Every great story needs a brand. For your brand, this is going to begin with a domain name. This is your brand's home — your address in the digital universe. It's not just 'any' address, but one that's relevant to your brand's identity, and ultimately something that resonates with you and that you like.
Tasks for this Lesson:
- Choosing a Domain Name
- Buy Your Brandable Domain
- Moving Your Existing Website Over to Your New Domain
There are also many other benefits to having your own domain name:
- Be able to rank in search engines
- Get your own "domain specific" email addresses
- Ability to join & get approved by affiliate programs
- Get paid through advertising networks like Google Adsense
- Ability to add Google Console & Analytics to your website
- Start establishing “authority” right at the outset of your business
As you can see, this is an important first step of your business that comes with a lot of benefits.
But it’s essential that you select a domain name that tells a compelling story about what you do and is easy for customers to find and remember. In this lesson, we are going to help you solidify your brand through your own .com domain name.
Secure Your Free Domain as a Premium Member using SiteDomains
Why splurge when you have something premium waiting for you? When you become a Wealthy Affiliate Premium or Premium Plus+ Member, it's time to reap the rewards. When you move your membership to a Premium membership, you get a FREE domain through our very own SiteDomains platform, and if you go Premium Plus+, you are going to get TWO FREE domains.
Our SiteDomains interface is user-friendly, guiding you smoothly through the process of domain selection. Here are the simple steps to choosing the perfect domain name.
- Choose something that is relevant to your niche
- Choose something that you LIKE
- Choose a .com domain
- Avoid a domain with hyphens or numbers in it
To come up with your concept and to search for available domains, I recommend that you use some of the free searches there. Namy.AI is a good one and will help you come up with a domain that you like, and that is available.
Your first choice of domain name might not be available, and the “brand” you initially chose when you built your website. No need to panic if that is the case. If the universe aligns and your domain name is available, it's your lucky day…if not, choose something similar, or completely different.
Here is an example search in Namy.AI:
https://namy.ai/generate?prefix=succeed with kyle
First search, and I think I found a domain I like. SucceedWithKyle.com. So I am going to purchase this over at SiteDomains, but remember your brand is something that YOU like. You don’t need to worry about keywords, it should be relevant to your niche and something that resonates with you.
Also remember that being a Premium or Premium Plus+ Member gets you your first domain absolutely FREE.
If you ever want to run your domain ideas by us, feel free to jump into comments at the bottom of this lesson and leave your domain ideas, and the community will be happy to give you some feedback. ;)
Alright the next steps await. Now that we have our brand-new domain, we're ready for the next phase: transitioning.
Domain Hack Tip: You can also use ChatGPT (which we are going to be getting into later on in the training) to help you come up with domain ideas as well. If you are looking for domain ideas, use this prompt…
PROMPT: Create a list of domain names for a [your niche OR your brand] website is an exciting task! Here are 50 brandable .com domain name suggestions.
Steps to Getting Your Free Domain as a Premium Level Member
Claiming your free domain is incredibly user-friendly, and here's how:
- STEP 1: Navigate to SiteDomains. This is where you choose your domain. Here is the direct link to this platform, where you can purchase and buy domains.
https://my.wealthyaffiliate.com/websites/domains - STEP 2: Key-In Your Desired Domain Name. It can be your brand name, a catchy phrase, or a strategic keyword - this is your creative canvas!
- STEP 3: Verify It's Available and Claim It. If it’s up for grabs, it's yours! As a Premium or P+ Member, this first-time domain won't cost you a dime! But remember, the internet waits for no one, so if you found a perfect fit, make sure you purchase it.
- STEP 4: Move Your Website Over to Your New Domain. Use the MOVE feature within the SiteManager to move your initial “practice” .siterubix.com website to your NEW domain.
And, voila! Just like that, you’re now the proud owner of your very own domain name….your own piece of virtual real estate! At Wealthy Affiliate our goal has been to simplify what were once complex processes, and this is exactly what we mean. :)
Embrace Your NEW Brand.
We've reached the end of the second step in the exciting entrepreneurial journey....the “unveiling of your brand” phase. The moment where your brand, through your chosen domain name, comes to life.
Remember, your brand isn't just some crazy concept . This is going to be something that moves forward with you and grows in value as you build out your business.
In no way does this mean your journey ends; however, this is the start of the fun. I remember 18 years back when we purchased WealthyAffiliate.com, with just the simple goal of getting ONE customer. Here we are 18 years later, being full-time online and helping millions of people start their businesses online, and MANY succeed and create FULL-TIME businesses online.
Today is your first step in YOUR brand’s journey. As we move forward we are going to be building out this brand into something tangible, something that is high value, and something that will lead you to generating passive, and sustainable income online.
Remember, you've got Wealthy Affiliate's assortment of tools and an ever-welcoming community to count on, every step of the way. We are going to continue helping you through this exciting process as you move forward within the training.
If you have any questions about the "brand" step, leave your questions below and we will be happy to give you hand.
Now let’s jump into the next lesson, where we will be creating our first website pages.
Tasks for this Lesson:
- Choosing a Domain Name
- Buy Your Brandable Domain
- Moving Your Existing Website Over to Your New Domain