Got a side hustle? Want to legitimize your brand?
Here’s the quickest way to make your brand look professional…
It’s a simple yet often overlooked detail. It’s not a logo. It’s not business cards. It’s your domain name.
Seriously.
When a customer lands on yourname.wixsite.com or mybusiness.blogspot.com, their first instinct is to wonder why they should trust you.
If, on the other hand, they see your custom domain parked at the top of your website, it shows you mean business.
Did you know you can buy a domain name for as little as USD$1 with domain registration services?
In this article we cover…
- Why domain names matter for business credibility
- The psychology behind professional web addresses
- How to choose the right domain for your brand
- How to get started with your first domain
Why Domain Names Matter For Business Credibility
Let’s cut to the chase.
Your domain name is your business’s digital storefront. It’s one of the very first things people see before they even click through to your website.
First impressions are critical.
It’s not just you that thinks this way either.
Research from Network Solutions shows that 84% of consumers say a business is more credible if it has a website.
The catch?
That credibility comes from having a professional online presence. Not just any old web page slapped together on a free subdomain.
Imagine if you walked into a restaurant with a handwritten sign scrawled on the back of a napkin and taped to the window.
Not likely.
The same is true online. A free subdomain screams “amateur” to potential customers.
Buying a domain name through this website is one of the best ways to immediately improve the credibility of your business. It’s not a hard sell. People trust what they see. They trust professional-looking businesses.
It’s as simple as that.
The Psychology Behind Professional Web Addresses
Something most hobby businesses don’t realize…
Is that your domain name sets expectations for your entire operation.
It has an impact on trust. On purchasing decisions. On whether people even bother to click through in the first place.
The stats prove this. Research has found that a staggering 75% of people judge a business based on their website’s credibility. Your domain is a big part of that credibility.
It’s hardwired into our brains. We judge people we meet on the street in seconds. The same thing happens when we click on a website.
Domains with a .com extension have additional heft to them. People trust them.
It’s instinctive. Hardwired.
When a potential customer lands on yourbusiness.com as opposed to yourbusiness.freesite.net they make split-second assessments about your professionalism, investment, longevity, and trustworthiness.
Trust.
Before they even see your products, services, or team.
Pretty powerful, right?
Hobby vs Business Mindset
There’s a big difference between a hobby business and a real business.
Hobbyists fiddle around with free tools and hope they get lucky. They think they can avoid certain expenses to save money in the short term.
Business owners invest strategically in their brand. They know a professional domain is one of the bedrocks of a business’s online presence.
Here’s the thing…
The global domain name market is continuing to grow year-on-year. Businesses are waking up to the importance of securing a professional domain and staking a claim on that piece of digital real estate.
If your website is still on a free subdomain your customers will know. They’re clever like that. They look before they leap.
Customers check out businesses before they buy. They compare notes. They look for indicators that this is a real, established, legitimate business worth giving money to.
One of the first indicators is the domain name.
Which Domain Extension Should You Choose?
Believe it or not, not all domain extensions are the same.
The .com extension has been the gold standard for years and for most businesses, it still is. People expect it. It’s familiar and trusted.
But your location and target audience matter here too. You might be better off with a different extension depending on where you and your customers are based.
Take a look at these options:
- .com – For best results and universal trust
- Country codes (.sg, .uk, .au) – Great for local companies with a Singapore, UK or Australian focus
- Industry extensions (.shop, .tech, .store) – Works well for some niche businesses
The goal is to match your extension to your target audience’s expectations. For example, a local Singapore bakery might be better off with a .sg domain. An international consulting firm would probably opt for .com.
Don’t sweat this too much, though.
For the majority of small businesses looking to make the jump from hobby to professional, a .com is the right choice. It works everywhere and everyone knows what it is.
Making Your Domain Work For You
Buying a domain is just the start.
Once you’ve bought it, it’s time to start working it. It means setting up a professional email address using your domain. Contact@yourbusiness.com instead of yourbusiness2024@gmail.com.
This small step creates a big impact on how people view you.
It also means creating a website that’s consistent with the professionalism of your domain. No point having a great domain name if it leads to a shoddily designed website.
With your domain in place, you can:
- Set up professional email addresses
- Create consistent branding
- Get better search engine results
- Boost word-of-mouth marketing
- Safeguard your brand name
All of these benefits compound. The sooner you register your domain, the better.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Every business owner makes the same mistakes when it comes to domains.
- Choosing a complicated domain name. Keep it simple and easy to remember.
- Using hyphens or numbers in the domain name. Hyphens and numbers look dodgy and are hard to spell.
- Waiting too long to register. Good domain names get snapped up fast. Don’t leave it to the last minute.
- Ignoring renewal dates. Domains expire. Don’t let yours slip away.
The antidote for all of these issues is to take domain names seriously from day one.
Get Started Today
Ready to buy your domain?
It’s easier than you think.
Domain registration services take care of all the technical details. Your job is to:
- Choose your preferred domain name
- Check if it’s available
- Complete the registration process
- Connect your domain to your website
Boom. You’re done. From there, you can begin to see the difference it makes in how people view your business.
Domain registration services will also help you secure your email and domain for the long-term so you don’t have to worry about renewal dates.
The process takes minutes. The impact on your brand’s credibility lasts years.
Final Thoughts
There you have it.
Your domain name is more than just an address for your website. It signals to customers that you’re a serious business.
Want to transition from a hobby to a professional operation? Invest in a custom domain. It’s affordable. It’s easy to set up. It instantly makes your brand look more professional.
Stop acting like a hobby. Present yourself as the professional business you want to be.
It’s the little things that separate amateurs from professionals. Your domain name is one of those little things.
Secure yours today and reap the benefits for years to come.
