Back in the day, entrepreneurs preferred a physical store and didn’t bother getting a domain name for their business. But since the pandemic began, there’s been a huge spike in domain name registrations.
In fact, a total of 366.8 million domain names were registered by the end of the first quarter of 2020. That means, for some unlucky few who waited too long, their domain name is long gone.
Don’t wait until it’s too late. Launch your store online with the most appropriate domain — .store.
5 Advantages of Getting a .STORE Domain Extension
The perfect domain name is one people can remember on top of their head. And when people remember you, they remember your products or services. A huge part of being unforgettable in the online world is getting a strapping domain extension.
And since its launch in 2016, .store is the preferred domain extension of over 475,000 successful businesses worldwide. Here’s why:
It represents your brand
These days, branding is everything. With hundreds of brands already selling online, it can be hard to stay true to your brand and connect with your customers at the same time. Your domain name plays a pivotal role in that area.
Whether you’ll opt for a moniker or use your business name directly, a .store domain represents who you are and what you offer your audience.
It adds credibility to your business
Your domain name should look professional and personalised. While it’s tempting to get free web hosting, your brand name will only be a subdomain to the hosting provider’s domain.
If you get a free WordPress website, your domain name will look like this: www.yourname.wordpress.com. That doesn’t really sound enticing and reputable, now does it?
Getting a .store domain for your brand tells customers you mean business, and that they can make safe and secure transactions with you.
It sets you apart from other ecommerce sites
There are a lot of ecommerce sites on the web right now. And if you don’t stand out, you don’t stand a chance.
In 2020 alone, ecommerce sites jumped by 68%! With a lot of businesses seeking refuge online to keep their business afloat, your dream domain name might already be taken. But standing out is still possible thanks to the .store domain extension.
If your dream .com domain is already taken, here are some .store suggestions you can try:
- www.yourname.store
- www.brandname.store
- www.productname.store
- www.businessname.store
- www.brand+location.store
It helps you communicate your brand better
.store is straightforward and concise. When customers visit your site, it’s because they already know that you’re an online store. No need for aggressive marketing because your domain name already speaks for itself.
If your domain name is www.organicmerch.store, then it’s clear to your customers that you’re selling organic products. You create an instant connection with your customers upon the very first interaction.
READ: 4 Reasons You Should Register Multiple Domain Names
It’s memorable and Google-friendly
When it comes to domains, the shorter, the better. So instead of the word ‘store’ to your domain name, get a .store extension instead.
If your domain name is www.organicmerchstore.com, it’s still clear you’re selling organic merch. But anyone can still register www.organicmerch.store and they can be your biggest competitor. Plus, it’s catchier and easier to recall because it’s shorter.
And the biggest downside of all, Google will likely rank the latter more than yours because the domain name sounds more relevant to the search query.
Get .STORE and .COM for Your Ecommerce Site
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room. Which domain is better: .com or .store?
Truth is, getting both domain extensions makes sense. When customers type in your domain name in .com instead of a .store, they may get directed to a competitor with the same brand name as yours.
Since .com is generic, and it’s what most people are accustomed to typing as opposed to .store, you can still drive all those visitors to your ecommerce site through domain forwarding.
On the other hand, .store is shorter, catchier, and has a great brand recall. Registering your business in both domains is definitely a win-win situation for your business!
The Future of Ecommerce is .STORE
If there’s one thing entrepreneurs learned in 2020, it’s the importance of having a website for their business. With that in mind, the number of ecommerce sites will continuously grow over the next years.
So, before it’s too late for you, take advantage of what .store, together with .com, can offer your business in the online world. To help you get started, here’s a free online course about all the essentials in creating a website.
Leverage all the information above and watch your traffic and sales go up.
