How to pick the best domain for your car rental website

When you are starting your car rental business, it is very important to pick both a company and domain name that speak for your core activity and values. However, don't overthink and get too stressed out because you might make the wrong choice! Before opting for the first domain that sounds cool and catchy, try to consider the following quick tips:

TIP #1 Make it easy to read and remember!
You would sure hate it and feel embarrassed if you had to repeat your website name a couple of times before the person in front of you gets it. It's also not advisable to use slang in your domain name as well as too many words. It will be veryhardtoreadandremember! As cool as it may be. Otherwise, you risk your potential customers to mistype or misspell it and eventually give up.

TIP #2 Pick the right keywords!
This is a very delicate and essential point! Try to integrate the top keywords into your website content logically and smoothly but do not overstuff it. If you are not an SEO expert, you'd better turn to one, at least in the beginning. It's worth it! Using the name of the city or country that you are doing business in combined with keywords such as "rentals", "car rental", "rent a car", etc. will help you attract more local customers and those searching for car rentals in a specific location. You can also insert the city name into your car rental website URL.

TIP #3 Hyphens
Hyphens in your domain name can be easily misheard and eventually lead to mistyping. Good news is that Google usually suggests the correct website URL. So, if you have a strong brand name that includes a hyphen, there is nothing bad in using it. Another great way to apply a hyphen is when you'd like to include your country in the URL.
Example: domain-name(country)abbreviation.com

Although it's a common practice to type domain names merged, hyphens won't have a negative effect on your SEO, so don't worry about that!

TIP #4 Stand out from the crowd!
Coming up the perfect domain name is not an easy task. Sometimes what one finds good and appropriate is not so good in other people's opinion. So, before you rush and register your "awesome", "uniquely unique" domain name, use your friends and contacts as a focus group and analyze their feedback first. They can take over the client's perspective more easily since they are not involved and can suggest useful improvements.

TIP #5 Extensions
Last but not least is the extension (or suffix) of your domain name. Dot com has been around like forever and there is a big chance that YourDomainName.com is already taken. This should not be a reason for despair, though. Check out other available options and see what stands behind the abbreviations:

Should I use my company name for my domain name, too?
That's the big question and the answer is not always unambiguous. If your company name is rather complex or not easily associated with your type business, maybe it's not a good idea to incorporate it in your domain. If your company name is, for example, "Best John Scottfield Cars", you can use your initials ("js-car-rentals.com") and/or include your location ("car-rentals-leeds.com").

Those of you who haven't registered their company name yet, still have time to consider the above written so that they can better synchronize both names. Brand integrity and delivering a unified message to potential and existing customers is crucial for your brand awareness.

You will not know if these 5 tips really work unless you create your own car rental website. VEVS Car Rental Software and Website is the perfect web solution if you would like to save time, money, and efforts! You will have it all in one place - domain registration, setup, hosting, reliable online support, and on-demand customizations.

If you have other questions related to the choice of domain name for your rent-a-car website or need any advice, don't hold back to contact us! We will be happy to help!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

How much does it typically cost to register a domain name for a car rental website, and are there any ongoing fees associated with maintaining the domain name?

When it comes to registering a domain name for a car rental website, the costs can vary widely based on several factors, including the domain extension (.com, .net, .info, etc.), the registrar you choose, and any additional services you opt for, such as privacy protection. Typically, registering a basic .com domain can cost anywhere from $10 to $20 per year. However, premium domain names, which are often considered more desirable due to their brevity or relevance, can cost significantly more, sometimes even thousands of dollars. Besides the initial registration fee, there may be annual renewal fees that are usually in the same range as the registration cost. Some registrars offer discounts for multi-year registrations or for bundling services like hosting and email accounts.

What steps should I take if the domain name I want is already taken? Are there recommended strategies for negotiating with current domain owners or finding alternative names that are still effective?

If the domain name you desire is already taken, you have a few options. First, consider reaching out to the current owner to see if they're willing to sell the domain. Contact information might be available through the domain's WHOIS information, although privacy settings can sometimes obscure these details. If direct contact isn't possible or the owner isn't interested in selling, you might need to get creative by modifying your desired name slightly. This could involve adding a keyword, using a different domain extension, or incorporating a geographical location. There are also many services and platforms that aim to help you negotiate domain purchases or suggest alternatives that align with your brand.

How does the choice of domain name extension (.com, .net, .info, etc.) impact SEO and the website's visibility on search engines? Are some extensions better than others for SEO purposes, especially for a local car rental business?

The choice of domain name extension can have implications for your website's SEO, but it's not as significant as other factors like content quality, user experience, and backlinks. Historically, .com domains are the most popular and widely recognized, which can lead to a perception of credibility and professionalism. However, search engines like Google state that they treat most top-level domains (TLDs) equally in search rankings. For a local car rental business, using a country-specific TLD (.co.uk, .de, etc.) can help in targeting local customers and may improve local search engine rankings. Ultimately, the best strategy is to choose a domain name and extension that best fits your brand and business objectives, while also implementing solid SEO practices on your website.