A branded domain (URL) is more than just adding your band name; it serves a purpose. Consider it as brand architecture, a tool that acts as a foundation for marketing, brand strategy, and your overall online presence.
Design Thinking
Your domain is the face of your company; it will appear on business cards, websites, social media and blogs, print material and maybe even your car! It should reflect your brand in a way that is memorable. Design your domain for human memory, i.e., cognition.
UX Magazine mentions cognitive load as “the amount of working memory required to achieve the user’s goal. Our minds remember a percent of what we see and hear, stored in our cognitive memory.”
“This principle forms the basis for Steve Krug’s book Don’t Make Me Think. The less a user has to think about what he needs to do to achieve his goal, the more likely he’ll be to achieve it.”
Benefits of a Branded Domain
Your URL is the tower to the many parts you’ll be adding in the future. Below are examples of how you can build upon your URL which benefits you in many ways, as well as adding credibility to your business.
- Easy to remember your business. (kbhcreative.com)
- Helps with SEO and optimization. (kbhcreative.com)
- Allows for branded emails. (kristi@kbhcreative.com)
- Organizes your site with your brand in mind. (kbhcreative.com/about)
- Adds originality and personalization to your brand. (kbhcreative.com)
How Do I Get a Domain Name?
There are many options for getting a domain name, you can either purchase it as a stand-alone or purchase it through a hosting company. Many hosting companies include a free domain with a purchase hosting services. Below are my top choices for sites worth reviewing.
Conclusion
Every situation is different, explore your options and choose carefully. Once you pick a domain name, it is hard to change it without disregarding it all together and having to pay for another one. I recommend writing out several name choices on paper, use keywords to help describe your brand, and think about personalization. Read out loud each name you’ve written down.
- Is it hard to say?
- Will it be hard to remember or spell?
- Does it reflect your brands’ online presence?
- Is it already taken? (google it)
- How does it look on paper?
- What comes up in search when you type in your keywords?
If you need help or have questions regarding domain names, feel free to contact me for a free consultation at kristi@kbhcreative.com.
Good luck and have fun!