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When looking for memorable, easily searchable, and usable domain names, many companies look to descriptive domain names as the more authentic and memorable option.
But what exactly is a descriptive domain, and how can it benefit your business?
How can a descriptive domain benefit your business?
A descriptive domain name usually acts as a short, memorable business card about the company and what it offers. Descriptive domains have keywords to the left and right of the dot, such as amazon.jobs or malaysia.travel. When businesses utilize every letter of their domain name, they make it easier for customers to remember their website and find their business again in the future.
A descriptive domain can also boost SEO. The clearer the domain name, the more likely the site will be the top result of a quick internet search. If someone searches for “modern energy,” they will quickly find modern.energy, and the next click will be intuitive for searchers of that keyword set. Having a searchable domain is important for entrepreneurs because it increases online traffic and increases leads and conversions. A domain name that is memorable, descriptive, and relevant to your brand identity is set up for success and SEO impact.
Related: Should Your Business Spend Thousands of Dollars on a Powerful Domain Name?
What is the difference between descriptive and branding domains?
Branded domains generally refer to words preceding the dot in the descriptive domain, which are not necessarily characterized by dictionary keywords with definable meanings. A branded domain name can also be a powerful market differentiator, making a branded website easy to find and remember. Entrepreneurs and brand builders are increasingly using both sides of the dot in their brands such as pretti.cool, knowable.fyi, staud.clothing, cool.haus and starface.world.
Related: Why Buying a Domain From a Web Developer Is Not a Good Idea
How Entrepreneurs Can Choose Between Descriptive and Branded Domain Names
The good news is, when it comes to descriptive vs. branded domain names, entrepreneurs can have it all. While branded and descriptive domain names each have their advantages, no one really has to choose between the two because many websites are effectively using descriptive domain names as their branding. For example, companies like compound.finance and armoire.style use their domain names as branding opportunities. Anyone who visits these sites already knows the names of these companies and what they specialize in.
A word branded domain with a generic domain extension like .com or .net or .co can be ambiguous, whereas a branded domain combined with a descriptive extension can more clearly indicate that the brand needs to tell a memorable story and have Helps to be the focus of attention for future business memory.
Use a descriptive domain extension, like Amazon has done for its telemedicine portal Amazon.Care, to leverage the brand name while also clearly and memorably representing the services offered. Combining a brand name with a descriptive TLD can simplify searches for what products or features a website offers, while also helping companies clearly understand their brand. Currently, descriptive domain names are widely used and increasingly adopted by emerging brands.
Related: 4 Tips for Initiating a Successful Rebranding
