When we talk about real estate, people often emphasize how important the location is. But for websites, it's the address they care about most – the website address or domain name. Visitors don't really need to know where your small business website is stored, as long as they can find the right address to get there. So, it's really crucial to think about your domain name just like you would think about your business name. This way, you can make it easy for customers to reach out to you, whether they're calling or emailing.

However, your web address can do even more for your startup than just guiding people to your website. Especially if you choose a custom domain name, it can serve multiple purposes. So, let's break down all the important details about custom website addresses to help you choose the best option for your business.

What is a Personalized Website Address?

In simple terms, the actual address for your website is known as an IP address, like 192.0.2.1 or 2001:db8:0:1234:0:567:8:1. If even one character is entered wrong, users won't find your site. Not exactly user-friendly, is it?

Instead, a website address name takes the place of the complex IP address. It's something easier to type and remember, like www.lays.com or www.cars.

A custom website address replaces the free account subdomain name from a website creation service. For example:

Dave's subdomain: mailchimp.com/dave

Dave's custom domain: dave.com

As you see, account domains have extra characters and might even have confusing brand names. Imagine telling a potential customer "my site is dave.mailchimp.com/dave." Now think about saying "find me at dave.com." Way better, right? Custom domains or website addresses tidy up the address and make it user-friendly (and easy to remember).

Plus, with custom website address, you get to use an email address that's all about you and your business. So, instead of emailing as henry@gmail.com, you can communicate with customers as henry@school.com. Sounds better, doesn't it? You bet, Henry.

Why are Personalized Website address Important for Small Businesses?

Got it, a custom domain is a fancier web address. But how does that actually benefit your business? Let's dive into the reasons why it matters.

• Building Your Brand

A custom web address is the initial step to bring all your contact details, addresses, business name, and more under one cohesive brand umbrella. This consistency helps customers recognize you, your offerings, and your content across different platforms. It cultivates trust, credibility, and authority, paving the way for you to become a prominent figure in your industry.

• Stand Out Online

In a sea of similar-looking website creation services, differentiation can be tough. Set yourself apart by embracing a custom web address name that emphasizes what truly matters – your business. Don't let the platform's name overshadow your uniqueness.

• Memorability

We've touched on this, but it's worth stressing – a custom web address name is way easier to remember than a jumble of numbers, letters, and symbols. It's not just easier to remember but also simpler to say compared to an account web address like something.cars.com/something.

• Enhanced Discoverability

A custom web address name makes it simpler for potential customers to find you online if they've come across your name elsewhere.

In its simplest form, someone types your business name into the search bar, hits enter, and voilà – your business tops the search results. Your custom web address matches their search exactly, setting you apart from the rest.

However, search results on Google are ranked by a clever algorithm that considers factors like content, relevance, and keywords. So, you might not snag the top spot right away. But your custom web address plays a role: one element in ranking is the presence of keywords in the web address. So, if your custom web address packs in keywords relevant to your business (no extras like Weebly or Notion), you're on track to better rankings. Pretty awesome, right?