Domain Names

Now that we've discussed blogs/websites we should talk about domain names.  Right now I have the following domain names, and this is why I have them:

www.neauveau.com - This is the first domain name I purchased in 2003, it was just my business name.  I have it forward to the blog you're reading now because if I moved it over it would break all the links/traffic I've had on the web since 2003.

www.handspunartyarn.com - This is the domain name I use for this blog you're reading now.  I chose it because it focuses on what I do as a business.  Also since the word "handspun" and "yarn" are in my domain name, when people search those terms on Google my website is usually on the first or second page because of all the traffic I get.  One thing you may want to consider if you're purchasing multiple domain names is thinking about domain names that have words like "handspun", "yarn", "wool" or "fiber" in them - or whatever key words that you use in your business.  Having those words in your domain name will help your blog/website grow toward the front page of Google.

www.shopneauveau.com - This is the domain name I have for my online shop.  I needed a different domain name for my shop because it's hosted thru Big Cartel.  I used to have a shop thru ETSY but the fees were too high (I was selling too much).  My Big Cartel shop is $30 per month for up to 300 items, I was paying over $150 a month in ETSY fees, so it really worked out for me when I switched a couple years ago.

When you have an ETSY shop you can't really change the way it looks.  But when you have a Big Cartel shop you can purchase a layout and play with the settings to make it look however you want it to look.  To make my shop look professional and pretty, I installed a Tonka Park shop layout. They can be a bit expensive, so for lower priced options google search: big cartel layouts. 

You can forward your domain name directly to your ETSY shop or Artfire shop or Big Cartel shop.  An example would be my friend Heather (Girl with a Hook).  When you click on her domain name www.girlwithahook.com you go directly to her ETSY shop.

Having a domain name for your ETSY shop, blog, or website makes your business look more professional.  It's also easier to fit on a business card.  And it costs $12 or less per year. 

I purchased my domain names thru GoDaddy.  It's easy and they have good customer service, which is key if you aren't very comfortable with a computer.  But there are many different places to buy a domain name online (many cheaper than GoDaddy).  You can google search: buy a domain name to find the best price, or perhaps a sale on purchasing multiple domain names.  I recommend getting a .com and don't waste your money getting every .net, .org, .biz option.  Just yourdomain.com is fine. 

So that's an overview domain names.  If you have any questions about anything I have covered in this blog post - please comment!

Next week we'll talk about how to improve your online shop!