SEO Success: A keyword Based Domain Name

Getting the best search engine listings possible for your online shop is no easy feat. As well as trying to optimise individual pages from your ecommerce website, you also need to consider your choice of domain name which can make or break your chances of getting listed in a decent position.

Several examples of poorly SEO targeted URLs have lead to ecommerce software based shops having low page rankings; a notion which does not bode well for their company and service. Generally speaking, a domain name should provide the balance between effectively branding the business and being search engine friendly to get optimal results.

One way of achieving this is to create a keyword based domain name that will get picked up quite successfully by the search engines, rather than something with little relevance to the product(s) you sell. For example, if your ecommerce business specialises in selling art materials you’ll want ‘art’ to feature as the keyword in your URL.

Customary domain names such as ‘artshop’ or ‘artsupplies’ have probably already been registered so you need to think of something else using ‘art’ as a central term. You could try something creative like your first name + art (helensart) – a domain name which has a personal edge and combines that all important keyword. SEO is an ongoing activity, but choosing the right domain name for your online shop really does help with search engine exposure.

As the ecommerce trade picks up pace, online shop merchants are required to think what’s best for their business. Make sure you optimise your URL by using the tips provided in this article and register a keyword targeted domain name – one that also uses your business brand. You want your target market to find you easily in the search engines!

Settling on a domain name is all well and good, but how do you know if it’s accessible or not? There’s a website called ‘hexillion.com’ you can use for checking domain name availability, or alternatively go to your ecommerce software provider as a reliable source. Some may choose to go through a domain registration company, but it depends on what you feel most confident with. Keeping costs to a minimum is obviously something to bear in mind.

A question asked by most online shop merchants is, ‘should I register the .com or .co.uk domain for my ecommerce business?’ The ideal situation would be to register both, as not doing so leaves one or the other open to exploitation. A competitor can pilfer your (direct) traffic if a customer types .co.uk into their web browser when you’re in fact a .com online shop, for example.

With a view to securing all direct traffic in addition to natural search engine traffic; set the .co.uk as your core domain and simply target your .com to this domain. If you encounter any questions about registering a domain name for your ecommerce website, be sure to speak to your ecommerce software provider. The sooner you’re sorted and happy with a fully functional URL, the quicker you can get up and running with your ecommerce website.

About the Author:
Steven Hickey is the Head of Commercial Development at ekmPowershop.com - the award winning ecommerce software provider and email marketing softwarecompany in the UK.

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