Small Business, Big Presence: How a Domain Name Levels the Playing Field

Want to go head-to-head with the big boys in your industry?

This is something that every small business owner craves.

There is, of course, the obvious problem with that dream. Big businesses have huge marketing budgets, entire teams of branding experts, and decades of built up trust.

The good news is that a professional domain name levels that playing field right there and then.

It gives small businesses the same level of credibility and online presence that took massive brands decades to build up.

And the best part of all is that domain registration services have made it both affordable and simple to get started.

In this post we’ll be taking a look at…

• Why Your Domain Name Matters More Than You Think
• How Domain Names Build Instant Credibility
• The Connection Between Domains and Customer Trust
• Setting Your Domain Up The Right Way

Why Your Domain Name Matters More Than You Think

Let’s start with the obvious. How do people find a business in the 21st century?

They Google them. They click on their website. They make a snap judgement based on what they find there.

But here’s the interesting part…

Your domain name gives customers an instant message about your business. If it’s a custom name, it tells them that you’re legitimate and professional.

If it’s not a custom domain, then the onus is on you to prove that you’re a real company. Customers are likely to assume that you’re just some hobbyist making stuff in your garage.

And that assumption costs sales.

When the time comes to set up shop and figure out where to purchase a domain, small business owners should be on the lookout for domain registration services that offer fast and easy setup, 24/7 support, and affordable pricing. The right domain provider can make all the difference in the world.

In fact, did you know that according to Business Dasher, 75% of consumers will judge the credibility of a business based on their website design alone? We’ve all done it at some point in our lives. And that initial judgment begins with the domain name itself.

A custom domain says “professional” without you having to do a thing. A free subdomain says “amateur” just as quickly.

Fairly simple stuff, right?

How Domain Names Build Instant Credibility

Major brands have spent literally billions of dollars in marketing and advertising to build up the recognition that they have today.

Small businesses don’t have that kind of money or reach. But they do have one powerful tool in their arsenal…

A memorable domain name.

When potential customers first see a professional domain name, a number of things happen in their minds:

• Trust increases – the business appears to be established and legitimate
• Brand recall improves – it’s easier to remember and look up later
• Professionalism shines through – first impressions become positive

For example, would you rather buy from “bestcakes.com” or “bestcakes.freewebsite.net”? No contest, right? One of those businesses looks like a real company. The other looks like it’s still testing the waters.

Domain registration services have opened up the professional web address to everyone, not just the multi-million dollar companies. If you’re a small business without a big budget, you don’t need to look amateur online.

This is the great equaliser.

The Connection Between Domains and Customer Trust

Trust is a huge, huge factor in business.

If people don’t trust you, then they won’t give you their credit card information. They won’t let you take their personal data. And they certainly won’t buy from you more than once.

So what do the numbers say?

According to research from Fit Small Business, 31% of shoppers decided not to buy from a small business due to the fact that it didn’t even have a website.

Almost one in three potential customers disappeared because a business didn’t have a website.

Now, imagine what happens when they land on a professional-looking website with a custom domain vs landing on a page that looks like it was made for free with one of those drag and drop website builders.

We don’t need the conversion numbers to know that professional websites have far better conversion rates. But can you guess what all of those professional websites have in common?

That’s right, a good domain name. The right domain name.

Your domain gives off a number of subconscious signals that contribute to that all-important sense of trust. Customers aren’t actively thinking about the domain name they’ve landed on.

But they’re picking up on the fact that it looks professional, like a business that is going to be around for a while and not disappear with their money.

This is the massive importance of domain registration services for small businesses. They’re here to allow you to compete with those giant corporations.

Setting Your Domain Up The Right Way

Now you know the reasons, you might be ready to claim your own piece of the online world.

There’s not a huge amount to setting up a domain. But there are a few things to keep in mind before you go charging in without a plan.

Pick a memorable name. Short. Easy to spell. Simple to say. This should be one of your primary goals with a domain name. If someone tells you that they’re going to shop at your store, you want them to remember the domain name easily.

Pick the right extension. Most businesses will go with .com, since this is what people expect to see. Country specific extensions like .sg can work well if you’re trying to drive local traffic. Industry specific extensions are also a great way to make yourself stand out.

Secure the variations. If your budget allows, then it’s a good idea to purchase some variations on your business name. That includes common misspellings as well as alternative extensions. If a competitor were to grab a similar domain name, they could easily drive confusion amongst your customer base.

Point it to the right place. A domain is one half of the equation. You then need to build a professional website to point that domain at. The whole thing needs to work together and give customers a sense of cohesion.

Domain registration services often offer packages that bundle all of these things together. This helps to make it faster and easier to get set up with everything working correctly.

The Mistakes Small Businesses Make

A lot of small business owners make the following mistakes.

They try to put all of their energy into social media. They think that a free website is good enough. They get so caught up in running the actual business that they never find the time to get a proper domain.

Every single day that a small business owner ignores their digital presence, they’re losing potential customers who might question the legitimacy of their business.

Every single day that a small business owner invests in their online presence, they’re cementing their spot as a competitor to major corporations in the same industry.

It’s important to remember one fact about the internet…

Online presence is no longer optional. It is a necessity.

Domain names are the foundation. The website. The email address. The marketing. All of that stuff needs to build on top of that original domain name.

When a business invests early in domains, it sets itself up as a serious player. One that customers will notice and associate with professionalism and legitimacy.

Bringing It All Together

A domain name is more than just your web address. It’s a trust signal, a credibility builder, and a competitive advantage.

The differences that used to separate small businesses from the bigger fish in their pond have all been washed away. Domain registration services have made professional online presence available to every business owner on the planet.

If you’ll allow me a quick summary…

• Domain names provide instant credibility with customers
• Professional domains build trust before customers ever visit your site
• Small businesses without proper domains are losing nearly a third of potential buyers
• Setting up a domain is quick, easy, and affordable
• Small businesses that invest in domains early on are positioned for long-term success

The online world has changed everything. Small businesses now have access to the same tools and methods that built the billion-dollar brands of the world.

The question now is if you are going to take advantage of those tools or not.