Google, Yahoo, Skype, digg, reddit… what do they have in common? Memorable names. Resonant. Brandable. And domains that reflect the brand. It’s that simple. A short look at the Web 2.0 scenery shows us the keyword domains are out. Today there are less my-keyword-domain.com in the search engine results than a few months ago, because the search algorithms have changed and the search engines no longer place so much weight on the keywords of a domain name than in the past. There are other factors that influence search engine rankings, but this is a matter I will discuss in a future article.

Right now let’s focus on the importance of getting domains that reflect your brand. Writers and artists who work alone use their own names as domain names. We know the brand David Airey, the brand David Carson, the brand Yaro Starak (who owns a domain with his name but uses redirect to entrepreneurs-journey.com), the brand Liz Strauss and so many others.

Google them. You’ll find that they are all focused on personal branding and they bought domains that are the exact mirrors of their brands.

Companies don’t always use people’s names. They create a brand after careful market research and then they start promoting that brand.

If they’d use keywords based domains instead of the name of their brands, this will confuse the target audience.

Imagine a Skype commercial that sounds like: “call free online with Skype. Visit www.free-online-calls.com to learn how.” This would hurt Skype’s branding. It would make it look unprofessional, unreliable, focused on the search engines rather than on the consumers, and the list could go on.

It is probably good to know that any business, no matter how small, needs good planning to be successful. Maybe not a business-plan in the technical meaning of the term, but a draft of clear goals and strategies.

Even businesses that start in a garage are careful about their marketing strategies.

So the answers to “how to become a web brand” are clear:

  • make a market analysis
  • make a business plan
  • choose a memorable name for your online company
  • buy a domain with the same name
  • park the domain on a reliable web host
  • create a memorable logotype
  • design a professional, user centric, consistent, branded and accessible website
  • start the buzz focusing on gaining trust and becoming a recognized authority in your field
  • deliver what you promise
  • and practice what you preach.

These rules are simple and solid. If you add to the list “learn from the best and specifically learn from their mistakes” your horizons broaden.And don’t forget about consistency. Deliver your message consistently. Don’t change statements with the weather.

Assume responsibility for your actions. A responsible entrepreneur is a trustworthy business partner.

Always remember: people do business with people and buy from companies they know, like and trust. The prices are less important. As long as what you have to offer addresses a real need and offers real answers, you will gain awareness and trust. From that point on it is only up to your marketing effort to keep your brand alive on the web.

Article by Mihaela Lica for Top Hosting Center (http://www.tophostingcenter.com/) - the reliable, low-cost business-level web host you are looking for to establish a solid online presence.