What Are Premium Domain Names and Why Do You Need One?
You want your business to be successful right off the bat, and premium domain names might be the best first step. Here, we discuss what premium domain names even are and share a few tips to help you purchase them.
Elements of a premium domain name
Premium domain names are short, easy, and highly marketable names that are usually already bought by someone and are available for sale for a “premium” value. They are priced higher than normal domains due to a few factors:
- They have high marketability thanks to their unique and trendy names that are instantly recognizable by the target audience.
- Premium domain names tend to be shorter in length and are easier to remember. (Example: Facebook bought “fb.com” as it was used almost as much as “facebook.com”). While not on our list of most expensive domain names ever sold, it certainly commanded a high price.
- They have optimized keywords that are hard to find in new domain names.
- They usually end in the popular “.com” extension.
There are a few other things to consider and a few criteria that are used to qualify your domain name as premium. The first is if they are generic or single word domain and whether they have a .com or another globally driven brand.
They should also be pronounceable and meaningful and should have a desired commercial appeal. Similarly, does the name you want to have a clear path to developmental success or is it random and highly specific?
A premium domain might also already have a rich-SEO history and what we call a “white-hat” SEO past. Your domain should be catchy, brandable, and most importantly – scalable.
Basically, you’re looking for a timeless domain that won’t go out of style or be easily forgotten. A domain name consultant can advise here, and can prove invaluable when investigating your intended domain name’s past.
When you’re looking to add a domain name to your business, it’s important to focus on some of these pointers above if you want to add value and long-term equity to your overall brand. If you plan on selling your business someday, you want to choose a name that can be resold; try and give yourself a little digital curb appeal for if the business doesn’t pan out down the road.
Why Premium Domain Names Are Necessary For Your Business
While they’re more expensive, premium domain names offer a range of benefits that often match that price and provide a pay-off in the long term.
The first benefit you can take advantage of is a higher reach and resonance with your audience. A memorable domain name will stick in consumers’ minds and create a more credible image around your brand. If they remember your domain name, they’re more likely to search directly for it. Check out our guide to choosing a strong brand name for your business.
Premium domains will typically contain relevant keywords that are used frequently by consumers of your chosen business segment. This provides a potential pool of traffic already searching for your domain – readily available for you to access.
Premium domain names are not essential when you’re first starting out and do not have a lot of capital. They are often expensive and might be a risky investment at the beginning. Once your business starts growing, a premium domain name will help take your online presence to the next level and open you to a world of new opportunities. The Name Experts team regularly helps provide detailed strategies about great business names to help your startup off the ground.
