The internet is an integral part of life for nearly everyone today. And this is especially true for those who own online travel agencies, as their business is based on the World Wide Web. So, when it comes to launching a company in today’s market, a premium domain name is something that should be considered.
The perfect domain name plays a crucial role in branding your business, and this is why entrepreneurs like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg don’t mind shelling out millions of dollars to get their pick.
Yet, the power of premium domains is no longer a secret for the top few, as entrepreneurs of all sizes are beginning to catch on to the trend. And to be honest, a strong name can make all the difference between a struggling company and a successful one.
But not to worry, you don’t have to shell out millions of dollars for a trophy domain; simply follow our four tips below.
Choose a Brandable Name
Hands down, the best edge you can give your company is a brandable name. It’s crucial because an estimated 90% of people make subconscious purchasing decisions, and 77% of these people buy items due to the brand name.
The most brandable domains are those that are catchy, memorable, unique, and intriguing. In many cases, these names don’t contain direct keywords that portray a specific industry or service. You can almost think of them as a blank slate on which to build your brand’s identity.
Choosing a brandable domain such as Uber, DoorDash, or Tesla, is crucial because you want to pique the consumer’s interest and make them want to learn more about your brand.
Less is More
There’s a saying in the development world – K.I.S.S., which means ‘keep it short and simple.’ And this is for good reason because aside from being simple and short, domains that contain fewer characters are easier to recall, pronounce, and search for online. An excellent domain name includes all of these elements.
It’s also worth mentioning that humans have what’s known as a working-memory buffer, and this tells us that our memory can only accurately remember a set number of characters. Researchers have found 3, 5, or 7 to be the golden ratio, with an absolute maximum of 12 characters. Anything over this point is more challenging for most people to remember.
Stick With .com, .org, or .net
Sure, tons of internet extensions are available, but when it comes to popularity, .com reigns supreme. In fact, the Domain Name Association found that although newer extensions grew exponentially from 2016 to 2017, none of them are as sought-after as .com.
When choosing a domain name for your online travel business, be sure to stick with what’s familiar and works. Just keep in mind that most of the best names are taken or at least owned by someone else. So, it may be costly to purchase brand names for sale. If you find all of your top choices are taken, feel free to go with .co, .io, or you could add a country extension to the end, such as .co.uk.
Don’t Rely on Keywords
Placing keywords in your domain is a great way to declare your business or product to customers by telling them exactly what you have to offer.
And while these domains are SEO-friendly and pretty easy to remember, they do have downsides. Using domains like this are not only harder to brand, but they’re also less scalable and may become generic.
Avoid This At All Costs
Finding a powerful domain name for your online travel business will not be easy. There are lots of things you’ll need to watch for if you want to provide your company with the best chance at succeeding. Hence, avoid these things when buying a domain:
- Numbers
- Misspelled Words
- Trademark Infringements
- Underscores
- Hyphens
Grant Polachek is the head of branding for Squadhelp.com, 3X Inc 5000 startup and disruptive naming agency. Squadhelp has reviewed more than 1 million names and curated a collection of the best available names on the web today. We are also the world’s leading crowdsource naming platform, supporting clients such as Nestle, Dell, Nuskin, and AutoNation.
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