So you’ve started a small business. You’ve got the best selection of products and services, a well-executed business plan, and a dream of success. So now all you need is a website, a domain name and a full-proof marketing pitch. Your domain name is one of the most important. And there are so many different places that you find them, with build-your-own-website services cropping up here, there and everywhere, offering you free domain names and websites that you can set up at a moment’s notice. But there are problems with these services, shortcomings that seem small right now, but will become much bigger when your company grows.
One key thing that you should do to avoid these issues is to make sure that you have purchased your domain name. Purchasing a domain name is one of the most important things that you can do as a small business because it gives you administrative autonomy over your space on the internet. It puts the power and the visibility of your brand into your own hands, something that you will both want and need. You will want to make sure that it’s easy for your customers to find and having the right domain name in your ownership is the right way for you to do this. That is where we come in. Here at Catalyst2, we offer our customers high-quality web hosting services. This includes being able to help you to find the right domain for your business, setting you on the course for success.
But the question that you’re probably wondering at this point is why you would want to purchase your domain name. As a small business that’s just starting out, you have limited funds and you can get a domain name for free. But while this might seem like a smart decision now, you’ll find that in the future it will only cause problems, particularly as many free domain names include your web host’s name within it, leaving you with a domain name like www.your company name.web host.com, which doesn’t necessarily sound like the best choice for your business.
It’s really important that you bear in mind that a domain name, while critical, doesn’t have to be expensive. You can find the perfect domain name with us for just a few pounds, the purchase of which can save you so much money and time in the future. But if you’re still not convinced about the importance of purchasing your domain name, then allow us to convince you. We’ve compiled some suggestions below to show you all the long and short term reasons that you should choose to purchase your domain name.
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You Want to be Found Easily
If you want to be easy to find, then the first thing your shop or business needs to be is easy to remember. No one has time to remember a long domain name, so you’ll want to make sure to avoid any unnecessary information; like the name of your web host. As much as possible, you’ll want your company’s web address to just be your own name, which is easy to remember and can be found at a later date. The result of an easy domain name will be more of your customers being able to find your website, which means that more of your customers will come back to use your services, meaning more sales for you and a more dedicated customer base.
You can avoid these unnecessary additions to your domain name by actually purchasing it. You can just create a domain name with just your business name and call it a day. Of course, this isn’t everything you need for web hosting and you’ll still need to work with a host to keep your website live and maintained but it will certainly make sure that you are ready and available to all of your customers.
But domain names aren’t just for those business owners that need to host their own website. They can be used in a variety of settings that help you to create the best customer experience. For example, if you are a shop that sells through somewhere like Etsy, then you can arrange for your domain name to redirect any customers to your shop. This is an ideal way to simplify the communication between you and your customers. Instead of needing to copy the Etsy link, you can simply type in your shop name and away you go. Additionally, if you choose to at a later date, you can turn your domain name into an actual website, allowing you to futureproof your business.
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You Look More Legitimate
Your brand image is everything to your business. Having a good reputation is more important than having good products; although having both is vital. And one thing that shouldn’t be overlooked is having your own domain name. Having your own domain without your web host’s name in it can influence the way that your customers view your business. Many people have assumed that the days of needing a domain name are over because everyone uses Google searches these days. With just a quick Google search, you’ll be able to find the company that you’re looking for without needing to worry about its domain. But this couldn’t be further from the truth because your domain name is what gives you authority.
Your domain name has authority in two ways. One of which is that your domain name will be picked up by the Google algorithm. When a customer searches for your business, the domain name that most closely matches the search will be likely put further up on the search list. So if you want to be found quickly, a purchasing domain name is important.
It can help you to create a legitimate and reliable brand image in a way that your customers will view you. Since the internet was first invented, customers and potential customers have had to battle with the risks of Internet scams. While these scammers famously come through emails, they can also come in the form of fake websites. While a subdomain, including the web host’s name, might not seem like that big of a deal, it can knock a potential customer’s confidence. They will question whether or not they’ve found the right website and if they aren’t convinced, then they might choose to leave your website altogether and make their purchase elsewhere.
Ultimately your domain name is part of your brand and you need to think carefully about what your brand is saying to the rest of the world. How do you want yourself to be perceived? Do you want your potential customers to question not just your reliability as a company but also the quality of your products and services? Or do you want them to see a well-designed company that is taking the time to solidify its position in the ever-changing digital world? The latter is more likely to keep and expand their customer base, growing into the company that they have always wanted to be. Even if you’re not yet ready to launch your business, it would be a good idea to choose and purchase your domain name now, so it is ready for you when you are.
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You will Actually Have Control
Did you know that if you choose a free domain name, then you don’t actually own the domain; your web host does. This might not seem like a problem but the reality is that you have to rely on another company for your continued existence. At some point, your web host might declare bankruptcy or seemingly unstoppable sites like Etsy change the terms of service. In this situation, you lose everything, because you never really owned it, to begin with. In this scenario, you’ll end up losing your customer base and your online presence, which could mean the end of your company as well.
To take back control over your business and its online presence, you want to purchase a domain that is tied to your website, something that can’t be taken away even if the company you were working through does go under. Though this means that you’ll have to pay out a little bit extra at the beginning, it will be worth it for the control, independence, and financial security that it can provide you.
How Can We Help?
If we’ve managed to convince you of the importance of purchasing your own domain name, then you’re probably wondering what you should do next. Well, that is where we can help. We’ve been working with a variety of different clients from start-up businesses, to global brands and even bloggers. This wide variety of clients is one of the reasons that we’re so good at what we do and whatever business you might be working in, we will offer you the best possible service. Our years of experience could be yours to benefit from if you simply get in touch with us today.
We’re a great company to work with because we’re committed to treating each and every one of our customers with the respect and care that they deserve. One of the ways that we do this is by making sure that we offer no transfer out fees and no lock-in contracts, both of which can be a frustrating and expensive part of working with other domain registration sites.
Instead, we offer our customers the aid that they need with our 24/7 support line. You’ll also get access to our quality, inbuilt domain checker, which will make sure that your desired domain is actually available. This means that you have everything that you could need to help your business flourish the way that it should.
We can also offer you quality, hassle-free web hosting to help keep your website online. Our cloud-based infrastructure ensures that you’ll remain online no matter what happens to our business. This means that you’ll be completely future-proofed, never having to worry about losing your website ever again.
To find out more about all of our wonderful services, you can speak to one of our today by giving us a call on 0800 107 7979.
