Do names matter? Why do we need to find good names? Are these questions bothering you? Well, yes, names matter. More so, it matters regarding your brand, specifically the domain name. Your brand’s identity on the web helps your customers remember you and look for you. It might be as pivotal as your company’s name.
Your custom-curated domain name will highlight your brand, simultaneously boosting your SEO. Landing on the correct domain name is difficult, but it isn’t. Researching properly, sticking to your brand, and choosing something easy to type and pronounce.
Here’s a piece on how to choose a perfect domain name for an e-commerce website.
What is a Domain Name?
Before diving into how to choose the best domain name for an e-commerce website, you should understand what a domain name is. In layman’s terms, a domain name is a brand’s website address.
Much like your home address, a domain address is also unique. It cannot be similar to other addresses. In a web address, everything that follows the ‘www.’ falls under a domain name.
For example, www.example.com has three sections. ‘www.’ is a subdomain, ‘example’ is the domain name, and ‘.com’ is the top-level domain.
The domain name and the top-level domain together comprise the Root Domain. There are various types of domain names, which are mentioned here for your clear understanding.
Types of domain names
- TLDs, or Top-Level Domains, sit at the top of the hierarchy of domain names. Some examples include .com, .org, .edu, .net, etc.
- Country-code TLDs are extensions representing particular countries, territories, etc. Some examples are .us, .au, .uk, etc.
- Certain new domain names are accrued to specific businesses or individuals. Domain names like .app, and .cloud, are some examples.
How to Choose the Right E-commerce Domain Name?
Now that you’re aware of how important domain names are, here are some ways to choose the best domain name for an e-commerce website:
Research and pre-planning
Research and pre-planning are the basic steps before setting up any new identity. Researching your preferred name for an e-commerce website and its domain name will help you determine if the same domain name is registered. Go for a trademark search or Google search to find it out.
Identify your target audience
Identifying your target audience and business before choosing the best domain name for an e-commerce website is vital. It will allow you to keep only relevant keywords in your domain name, the words that your prospective audience is more likely to search for.
Analyze your competitors’ domain names
Analyzing the domain name of your competitors gives you an edge because now you know what kind of domain names are successful in attracting more audience. Furthermore, by judging your competition, you can choose the ideal domain name for an e-commerce website that grabs the highest rank on the search engine.
Understand the technical side of domain selection
Understanding the technicalities behind domain naming is important for forming the best domain name for an e-commerce website. You should be aware of the various TLDs and their usage, which elements to use and which ones to avoid, the length of the domain name, and so on. By doing so, you can make a knowledgeable decision on what comprises the best domain name for an e-commerce website.
Tips for Choosing a Good Domain Name
Creating an identity is difficult, especially on the web, where multiple substitutes exist for any commodity. The first step to creating your brand’s web identity is to choose a domain name. To do so, you must have a good knowledge of the requisites of a good domain name.
Here’s how you can choose the best domain name for e-commerce websites:
Keep it short, simple, and memorable
Keeping your domain name short must be at the top of your priority list. Unnecessarily long or complicated domain names make way for misspelling or mistyping it. Yes, keywords are important. But you shouldn’t go overboard with the length of your domain name. Keeping it below 15 characters is ideal, as beyond that, it gets difficult for the users to memorize it.
Consider different top-level domains (TLDs)
Choosing TLDs or Top-Level Domains, which provide a hint about the website’s purpose, territory, or owner, should be another priority. They help attract potential customers and target audiences while drawing a line between you and your competition. For instance, educational institutions have a domain name of .edu, which attracts learners, educators, and likewise.
Use keywords to amplify SEO potential
For driving organic traffic, SEO is vital for any online brand. Amplify the SEO with keywords, and instead of focusing on sub-domains, use sub-folders. Here’s a strategy to follow when naming your domain:
- The relevancy of your website to a certain search query is an important component in determining your brand’s rank in search engine results. The relevance of your domain name plays a significant role in this regard.
- Making a place for a keyword in your domain name. The available commodities on your website can be your most valuable keywords.
- Opt for sub-folders and not sub-domains, which means you can promote or market particular web pages using specific URLs and creating no confusion for your customers.
Focus on user experience & mobile accessibility
User experience is vital for the growth of any online brand, as it provides the much-needed positive experience that binds the customers to a brand. Thus, designing your web page and domain name in a way that builds up a positive user experience is important. Enhancing accessibility ensures that your offered products are reachable and usable for various kinds of people.
Avoid hyphens, numbers, and abbreviations
Are you considering using hyphens or numbers to make your domain name more creative? You shouldn’t do so. Numbers, hyphens, abbreviations, or double letters create a messy and difficult-to-read domain name. Further, these elements create a bad user experience, and your audience might get frustrated and start looking for substitutes.
Generating Ideas for Your Domain Name
Are you just starting with your brand and looking forward to creating an online presence? Yes, developing catchy brand and domain names can bee-co difficult initially. However, in this section, you can find ideas for sample domain names for e-commerce websites.
Brainstorm & collect ideas from your teammates or friends
Open up the topic of domain name ideas amongst your friends, teammates, and co-workers, and you might come across some out-of-the-box ideas. Give them the primary keyword for the domain name for e-commerce websites and let ideas play around with it.
Use online tools like domain generators, thesaurus & rhyming dictionaries
You can also look into the online tools available to find your ideal domain name. There are various tools available to help generate domain names, such as domain generators like Looka and Nameboy, as well as resources like rhyming dictionaries and online thesauruses to help with word selection. Add the keywords in the domain generators, and let it work its magic. Even if you’re not taking the suggestion word for word, it’s enough to draw some inspiration for you.
Consider creative combinations of words and phrases
Bring a smile to your audience by choosing a domain name curated from catchy and creative phrases. Other than simply bringing your brand to the top of the search engine, catchy phrases also help your audience remember your brand for a long time. You can also include certain Call To Action (CTAs) for naming your domain, like Think Positive and Just Go Ahead.
Making the final decision – How do you know when you found the perfect domain? Evaluate each option carefully against your goals
Once you’ve browsed through all your available options to choose the best domain name for an e-commerce website, assess them with your pre-planned objectives. Before finalizing the domain name, ensure it checks all the criteria.
Try out different variations with search engines
Keywords in your domain name largely affect the SEO ranking. So, before you finalize one, try the same in multiple search engines to check where your chosen domain name ranks. By doing so, you can find out if your selected name is drawing in high traffic and achieving a top ranking.
Check that your chosen name isn’t registered as a trademark
Competition for online brands has been on the rise for quite some time. So, even if you land on a catchy and creative domain name, you should always cross-check whether it’s already registered or not. If it is already registered, go to a good online domain name generator to try out sample domain names for e-commerce websites.
Test out different extensions to see which ones look best after finding an ideal domain name
Every domain name has a specific use, and not all extensions suit your needs. For instance, .com is used mostly for commercial purposes, and .org is used by organizations. Similarly, educational web pages use .edu, while travel industries mostly use .travel extension. So, it’s better to know what’s the purpose and then choose the extension.
Register it quickly before someone else does!
As mentioned before, online brands already have a lot of competition. So, once you have landed on a potential name, you better lock it before it vanishes. Otherwise, all your efforts, from brainstorming ideas to research, all go in vain.
Set up google analytics & track performance regularly
Google Analytics or GA is an ideal tool that provides you with a measure of what is driving traffic to your page. It further helps you analyze which of your contents are working to their potential and which are lying idle. So, you can make a conscious call as to what you can include in your domain name.
Get going with customizing, optimizing & establishing authority
A customized domain name can work wonders. Since it is curated by considering your exact needs, it will help to organize more traffic to your page. It will optimize your user experience, and after buying and registering your domain name, you should further establish your authority by adding domain ID protection.
Conclusion
Done with choosing the best name for an e-commerce website and your domain name? Now you just need to be quick and purchase the same, possibly for a minimum of five years. It acts as a ranking factor, aiding search engines and simultaneously making your business more reputable.
You should also check with the array of sample domain names for e-commerce websites before making up your mind. Note your options and open a conversation with your audience, asking for suggestions.
FAQs
What is an SKU number?
An SKU number, or Stock Keeping Unit, is a unique code or number that identifies a specific product or item in a company’s inventory. Retail and e-commerce businesses often use SKUs to manage inventory and track product movement.
How do I create an SKU number?
To create an SKU number, you can use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols representing key product information, such as its category, brand, colour, size, and style. The format and structure of your SKU system will depend on your business’s specific needs and preferences.
Do I need SKUs for my e-commerce business?
SKUs can help you manage your inventory more efficiently, streamline order processing, and improve product tracking, among other benefits. If you have a large inventory and sell products across multiple channels, SKUs can be especially useful for tracking your stock and accurately fulfilling orders.
Can SKUs be the same for different products?
No, each SKU should be unique to a specific product or item. This ensures you can accurately track and manage your inventory and avoid confusion or errors when fulfilling orders.
How can I integrate SKUs into my inventory management system?
Most inventory management systems allow you to create and assign SKUs to your products and automatically adjust inventory levels as orders are placed and fulfilled. If you’re using an e-commerce platform like Shopify or WooCommerce, you can also use plugins or apps to manage your inventory and integrate SKUs into your workflow. Alternatively, consider using a dedicated inventory management software like Locad, which offers advanced inventory tracking, order fulfillment, and logistics management features.
