Choosing the Right Domain Makes a BIG Difference 

If you're searching for the right domain name, you probably already know how tough it can be. There are a few things you have to deal with when it comes to choosing your domain such as compliance, availability, brand recognition, and marketability. Almost all agents have a difficult time unless you already have your name and the .com is available- at that point all you have to do is make sure you're in compliance.

At RealSavvy, we talk to clients daily about the decision of getting the right domain name. Our real estate websites that we design and build often are best when branded with a good name and logo. It's a reflection of your business and actually weighs in when clients decide to work with you. 

Compliance

Most real estate markets have rules where you can't use names in your domain such as "realty" or anything that suggests an individual agent is a broker or the owner of the real estate company. Even the National Board of Realtors has a rule where you can't use the word REALTOR along with descriptive terms such as southaustinrealtors.com unless it's the actual name of the brokerage. Please make sure you research before you even purchase your domain name to make sure you are compliant. You don't want to waste a bunch of money on random domains and then find out you can't even use it.

Availability 

It's 2018 and almost every single real estate professional has a domain name. Some brokerages take domain names that relate to their business area and don't even necessarily use them. Domains are like real estate online. The best one's are almost always taken and you're lucky if you can find the .com extension of the name you really want. Finding domains with your personal name are probably easier but finding domains such as your city name along with the word 'real estate' next to it is highly uncommon unless someone forgets to renew it. I highly recommend looking up domain names that can benefit your business and purchase them if it make sense. The best ones often have less words and are domains that will be memorable for your clients or people you are marketing to. 

Brand Recognition & Marketability

Do people know your brand? Will people remember your domain name if you tell them to search for properties on your site? The big myth is that some agents think they simply can't compete with the likes of brands or online search portals like Zillow, Trulia and Realtor.com - that's just not true. We talk to top agents every day at RealSavvy who are successfully utilizing their own website and app to make sure client's stay engaged with them. 

When referring people to your own website you want to be able to provide them a domain that they will remember and one where they can easily refer you. Keep that in mind when purchasing your domain. Is it easy to say when saying it out loud? Is it easy to type? If the answer is yes on both, then you most like have a great domain name. 

As you may know, .com domains will always hold the most trust in consumer's view since almost every website they deal with daily is hosted on a .com. Other great domain extensions are .co and .net. They are good options if the .com version of your site is taken. I probably wouldn't put a site up on a .co or .net if the .com already has a realtor using it. You could get your clients or even their clients confused, which if in the same market, could cause legal issues and most likely isn't worth the trouble.

Remember, your domain is an investment. The more you put into it the more you'll get it out. The website that's hosted on that domain name is the next big thing you'll need to decide on. User experience, customizations, and scalability are some things you need to think about when it comes to that but this is a whole other topic. You'll have to wait for the next blog post to learn more about it. Or, simply schedule a demo to see how RealSavvy is empowering agents, brokers, and teams with an amazing all in one solution. 

Keep in mind: This article is not legal advice. You should always do your own research before purchasing a domain name and check your local restrictions and compliance regulations.