Tag: TLD

Using SEO Strategy When Picking a Domain Name

Posted on by adlavajustin

Your domain name is your name that is uniquely associated with your website, brand, and company. Choosing a name to define your business is essential and it is good to keep in mind how that name and branding will be perceived both in a word-of-mouth and digital sense. Within the digital space, search engine optimization (SEO) is a tool used to get your website/URL to appear at the top of search engine results pages. There are many complicated and technical layers to SEO and how to strategize using it to benefit your business’s marketing strategy. 

It is good to keep in mind that there are some cases where choosing specific keywords to be within your domain name can affect your SEO ranking. While SEO is always evolving and could change in the future, it does not hurt to see if the name you have in mind for your domain name has strong keywords that could improve your chances of appearing higher in search results. Within this guide, we will go over how SEO can impact your domain name so you can be more strategic when thinking about how to market your domain name.

How Important Is Keyword Use in Domain Names?

SEO is ever-evolving, and search terms or keywords that were once popular can eventually lose popularity over time. Some websites may have exact match domains, meaning that their domain is an exact match to a specific keyword search term. If you try to use an exact match domain such as foodforsale.com to promote something like food or restaurant business, you could be restricting your business to that specific niche. 

While having those keywords can benefit your domain in appearing in search results, it can also hinder any expansion or growth for your business or company. Additionally, having a name as generic as possible can turn people away from clicking on your website. This mainly has to do with the fact that there are a lot of scams and spam websites out there, so having some personalized branding is a good tactic to showcase your business as trustworthy. 

HigherVisibility did a study to showcase if keyword-focused domains performed better than business name-related keywords, their results demonstrated that it varies heavily depending on what industry your business is in. While they say the proper selection of keywords for your webpage addresses remains an important part of tailoring your site for success with search engines as well as users, your website should not have to rely on keywords if your brand name is too unique. 

How to Create an SEO-Friendly Domain Name

SEO involvement within marketing strategies

While the main advice is to keep your website name short and memorable, it is good to research potential domain names, keywords, and competitors to see how your potential domain name compares. For example, if you are in the finance industry, words like ‘debt’ or ‘credit’ are strong keywords to have within your domain name. 

Although if you choose not to have those specific keywords within your domain name, that does not mean you cannot rank for them. If your website and marketing team focus on SEO you can rank for those keywords via blogs, website copy, and even social media can help boost your SEO rankings. 

One thing to keep in mind when choosing a domain name is that you can have a different top level domain name than .com. As the internet continues to grow and more and more domains are registered each day, it makes it difficult to find the name you want under the .com top level domain name. However, there are thousands of unique top level domains to choose from that can assist you in personalizing your branding. .Vegas is an example of this, since having a .Vegas top level domain can add the already established Las Vegas branding to your website. 

People assume that a .com is the only option, but SEO does not discriminate against top level domain extensions, and having a .Vegas will not hurt your SEO ranking results any less or more than if you were to own a .com domain. 

How to Improve Your Domain Name SEO Ranking

Search Engine Optimization on generic search engine page

If you already have registered a domain name, but want to improve your SEO ranking, you can focus your efforts on creating valuable content on your website that highlights and showcases those SEO keywords to boost your ranking. Generating backlinks, which are links from other websites to yours can also help with not only your SEO ranking but your credibility as well. Each time another website uses a backlink to your domain name/website it is telling search engine results that you are in fact a trustworthy and relevant source to users. 

You can get backlinks using referral sources or even broken links, but one of the main ways to get backlinks is to generate informative and useful resources that people want to link to. There is a variety of content you can publish to your website to gain SEO rankings, from blogs, videos, infographics, statistics, and more. There is something for everyone no matter your industry to showcase to clients, customers, and even competitor businesses. 

Should I Focus on Finding an SEO Keyword Centric Name? 

The short answer to this is: It depends on you and your business. The longer answer is, if SEO is a major priority to your business and you want to incorporate it into your branding then yes, you should look into developing a keyword-centric domain name. However, if your business just wants to create a unique name that is an open book for different marketing, branding, or even product offerings then no an SEO domain is not detrimental to your business ranking higher in search results. 

Ultimately, when choosing a domain name it comes down to where you want to align your branding and how memorable of a name can you choose for customers to remember. This is one of the many reasons why .Vegas offers the ability to give domain names extra flair to websites that want to align themselves with Las Vegas branding.

 Interested in having a .Vegas for yourself? Connect with us today and turn on the excitement of being a part of the Las Vegas branding. Have questions or need assistance? Contact us at support@the.vegas and we will gladly assist you with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Psychology of the Click: What Makes a Link Clickable?

Posted on by adlavajustin
male hands-on computer browsing the web

You’ve heard there’s a psychology behind why people spend longer time on certain websites, certain colors or keywords or headlines can really capture an audience’s attention. But did you ever consider that there is a marketing psychological reason people might not click on a link to your website? In this blog, we will dive into the psychology of the click and provide an explanation for why people might be hesitant to click on your domain and how a domain name can get people’s attention.

Link Trust

beginning of new link being typed out

With so many scams and suspicious links floating around the internet, a lot of people are more hesitant to click on a link they’ve never seen before. People are less likely to click on a link if they aren’t 100% sure where it will take them. Many companies or people use link shorteners for social media purposes, but unless you post static images describing what you’re linking to, people may be more hesitant to click on a random generic shortened link they come across. 

This is why having a customized link can shorten your domain and lead up to a 39% increase in clickthrough rate. No matter if you are a bigger brand or a smaller brand, having a custom domain name showcases who you are to potential visitors and lets them know a bit about who you are. Versus a generic domain name or shortened URL that takes them to an unknown website location, there is more of an established trust if a link is clear about your company and brand.

If you are interested in creating a vanity URL with a unique Top Level Domain, which basically means you are using something other than a .com. There are a variety of unique Top Level Domains to choose from that can enhance your brandings, such as .store, .unicorn, and many others. You may be thinking, ‘How can people have link trust in a domain that isn’t .com?’ 

The simple answer is: the internet has been increasing its awareness and is more welcoming to different Top Level domains. In 2015 there was a boom of new Generic Top Level Domains available since ICANN, (which is the abbreviation for Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) opened applications for people to apply for Generic Top Level Domains. 

Since then, we are starting to notice a higher volume of unique URLs that can end in a variety of different Top Level Domains. Thus, people are wiser to understand if you have a .Vegas domain, that you are a legitimate website and not some sort of spam link. Plus, .com has been around since 1985, so it’s about time for some unique changes when it comes to registering domains!

Appealing Domain Elements

The way you can really make your domain appealing to new clients or users is by thinking with a marketing mindset. People are more likely to remember not only your brand but your website name if you have something short and sweet. People enjoy things that are catchy, such as slogans, jingles, and names. Having a domain is no different!

If you want to utilize your domain for branding it would be wise to keep it relevant to your business, but also short enough that people can remember. A great example of a catchy domain name that could be registered (if it hasn’t been already) in the .Vegas extension:  Let’s say you have a tech company called “Viva,” you could register the domain “Vivia” at your registrar of choice in the .Vegas domain extension and you have yourself branded as www.Viva.Vegas. That would be awesome, wouldn’t it?

This is just one example of a clever use of a domain name. It’s short and memorable, and it adds that Vegas flair to your branding. There are over 1,000 new domain extensions available to try and implement this towards your branding to make your domain appealing to click on. 

Can Branded Links Increase SEO?

Having an optimized link makes SEO stand out

Yes! Search Engine Optimization also known more commonly as SEO rewards those who are keyword-heavy and what better way to apply your targeted keywords than to directly have them in your URL?

The tricky part is being as specific as possible about what your company or brand is when creating your domain. In order to rank higher on search engine result pages you want to make sure that even if your URL is keyed into your targeted words, your website also has a big focus on using those keywords within its copy. 

A good example could be if you have a plumbing business and want to rank higher in search engine results. If you decide to register the name ”www.iama.plumber,” you have the ability to rank higher if your keyword ‘plumber’ since not only is the word plumber used in copy to describe your services, but it’s even within your domain name!

What if I Already Have a .com Website?

If you have already renewed or registered a .com domain and maybe now you found a generic Top Level Domain that you think will help you not only shorten your current URL, but also appeals to your branding. Well, fear not, if your desired URL name is available with that registrar then you can just redirect traffic from your custom URL name to your already-in-use .com website.

This may sound a bit tricky, but essentially it is like using a link shortener website, the only major difference is you would be registering and paying for a completely different URL. This may not sound super appealing, but it does secure you a unique vanity URL from being scooped up by someone else and is guaranteed to make your website stand out from the crowd. 

There are so many fun ways to implement marketing strategies into your website. Take a step back and think, ‘what would make a link to a website in your industry more appealing?” Ask yourself if you would rather click on a link: www.brandname.com or www.brandname.Vegas? 

The excitement and appeal of Las Vegas are too hard to pass up when choosing which link to click on.  Interested in having a .Vegas for yourself? Connect with us today and turn on the excitement of being a part of the Las Vegas branding. Have questions or need assistance? Contact us at support@the.vegas and we will gladly assist you with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Safe and Unique Top Level Domains Other Than .com

Posted on by adlavajustin
Blue and green colored tags with text of different top level domains such as .com, .gov, .biz, .edu, and .info

When choosing a domain name, most people still default to registering a domain name that ends in .com as they believe it is the only viable Top Level Domain (TLD), the safest, and the best for optimizing their search engine optimization (SEO).  In the past that might have been the case.  However, today there are a variety of different top level domains to choose from, ones that are just as viable, safe, and SEO friendly.  Ones that can even make your website stand out more than when using a .com.

So, does having a unique top level domain other than .com put your website a risk? The majority of people still might be wary of visiting websites that don’t end in the traditional .com, .edu, or .gov extension. However, in this guide, we will showcase how different top level domains are safe and can even boost your branding.

The Different Types of Top Level Domains

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers also known as ICANN is responsible for overseeing internet domains, they are the ones who overall control policies when it comes to domains and top level domains. ICANN officially recognizes three different types of top level domains. 

Generic TLDs (gTLDS) 

Generic TLDs are the main and most common top level domains that people come across. These TLDs are available to anyone and the most common types are .com, .org, and .net. However, in 2012 ICANN opened the internet addressing system for individuals or organizations to apply for new gTLDS thus allowing for hundreds of new Top Level Domains such as .Vegas. Vegas is 1 of only 4 United States cities that have their own TLD and there is no restriction on our TLD in any way, there is no requirement to live or operate in Las Vegas to own a .Vegas domain.

Sponsored TLDs (sTLD)

Another type of top level domain you might encounter is a sponsored TLD (sTLD), these are a lot less common than gTLDs. This term not only applies to the TLD but also the application process ICANN uses for creating these TLDs. Sponsored TLDs are only available to specific organizations, for example, .gov is the most common sTLD since that top level domain is exclusive to government organizations. Other common types of sponsored top level domains are .edu and .post. Unlike generic top level domains, not everyone can use these domains. For example, in order to use .edu you would need permission proof that you are using it for a university domain. 

Country Code TLDs (ccTLD)

The final type of top level domain is a country code (ccTLD) which is meant to represent a specific country, sovereign state, or a dependent territory.  These top level domains are easy to spot since they only consist of two letters. Additionally, using these TLDs is not necessarily limited to living in that specific country, if you live in the United States and want to use .uk you are not restricted from using it.

In fact, some ccTLDs have “re-branded” to identify with a more generic audience.  Example: .io this is often seen with tech-based websites to come across as more sophisticated. In reality .io is the ccTLD for the British Indian Ocean Territory. 

All of these TLDs fall under the oversight of The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers also known as ICANN or IANA (Internet Assigned Numbers Authority).  These are the two organizations that are the governing bodies for the domain name industry.

What is a Domain Registrar?

Domain registrars are also referred to as “DNS registrar” which stands for domain name server registrar. A domain registrar is a company that handles the registration of a domain name and the subsequent management of that domain name for a registrant (end-user).  ICANN oversees both registries, the organization that operates a specific Top Level Domain (TLD) and a registrar, the organization that sells / “registers” a domain name for the end user (“registrant”).  An analogy of the difference between a registrar and a registry is to think of a registry as a manufacturer and the registrar as a retail store. A registry offers its product, in this case, a specific TLD like .Vegas to a retail store like GoDaddy to put it on their shelves allowing the public to register a domain name in that specific TLD.

A part of the role of the domain registrar is to keep track of what names are available within the registry’s database and offer alternatives if a specific domain name is unavailable. Another thing to keep in mind is you will never directly own a domain name, you “rent” a domain name for anywhere between 1-10 years at a time. If you are unable to or don’t want to, renew your domain name, then that name is put back in the database and becomes available again.

The .Vegas brand is available to anyone who wants to be a part of the expressive branding of Vegas through registrars from around the world, such as GoDaddy, United Domains, Rebel, Eurodns, and many others.

Is Using a Generic Top Level Domain Safe?

Image of web search page that reads ‘safety’ and has an admin login pop-up

Due to the regulation of the domain name industry by ICANN and IANA, gTLDs are safe, since they have the same requirements as .com. Any top level domain is safe, just because it is not the common .com does not affect the operation of your website at all. While a majority of people trust .com more because it is the most familiar top level domain, having a gTLD like .Vegas will not make your website vulnerable. In fact, since Vegas is such a staple brand and image, having .Vegas makes users more familiar with the branding. 

How Using Other Generic Top Level Domains Can Improve Your Branding

Close-up of male hands typing on a laptop

When people hear the term “generic” they have negative connotations, but in actuality having a gTLD is a very sought-after and respected top level domain. So how can having a gTLD other than .com improve your branding? Well, while users are more biased towards .com since it is the most recognizable gTLD, that does not mean using creative gTLDs such as .Vegas will hurt your SEO score in any way. In fact, Google has stated that they do not treat new TLDs any differently than .com.

The perks to having a gTLD like .Vegas is it makes your domain more personalized. While even if your business is not locally in Las Vegas if you want your branding to be synonymous with Vegas, then certainly having a domain name with the gTLD improves your overall branding image. Vegas itself is a universal and recognizable brand. In fact, Vegas spends over $100,000,000 every year to promote its city, so take into consideration how this can assist with promoting your own brand if you have a .Vegas domain

Why .Vegas?

You can use a .Vegas domain if you want to promote your brand in an exciting and vibrant manner. This will enhance the strength of your brand in this area even more than a gTLD that is commonly used. With the vote from the City of Las Vegas, as well as the Nevada Development Authority, the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce, and the Las Vegas Convention and Vistors Authority Dot Vegas Inc was given their endorsement to apply for the .Vegas top level domain.

We acknowledge our responsibility to manage and market the .Vegas TLD and we wish to use our expertise to help your company gain access to the most exciting branding available. If you are interested in owning a piece of your own Vegas branding, then why not choose .Vegas for your domain? Connect with us today and turn on the excitement of being a part of the Vegas branding. Have questions or need assistance? Contact us at support@the.vegas and we will gladly assist you with any questions, comments, or concerns.

Worst Domain Names… Ever!

Posted on by adlavacontent

Business owners will spend days agonizing over which domain name (website name) to pick for their business. Should it match the business name exactly? Should it be shorter or longer? Do website visitors want to see something clever or serious? Should you go with a .com, .net, or .somethingelseentirely? What about dashes? What about numbers? What if the domain name is already taken? It’s enough to make any person’s brain implode.

Worst Domain Names… Ever

That must’ve been what happened with these five companies, because something about their domains just doesn’t sound… right. And if you are in the market for creating a new website name for your company, please avoid the mistakes these businesses made:

Speedofart.com

Please tell us this website doesn’t have anything to do with swimmers’ flatulence. Please.

Of course not! It’s the Speed of Art (not the Speedo Fart), and it has nothing to do with, well, you know. It goes without saying this is one URL people won’t race to click on. Friends, in this case, remember: dashes are your friend. Say it with us: speed-of-art.com!

Americanscrapmetal.com

Americans! We crap metal! Not really. Like Speedo Fart — *ahem* Speed of Art — this URL is seriously lacking much-needed dashes. Or just picking a whole different name all together.

Childrenswear.co.uk

What is this?! Where are their parents? Oh… sorry. Children’s Wear. That’s a relief. We were about to start washing people’s mouths out with soap.

Enjoypot.co.kr

This isn’t what it sounds like. We promise. They mean pottery. Enjoy pottery. Don’t we all? Maybe next time, though, spell out the whole word, guys.

How to Create a Good Domain Name

When coming up with your domain name, there are a few details you should keep in mind.

Include a Keyword, If Possible

Google sees everything. Whenever you have an important keyword naturally included in your text, Google gives you a virtual pat on the back and awards you +10 SEO points. In other words, it’s good for your rankings.

However, the important word here is: naturally.

Don’t squeeze a keyword into your domain just for the sake of having it there. But if you can do so naturally, please do.

Keep It Brief

How annoying is it to type in a URL like www.thebestfitnessgearandequipmentforgyms.com? We’re not even sure what we just said.

Remember: your domain will be part of the user experience. Make it easy for people who want to visit your website. Keep it simple…. and short!

Explore Beyond .Com

There’s no worse feeling than that of picking out the perfect domain name and subsequently seeing it’s already in use… except maybe getting water in your shoes. That might feel worse.

But! When it comes to your top level domain (everything after the dot in your URL), you have options. Lots of them. Your domain doesn’t need to be a generic .com. Think outside the box.

Are you having trouble coming up with your domain name for a Las Vegas business? Try .Vegas.

Las Vegas is one of the most visited cities in the world. Everyone wants a piece of it. Now, you can have it. Visit BeBold.Vegas to learn more.