4 answers to your questions about domain names

Your should choose your domain name wisely as it influences your website’s visibility on search engines and therefore the number of people visiting your online shop. These 4 helpful tips will help you choose the perfect domain name for your online shop.

1) Reserve your domain name as soon as possible

Reserving domain names is on a first come, first served basis. Anyone can buy a domain name containing a brand name without it being illegal. If you have a shop and wish to expand your business by opening an online shop then we recommend you reserve domain names relating to your brand and busines now. Consider doing this in all domains (.fr .com .eu etc.). You can check that your brand’s URL has not already been chosen by visiting a register (http://www.nom-domaine.fr/). It costs between 2 and 7 Euros per year to buy a domain name which means you can reserve several without spending too much!

2) Improve your ranking

Choose keywords related to your business for your domain name to improve your website’s ranking. If you only work in France and your customers are French then choose .fr. Your website will rank better in the French search engines that people are using to find you. If you wish to trade on an international level then choose .com. You should consider buying a .com domain name from the beginning just in case you expand in the future. Google does not rank domain names with over 3 keywords or several underscores. Avoid accents as they are seen as additional characters and detrimental to a shop’s ranking. For further information about ranking, please download the white book on natural ranking.

3) AFNIC preliminary exam

Some terms are subject to a preliminary exam in domains managed by AFNIC (the internet register for .fr domain names for France and .re for Ile de la Réunion). AFNIC must check that the domain name “is not likely to damage public order, public decency or laws upheld by the Constitution or the legal system” and that it “is not likely to damage intellectual property rights…” Please visit the AFNIC website for terms subject to this preliminary exam.

4) Buy several domain names related to your business

Start on the right foot and buy domain names directly relating to your business. For example: if you’ve bought www.jouetsenfants.fr then buy www.jouets-enfants.fr, www.jouetspourenfant.fr and www.jeuxenfants.fr too! Your competitors won’t be able to use domain names similar to yours and you will be able to expand your business in the future.

Choosing a domain name is a strategic decision It must contain keywords to optimise your ranking and must be short and simple so your customers remember it easily. Your shop’s domain name must match your ambitions. Do you sell in France alone or in several countries? Consider buying domain names with keywords related to your business so your competitors cannot use domain names which could compete with yours. Turn these 4 handy tips to your advantage now!