Should I Use a .store Domain for My Ecommerce Website?

Are you looking to find a memorable domain name for your business? The problem is that many popular domain extensions like .com and .net are already taken. Therefore, it can be difficult to find a name that’s available and that still enables you to build credibility and trust with customers. 

Instead, you might consider using the .store domain extension. This offers plenty of advantages. For instance, it’s less popular so it can be easier to secure your ideal domain name. It can even boost searchability and enhance brand perception. 

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the benefits of a .store domain. Then, we’ll discuss some key factors to help you choose the right option for your online business. Finally, we’ll show you how to get your .store domain. Let’s jump right in! 

Why You Might Choose a .store Domain

Domain extensions or top-level domains (TLDs) form the final part of your website’s domain name. Popular options include .com, .co, and .net. However, since these TLDs are in high demand, it can be difficult to secure your perfect domain name using one of these extensions.

Therefore, you might need to consider more niche alternatives. These can have plenty of other advantages besides availability.

If you sell products on your website, the .store domain extension might be a good fit. For starters, it’s a great way to enhance branding and make the purpose of your website immediately clear to those who aren’t familiar with your business.

Additionally, the .store TLD can establish credibility, so it can help you increase trust with new customers.

Since .store domains are less popular than established TLDs like .com, you’re less likely to have to compromise on your preferred domain name. For example, if you were set on the .com extension, you may be forced to tweak spellings or add numbers to the domain to make it distinct.

When you use a .store domain, you might even be able to drive more organic traffic from search engine results pages. This is because the extension sends a clear message to search engines that your website is an online store, so your content can gain higher rankings for searches related to online shopping.

In fact, Contrast carried out a year-long experiment that found that .store domains performed better than .com domains in paid and organic searches.

How to Choose a .store Domain Name

Now that you know the benefits of using .store domains, there are some additional factors to consider before registering your preferred domain. First, it’s best to keep website domains short so that they’re easy to type (and remember).

When you think about websites that you visit regularly, you’ll often find that the root domain consists of just one or two words:

And, the words themselves are usually no longer than two syllables. In fact, some of the best domains (and brand names) consist of just one four-letter word like Nike, ASOS, and eBay.

Longer domains are more prone to misspellings and typos. Plus, with a large emphasis on usability, the easier a domain is to read, the better it’s considered by search engines.

What’s more, it can be a good idea to implement relevant keywords to boost visibility in the search results. But, it’s important to make sure that this feels like a natural choice for your brand:

You can find search terms related to your business using Google Keyword Planner. Then, you can select those with a high search volume and incorporate them into your root domain.

To optimize your domain for voice searches and mobile devices, you’ll want to avoid hyphens, double letters, special characters, and numbers. This reduces the likelihood of mispronunciations and removes any confusion.

Once you find a domain name that you feel has potential, it’s important to conduct some research to make sure it has a clean history. For instance, you might want to search the trademark database to ensure that the domain name isn’t already registered. You can also look up the domain history and run Google and social media searches.

Who Should Use a .store Domain?

So far, we’ve discussed the benefits of .store domain names and explored some ideas for choosing the best ones. In this section, we’ll help you decide whether a .store domain name can be the right choice for your website.

In general, .store domains are a great fit for anyone who sells products or services online. You might run an ecommerce store or a dropshipping business.

You might also have a website where you list affiliate products, or sell merchandise that features your company name or logo:

In these instances, the .store domain makes it immediately obvious to visitors that they can make purchases on your website. And, since it looks more professional than alternatives like .biz, it can be an effective way to build trust with shoppers and improve your business reputation.

How to Register a .store Domain Name for Your Business

If you feel that your business can benefit from the .store domain name, you’ll need to find a reputable domain registrar. There are many options on the market, but SirsteveHQ makes an excellent choice.

To get started, you can use the free domain search tool to check whether your ideal domain is available:

You can filter the search results by industry, availability, or premium domains. Then, simply add the domain to your cart and proceed to the checkout page.

With SirsteveHQ, you’ll find several domain options which you can add to your order. These include DNS management, email forwarding, and domain privacy protection. The latter is recommended if you want to keep your personal information hidden on the internet.

If you host your website with a provider other than SirsteveHQ, you can add your nameservers here as well:

That said, some of SirsteveHQ’s hosting plans include free domain registration. Plus, you can get free SSL certificates, a free email domain, daily backups, automatic updates, and more.

The best part is that if you choose SirsteveHQ hosting and domains, you can manage your website resources from a dedicated dashboard. And, with 24/7 access to an expert support team, it’s quick and easy to resolve website issues.

At this point, all that’s left to do is review your order and pay for your domain name. Then, you can manage your domain(s) from a dedicated client area if you want to enable any domain add-ons, renew your domain, or change the nameservers.

Conclusion

It can be tempting to stick with more established top level domains like .com and .co. However, the .store domain can offer more availability, improve brand recognition, and help you establish trust with customers right from the get-go.

Keep in mind that domains ought to be short, clear, and memorable. You can also include keywords to maximize visibility in search engines. And, it’s best to avoid hyphens, numbers, and complex spellings.

If you’re ready to set up your .store domain, SirsteveHQ is an excellent domain registrar. You can use the domain search tool for free, and then select useful add-ons like domain protection. Plus, you can bundle domains and web hosting together. Get started today!