Your website is typically the first place customers go to learn about your business, shaping their impression of your product or service. Yet some companies still use generic or platform-branded URLs instead of adopting a custom domain, missing a vital opportunity to stand out online.
Your domain name is more than a technical detail; it directly impacts brand recognition, credibility, and growth.
What is a custom domain?
Before the custom domain setup, you should know that a custom domain is a unique web address, like “yourbrand.com,” that replaces a generic domain name like “yourstore.app” assigned by the website builder or platform.
The custom domain name is your main online address. This is the link users type into their browsers to go to your site, blog, ecommerce store, or landing pages. You purchase, register, and manage this domain yourself.
How custom domains work
Getting a custom domain means going through domain registration. Here’s how:
The domain registrar’s role
A domain registrar is a company that legally sells domain names. You can buy a domain name from a third-party provider by:
- Searching for the domain name you want and checking its availability.
- Registering the domain.
- Connecting it to your website and hosting platforms.
- Updating the records in the Domain Name System (DNS) to verify ownership.
After you complete the whole process, you can now use and control your new personalized domain.
Why you need a custom domain for your business
Here are the best reasons why you should:
Builds trust and credibility.
A custom domain makes your business look legitimate. Customers will more likely trust a business with a clean and branded URL. It also makes your brand memorable for online campaigns, landing pages, and checkout flows.
Improves brand identity and recognition.
Having a custom domain name reinforces your brand identity online, especially in links, emails, and apps. Customers will recognize your brand in the saturated internet space.
Supports search engine optimization (SEO).
A domain alone won’t shoot your rankings to the first page. However, it supports SEO when you add quality content inside it.
Search engines like Google favor clear, trustworthy domains with consistent branding and strong backlinks to your main domain.
Enables professional email addresses.
A custom email domain lets you receive emails at custom addresses. It looks more professional than free email services and shows your brand’s credibility.
Offers full ownership and control.
Owning your domain means controlling your web address, DNS records, where your site is hosted, and the services or tools connected to it. You’re not locked into a single platform, and you won’t have to rebrand anytime soon.
Flexible for growth and expansion.
A custom domain remains with your business as it expands. You can use it for a main site, a blog, multiple landing pages, apps, portals, client dashboards, and future online services.
The price of a custom domain name
The custom domain cost is low compared to its long-term value. The typical pricing is at $10-20 annually for most domains.
However, premium domains may cost more, and some platforms offer a free domain for the first year.
Owning your domain saves you money for a long time. You get to avoid paying for rebranding and migration when you update your website, or you need to create a whole new one.
How to choose the perfect domain name
Keep these things in mind when choosing your domain name:
- Keep the name short and easy to spell.
- Don’t use numbers and special characters.
- Match your business name with the domain name.
- Pick the right domain extension based on your business or location. .org for organizations or .us if you’re located within the United States.
- Make it easy to say and remember.
- Verify, test, and confirm your domain name choice before paying for it.
When you start using your custom domain, you can host it on ThriveCart’s platform for your online store’s checkout process. ThriveCart enables you to create high-converting pages, manage payments, and enhance your checkout experiences, fully integrating your custom domain into your sales process.
Conclusion
A custom domain works more than your usual URL. It boosts your brand, supports your SEO initiatives, and makes you fully own your digital identity. It also adds a professional touch to your online presence, giving your site a more legitimate feel to customers who want to transact with you.
