Picture this. You’re finally ready to launch your online retail site selling one-piece garments for semi-aquatic mammals. But while you’ve sorted your brick-and-mortar store and started posting on your social media profiles, one problem remains – your domain extension.
Though OverallsForOtters.com may seem like the obvious choice here, a sector-specific domain name could elevate your brand above the competition. So whether you plump for .store, .co.uk, .tech or something else, here are four reasons you need an industry-specific TLD…
1. Communicate your business function
If a user clicks on a site with a .accountant link only to find that you’re actually a dentist, you can expect your bounce rate to soar. The last thing you want your website to do is confuse customers.
The right domain extension should effectively communicate your brand function and tell customers what they’re in for. For example, in the case of our semi-aquatic clothing retailer, OverallsForOtters.store or OverallsForOtters.shop might be more appropriate.
2. Target a specific audience
Websites are a two-way street – while your site visitors want to know what your business is about, you also want to make sure that these are the right sort of people. Because as much as we wish it were true, not everyone is in the market for your otter garments.
This is where a local or regional domain comes into play. Choosing a country-specific, or even city-specific, domain is especially important if your product or service is only available in certain locations. For example, OverallsForOtters.co.uk or OverallsForOtters.london.
3. Stand out from the competition
Sometimes you can come up with a totally original concept and brand name only to find that it’s already taken. But what happens if you’ve already ordered thousands of pounds worth of merch and set up viral-worthy social media profiles?
All hope is not lost – you’ll just need to differentiate your business (and site domain) from the competition. So if OverallsForOtters.bar is already taken, make sure you secure OverallsForOtters.clothing to avoid unnecessary audience crossover.
4. Increase website traffic
Finding the right domain extension is like finding the final piece of that 5,000-piece puzzle you’ve been working on since last Christmas – turning that mish-mash of colours into a beautiful, finished picture.
The right TLD can help you unlock serious growth and reduce your bounce rates, enhancing memorability, trust, and local visibility. Your domain extension should work with your brand name to properly tell your story, combining all the above factors to encourage the right clicks.
Save money with Fasthosts
What’s better than optimising your domain name for business success? Doing it all on a budget with Fasthosts, of course.
Whether you’ve settled on .com after all or fancy getting specific with a .store or .app TLD, our expert team is here to ensure you get the most out of your domain. Check out our latest deals and domain name availability on our website or give us a call on 0800 0612 153.
