The future of domain registration and web hosting
Finding a suitable URL that ends in “.com,” “.net,” or “.org” isn’t an easy task. But all is not lost for website developers and IT enterprisers.
Diminishing domain names and decreased website visibility are changing the landscape of the Internet.
Finding a suitable URL that ends in “.com,” “.net,” or “.org” isn’t an easy task. Furthermore, it takes a long time to establish a new website as an authority for a product or service.
But all is not lost for website developers and IT enterprises. By employing strategy to domain name searches, and choosing high-quality website hosting, professionals can see near instant high-traffic results, even on newly established websites.
Get Creative with a Generic Top Level Domain
TLDs, or Top Level Domains, used to be necessary to get the public’s attention. But, the ability to snag a good “.com” has dwindled. The short, punchy “.coms” have all been acquired. If you want a really snappy one, you’ll have to pay a lot of money to purchase it from the owner.
A lot of new companies can’t afford the URL they want, so they’re forced to choose an unremarkable URL, which has resulted in many businesses embracing Generic Top Level Domains (gTLD).
A gTLD allows parties to get really creative with their domains. For example, you could create something clever, such as: “go.vegas” or “dirt.cheap.” These creative and clever URLs allow for you to create a memorable domain outside of the typical range of “.com” which can help you boost traffic to your website and create a memorable brand. However, there are many benefits to choosing gTLDs, including:
Improved search engine ranking
If you’re a baker, you may choose the gTLD “.cookies.” “fresh.cookies” could result in your website ranking better for the popular search term: fresh cookies. This allows you to position your website directly in front of people who are searching for exactly what you’re producing.
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Increased branding and visibility
In the article, “Branding with New gTLDs: The Next Marketing Frontier,” author Annalisa Roger notes that, “New gTLDs are powerful and inexpensive marketing tools…” She goes on to state that they “give relevancy to the registrant within the market sector, and are desirable to a new generation of Internet users.” gTLDs also allow businesses to align their brand with their website better. For example, fresh.cookies may be bringing in an influx of new cookie orders to the bakery, this positions the baker to create a brand centered around the production of delicious and fresh cookies and opposed to the variety of products she offered before.
Improve Website Visibility with Innovative Web Hosting
If your hosting company doesn’t consistently update with new features, ditch that host! You’re not just paying for space; you’re paying for uptime, reliability, and a host of other services.
Your hosting service should provide forward-thinking strategies for new websites, as well as a quick start site builder. These things are going to help you create your site faster, and provide you with a visible base. The last thing you need is to waste time and money creating a website no one can find.
Here’s some examples of what a modern hosting service should provide businesses:
- Unlimited disk space
- SSL certificate
- Site builder
- SEO add ons and services
Your web hosting service should improve your visibility from the get-go and the services offered should evolve and update with the Internet’s changing landscape.
The growth of cloud computing
Cloud computing is the on-demand delivery of computing resources and services, usually coupled with a pay-as-you-go payment model. Through cloud computing you can access a wide range of computing resources, whenever you need them, at the click of a button.
No surprise then that the rise of cloud computing has been a sort of revolution in the web hosting landscape. Businesses have moved from dedicated on-premise hardware and are increasingly relying on different kinds of online systems to conduct their daily operations. More often than not these operations are powered by a web host.
The increased reliance has pushed web hosting providers to transition from just delivering a highly available solution, to one that focuses on uptime, while being secure and without compromising performance.
Never Get Too Comfortable…
It’s important that you don’t allow your website’s design and content to grow stagnant. Build a website that is interactive, feature driven, and provides relevant content and information.
It’s important to continue to change with the ever-changing environment. Do what the web demands, such as incorporating photos, videos, and other content.
Having a great domain name is only part of the battle when it comes to owning a website. You may have the perfect domain that encompasses your business in a nutshell, but without updated and relevant content, your website will not be successful. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that one website design will stand the test of time, because it may cause you to lose out on sales and important partnerships.
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Sam has more than six years' experience as a reporter and content writer.