JUNE 20179Startups can make their web address an extension of their brand identity. Naming the domain exactly conveys what the brand is all about, what it does and how it does ithas www.freedom.press as its official web address - a classic extension to their cause of protecting adversarial journalism. Other examples of brands using new domain extensions are www.cta.tech, world's largest tech conference, www.asgardia.space, the prototype of a free and unrestricted society in outer space and www.emirates.store, the Dubai based airline's official store. Closer home, many Indian businesses that are adopting new domain extensions to leverage on various benefits that they offer. For instance, www.noticeboard.tech is a Bangalore based tech startup and www.newshour.press is a news collaboration website. Hyderabad based www.freshup.space is a platform to book unique, budget-friendly stay experiences. The key benefits of choosing a new domain extension for your startup: 1. Makes Web Address MemorableHave you ever been in an embarrassing situation because you forgot someone's name? The reason it happens so often with all of us is that it's difficult to remember `just names' because they don't communicate anything apart from the name itself. On the other hand, if someone told you she is a chef or she is from New York, you are most likely to remember that information because you immediately make a mental image of the same.The same applies to domain names. If you choose to make your domain more than just a name, and convey what you do or where you belong, you will cut through the clutter and become `hard-to-forget'. 2. Works well for Google searchYes, that's true! In fact, Google itself has gone on record clarifying why shorter URLs are better.Google's John Mueller, a webmaster trends analyst had said, "When we have two URLs that have the same content, and we are trying to pick one to show in the search results, we will pick the shorter one ... it doesn't mean it's a ranking factor, but it means that if we have two URLs, and one is really short and sweet, and the other one has this long parameter attached to it, and we know they show exactly the same content, we'll try to pick the shorter one."Choosing a shorter, more unique name is thus a smart move from business point of view too.3. Boosts SEO (Search Engine Optimization)With a new domain extension, you have the option of choosing the most relevant keyword for your web address. This means you don't need to choose a long name with multiple words or, worse, a name with wrongly spelled word(s) for the sake of acquiring a .COM. Basically, more relevant and focused the name, better the SEO. This is further supported by a recent contest by WIX, a leading global website builder. The contest invited users to make websites that are optimized for the term `SEO Hero'. The top 2 contestants were hosted on a new domain extension, the top contender beingwww.seo-hero.tech. This goes on to validate that new domain extensions are now being preferred for SEO by techies.4. Builds a Better Brand Recall Would you rather bewww.brandname-services-india.com orwww.brandname.tech orwww.brandname.website? The first one is not only long, but also prone to spelling mistakes while typing the web address. That kind of longish web address also makes the company seem inexperienced and less-innovative since it settled for something so complicated. A shorter web address on a new domain extension conveys that the company is innovative and futuristic.5. Brands the StartupStartups can make their web address an extension of their brand identity. Naming the domainwww.freshcupcakes.online exactly conveys what the brand is all about, what it does and how it does it.All of these new domains are available on leading domain providers like BigRock.in and GoDaddy.com. So, while selecting a domain name, startups must invest the time and creativity that the process deserves. In a world where any business' primary identity is its website, it is crucial that the web address be chosen carefully, keeping up with the latest in technology. Sandeep Ramchandani
< Page 8 | Page 10 >