What is a domain name and why is it important?

Have you ever found yourself looking really hard at a URL, wondering if it’s the right one? There may be times you have tried searching for a website but would have ended up forgetting the name of the website. It happens more often than we’d like to admit, about getting lost in the digital world without a clear direction.

This is where your domain name comes into play. It is not just a website address. It is a digital identity. A good domain name can build trust, while a poor one might make you look unprofessional or forgettable.

When you are buying a domain, some websites sell it for an unreasonably high price. This blog will give you clarity about what a domain is and how you can find a name that’s both easy to find and unforgettable. You will also learn about how you can choose a domain name and pay the right price for it.

What is a domain name?

A domain name is your website’s digital address. It's what people type into the address bar of their browser to visit your site. It is like a label for the website - the first thing that people see. It is also how the audience identifies your brand on the web, making it critical for creating a memorable online presence.

Every website comes with a set of numbers called the IP. The visitors or the audience find it very difficult to remember this number. There is a Domain Name System (DNS) that translates your domain name into an IP address that servers use to locate your website. This system is what allows people to visit your site without needing to remember complex strings of numbers.

The other thing you need to know is that the domain names usually end with an extension, where the most common one is .com, but there are many others, like .org, .net, and industry-specific ones like .tech or .store.

Role of the domain name in SEO

Choosing the right domain name is about more than just picking something catchy. It plays a significant role in making your website discoverable by search engines and visitors. Here's how your domain can affect your SEO and help your website get found:

Domain name is an SEO signal.

Your domain name is an important signal to search engines. It gives them an idea of what your site is about. Having a domain name that includes relevant keywords can help your site show up in the right search results.

Keywords show up in the domain name.

Including relevant keywords in your domain name can help improve your search engine ranking. Here is an example:

• Let’s find a domain name for a bakery.

• Let’s call it King’s Bakery - so the domain name will be kingsbakery.com

• The keyword “bakery” in the domain name could increase your chances of showing up in searches like "best bakery in the Netherlands” and more.

Balances branding with SEO.

While keywords are essential, your domain name should also reflect your brand. It needs to tell the audience what the brand is about. The crawlers of the search engine will index you for people who are looking for what you sell or who you are.

Let’s take an example of a pet grooming service website. Let’s call it Happy Pets Grooming.

• The keyword is “grooming.” The brand identity lies with “pet.”

• So the domain name can be happypetgrooming.com

• Domain extensions have a role too.

The domain extension “.com” is pretty common. In case you are focusing on a specific geographic region, a country-specific extension (like .nl for the Netherlands or .co.uk for the UK) could help with local SEO.

When you start looking for domain names for your website, you will see many sites charging a high price for the domain name. However, choosing the right domain name doesn’t have to break your savings. With us, you can find the perfect domain name at the right price, ensuring both affordability and brand identity. Start your journey today and get the best domain name without overpaying.