements, and hit the buy button. Many of the higher-quality registrars will offer you the Domain name with free domain lock protection which should secure your site from unauthorized attempts at changing ownership or other malicious activities. Just be aware that you are only renting the domain name, but as long as you make sure to pay each year (unless you paid multiple years up front, which is typically best practice), you should be fine. In fact, even if you miss a payment, you are generally given a grace period where the registrar will hold the domain for a certain period of time until you have repaid.
Establishes Professionalism And Credibility
If you were to search for a business on a search engine and the only options to pop up were a Facebook page and some other random, unrelated links, you would probably be inclined to reconsider doing business with them. Conversely, if you type in the name of a business or search for a service and a dedicated URL appears in the results, you are going to be far more susceptible to click on it safely in the knowledge that you have found a genuine business that is interested in serving their customers. There is something far more reassuring about clicking on a real website that has the name of the business followed by a TLD of some description than using social media. Having a domain name linked to your organization will tend to result in customers far more likely to patronize your business than not. If you don’t believe us, ask yourself what you might think if Apple only used Facebook rather than having the very valuable domain name of Apple.com!
Enhances Brand Recognition
There is something incredibly professional about having a domain name that includes your company name. This professionalism can often mean the difference between a potential customer choosing to click on it and see if you are able to service their needs or moving on to another search result that looks more intriguing. You can also use your domain name in all of your marketing materials and throughout your overall marketing campaign. It will act as a landmark and final destination for whatever materials you choose to create. For example, if you have set up a Facebook or Google ad campaign, the domain name you select will follow them around and be the location where your customers will end up once they have clicked on the ad. The more you spread your domain name around, the more likely it is that anyone who sees it will immediately associate it with your brand.
Protects Your Intellectual Property Rights
Establishing your presence with a dedicated domain name can prevent competitors or malicious entities from exploiting your brand or misrepresenting your content, thus maintaining the integrity and authenticity of your intellectual property. Securing a domain name not only helps in branding but also plays a crucial role in legal protection, giving you the exclusive right to use the domain name and take swift action if infringements occur. By owning a distinct domain name, you also enhance your professional credibility and customer trust, fostering a more recognizable and authoritative presence.
Ensures You Are Never At The Mercy Of A Third Platform
Although there are plenty of options when it comes to setting up a website or creating an online presence of some sort, not all are created equally. It is definitely fair to say that many third-party services and platforms offer a great deal of customizability and service that appear better on the surface, but there is one fatal flaw…you will always be at their mercy. If you have chosen to get a Shopify subdomain over investing in your own domain, you run the risk of Shopify closing down your site and kicking you off their platform, which will ultimately be at their whim. Suppose you have registered your domain name and set up a website on your own server. In that case, you will almost never have it taken down unless it becomes infected (which will be the host’s decision but unrelated to the domain name) or is illegal.
Makes Email Communication More Professional
A professional email address tied to your company’s domain instills confidence in current and potential clients. It showcases your dedication to maintaining high standards and distinguishes your correspondence from the deluge of generic emails. Ensuring that your email addresses match your domain not only enhances memorability but also fosters trust, as it signals a well-established and reputable business. For example, what looks more appealing: abcplumbers@gmail.com or help@abcplumbers.com? Ultimately, obtaining a personalized domain name for email communication ensures that your customers know who is contacting them and offers them a much more enticing email address to send them inquiries to when they are interested in making a purchase.
There are plenty of reasons to buy your own domain name, but the ones in this post are perhaps the most convincing. From the ease of the process, making it a no-brainer, to the protections it can offer your business, there is no real reason not to head over to a registrar and search for the perfect domain name.
Raghav is a talented content writer with a passion for creating informative and interesting articles. With a degree in English Literature, Raghav possesses an inquisitive mind and a thirst for learning. Raghav is a fact enthusiast who loves to unearth fascinating facts from a wide range of subjects. He firmly believes that learning is a lifelong journey and he is constantly seeking opportunities to increase his knowledge and discover new facts. So make sure to check out Raghav’s work for a wonderful reading.
