Go Local!

People try to go on the web and go global. There isn’t wrong with that, but think of the opportunities you’re missing for the local market. Now, I wouldn’t be one to preach which market is better. It’s your business, right? But if you ever want togo local with your website, here are a few tips so you don’t get lost in the noise.

If you’re going local, drop the .com. No, seriously. Okay, .com domains are reasonably priced and abundant, but to get the domain you want, it’s impossible. They’re everywhere, and they won’t let people remember your brand easily. Also, this applies to .net and .org too.

Same goes for .info, .biz, and all those other domains. Can we not get those domains, please? Honestly, there’s nothing wrong with those domains per se, but spammers have overrun those TLDs. And those domains are going out for pretty cheap.Do you want your business to look cheap and be associated with spammers? I didn’t think so.

Get the ccTLD. Most ccTLDs aren’t as crowded as .coms, and they let you stand out. And they will appeal more to the local market. But don’t worry, getting the local ccTLD doesn’t mean you’ll be stuck in the local market. A website can be seen and accessed internationally of course, but getting a local domain will help you access the local market easier.

Also, ccTLDs have an edge over other TLDs in Google searches, but that’s something I’ll discuss next time.

How to Choose the Wrong Domain Name

There are currently eighty million .com domains out there. Okay, it’s a pretty number to be in awe of, but take note that eighty million is also a number that signifies your competition. There are eighty million domains, that means there is a big chance that the domain name you want is taken.

Most people, when faced by the fact that their domain name is taken, they resort to a few solutions. In fact, it’s weird that people are resorting to bastardizing their brand name. Remember, people, your domain is also your brand name. Don’t go adding “e-” something to your domain. People will forget that. Stick to your brand.

Don’t convolute your domain with:

• Hyphens (my-company.com)
• Weird words/letters added to your domain (ecompanyonline.com)
• Totally long domain name that nobody will remember (thisisaverylongdomainnameaniamsureyoullhavetroubletypingthis.com)
• The wrong ccTLD (using .cn when you’re in fact based in the Philippines)

Now guys, tell me what bad domain names you can come up with!

NEXT: Go Local