Use The Right Domain Name Extensions
When you choose your domain name extension, you can be sure of one thing: .com is still the best.
According to research from Domain Name Stat, 37% of all domains have the .com extension.
Why? Well, .com is the most familiar and easiest to remember.
While there are many successful websites with a .net and .org, your website will probably do better if it has a .com extension. Its the safest bet.
Our advice: Go with .com. If thats taken, try .net or .org. If these are taken too, youd be better off brainstorming a new domain name. And oh! Avoid those weird extensions like .club, .space, .pizza and so on.
What About The Website Design
Creating visual web designs is no easy task. In fact, Id say that online, there are more examples of terrible designs than good ones. Dont let your website be one.
Just like bell bottom jeans were stylish in the 70s, they were ridiculous in the 80s and 90s. The same happens with web design. You have to remember that what was considered good practice 5 years ago, can now seem kind of old or out of date. Check out this article to know what practices to avoid.
This is not a guide for professional designers, but it will give you some tips that I think always work:
Register Your Domain Name
Your domain name should reflect your products or services so that your customers can easily find your business through a search engine. Your customers may also expect your domain name to be similar to your business name.
Your domain name will also be used for your email address. While you can use a free email address such as hotmail, sending emails from a business address looks more professional.
To register your domain name, you will need to find an accredited registrar and pay a fee. Accredited registrars are organisations who are authorised by auDA, the Australian domain name administrator, to provide services to people who want to register a new domain name, renew their existing domain name, or make changes to their domain name record.
Read more about registering your domain name.
Remember to note when your domain name will need renewing so it doesn’t expire. Letting your domain name expire could leave your business vulnerable to cybercriminals. Read more about the risks of abandoned domain names from the Australian Cyber Security Centre.
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What Kind Of Domain Name Should I Pick
When youre choosing your domain name, there are a few rules you should keep in mind:
- If youre setting up a business website, your domain name should match your company name. For example: YourCompanyName.com
- If youre planning on making a personal website for yourself then YourName.com can be a great option.
For this site , I chose WebsiteSetup.org
Domain names usually end with .com, .org or .net, but in recent times, a large number of domain extensions have come out, ranging from .blog to .party.
My best advice? Avoid the unusual extensions and go with .com, .net or .org unless they precisely describe your website and even then, it is usually better to go with a more common extension.
Can I Create An Online Store For Free
Yes! With a free Website.com plan, you’ll have the ecommerce tools to set up your online store and add products right away.You have the option to add advanced functionality and marketing features as your business expands.
We’re committed to helping you get online and grow your business, which is why Website.com doesn’t take any commissions on your sales.
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Dont Miss An Episode Listen On Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Spotify Iheart And More
What youll learn
- How to use Google Search Console to submit your changed domain/new website.
- Why its important to setup redirects in certain circumstances.
- Where to look for backlinks to update to direct to your new domain.
Transcript For How to Change Your Domain Name with Minimal SEO Impact 141
Jesse Dolan: Changing your domain name is a pretty big deal. You know what I mean? Thats your address out there for all things digital, but if you can follow those steps, you definitely put yourself in the drivers seat and have the best chance to come out the other side without any major impact.
Welcome back to Local SEO Tactics where we bring you tips and tricks to get found online. Im your host, Jesse Dolan. Im here with Sue Ginsburg.
Sue Ginsburg: Hi.
Jesse Dolan: Bob Brennan.
Bob Brennan: Howdy.
Jesse Dolan: Ready to answer some questions. Sue, what question are we talking about here today and wheres it from?
Sue Ginsburg: Todays question is to my listener and a client. How do you minimize the effect of changing your domain name on your SEO? Thank you, Oscar, from Luxor Hall and Elegancia Formal Wear in Dallas. Appreciate the question. I am pretty sure that more than just Oscar have thought about this and asked themselves the question.
Jesse Dolan: It depends. It always depends.
Sue Ginsburg: Bob, do you have any experience to share when this youve done this for any of your businesses?
Sue Ginsburg: Mm-hmm .
Jesse Dolan: Yeah, 100%.
Jesse Dolan: Yep.
Key Steps To Building A Great Small Business Website
Whether you are a freelance photographer, own a hardware store, or have another type of small business, a great website is essential for your companys success. As a webmaster who has worked on building or marketing over 100 small business websites, I know what it takes to create great and engaging business websites.
If you are looking to build a new startup website or make your current site more effective, here are 10 key steps to getting started and helping your small business website compete effectively in the online marketplace.
Looking to build a new startup website or make your current site more effective? Learn key steps to… getting started.
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Go For Brandable Name
Do not choose a generic domain name. Creative brandable name are always better. Remember, when you are creating your domain name, this is how visitors will find you. It is the foundation of your brand. In comparison to a generic name, brandable name is unique and memorable- it stands out from the competition. In order to create a brandable name, make up your own catchy new words ad use domain generators.
Getting Hosting And A Domain Name
To have more control over content and website appearance, most people choose to buy web hosting and a domain name:
- Web hosting is rented file space on a hosting company’s web server. You put website files on the web server. The web server provides website content to website visitors.
- A domain name is the unique address where people find your website, such as http://www.mozilla.org or http://www.bbc.co.uk. You can rent your domain name for as many years as you want from a domain registrar.
Many professional websites go online this way.
In addition, you will need a File Transfer Protocol program to actually transfer the website files over to the server. FTP programs vary widely, but generally, you have to connect to your web server using details provided by your hosting company . Then the program shows you your local files and the web server’s files in two windows, and provides a way for you to transfer files back and forth.
Tips for finding hosting and domains
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How To Create A Domain Name
Creating the best possible domain name for your website is highly crucial. It is something that deserves a lot of time and it is no exaggeration to say this. Making the wrong choice may impact your business negatively. Thus, you should get right without making any mistakes. A domain name is an identity on the web, thus it should be easy to find and promote.
This the first thing visitors will see. As such, it should make a positive impression, otherwise, your visitors will go running. While exact match domains are no longer, essential, keywords in your domain will help in your ranking. Here is everything you need to know on how to create a domain name:
Are Custom Domain Names Free How Much Do They Cost
While a domain name itself is not free, you can get one for free from Website.com.
The cost of a domain name depends on where youre buying it from, as well as the domain extension youre buying. For example, country-specific domain names such as .ca and .co.uk are generally more expensive than the generic .com or .net. A .com domain name typically costs around $10 to $15 per year.
Many other website builders tag on a free 1-year domain registration when you sign up for an annual service plan. But, the free domain offered by Website.com is different in two ways:
But with Website.com, you get to choose from 13 different domain extensions. And while a country-specific domain extension typically costs more than a generic domain extension, if you want to use a .ca domain name instead of a .com, go ahead and be reassured that you wont be charged the difference or extra costs.
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What About The Domain Name
If you dont want to use a free domain name , you need to purchase your own domain. This will then look like www.mycompany.com. Usually, its best to get the .com extension unless you are strictly operating in one country like Canada or the UK . Of course, there are also many successful businesses that use one of the newer domain names like .me or .agency, for example.
Our own domain name
There is no shortage of registrars that sell custom domain names. We mostly buy them at Namecheap as they are, well, pretty cheap but the differences are not that significant as they range from $9-18 per year.
But depending on where you build your website, you can get it also included in your website builder package. Wix, Weebly, and Jimdo, for example, all have the domain name included for free in the first year. The following years they charge slightly more than Namecheap, for example, but the added convenience of only having to deal with one company is normally worth it.
If you are using WordPress.org or build the website yourself, you will also need to organize your own web storage. This can be bought at the same place where you get your custom domain name from or at yet another specialized company like Siteground or WP Engine. But if you are only starting out, this wont matter too much for now.
Lets now look at an area that is closely connected to the domain name:
Choose A Web Hosting Plan To Suit The Traffic You Expect For Your Website
A website has many elements: programming codes, images, databases, scripts, and more. Once it is complete, it must be made accessible to everyone online. This is where the role of web hosting comes into play.
It is an infrastructure you can use to display your websites on a server, and the serverâs purpose is to provide your website files to visitors. You can opt for a physical space, or the cloud. The cloud is a perfect solution for hosting a website at a low cost, while maintaining accessibility. Unlike website creation platforms, a web hosting plan is a guarantee that your website will remain online, free of advertising.
Our solutions vary depending on the resources allocated, such as storage capacity, the traffic expected, and the number of websites to deploy. Evaluate your web projectâs objectives, and choose a web hosting infrastructure that best suits your needs.
If your business grows, your infrastructure can grow with it. Our solutions give you the flexibility you need to continue developing your sites and applications.
Your company’s online presence is now more important than ever. With our solutions, your website gets optimal speed and security, adapted for companies of all sizes. Whether you are a startup or a major company, you can choose a solution adapted to your goals and ambitions.
Web hosting from £1.69 ex. VAT/month with a free domain name.
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How Do I Get Custom Domain Emails
Using your custom domain name in your email address can build your brand and create a sense of trustthroughout your customer communications. Website.com Elite plans and above include professional emails at your domain name anda mailbox to store your emails. You can read your emails anywhere, or even set up emails to be accessed on your phone!
How Long Does My Domain Name Registration Last How Do I Renew My Domain
How long your domain registration lasts can vary depending on the domain you purchase. Many domain name registrars will allow customers to register domains for 10 years at a time, but typically customers will register domains for one to three years.If you want to extend your registration, its easy to renew your domain with GoDaddy. You can choose to manually renew or set up auto-renewal, so you ensure it stays registered to you.
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Ok Then How Do I Create A Domain
First of all, make sure your Windows is activated. Follow these steps to do it:
- Right-click on This PC in your start menu and select Properties.
- If its activated, youll find it saying Windows is activated and youll see the product key. If it says Windows is not activated youll need to enter your key.
What Are The Options
Publishing a website is a complex topic because there are many ways to go about it. This article doesn’t attempt to document all the possible methods. Instead, it explains the advantages and disadvantages of three approaches that are practical for beginners. Then it steps through one method that can work right away for many readers.
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