Domain name

5 Reasons Why Lawnmower & Tractor Dealerships Need to Own Their Domain Name

by with No Comment Digital Marketing

Contents

  Domain name

What is a Domain Name?

A domain name is the address of a website that people use to find and access it on the internet. It is a unique identifier that distinguishes a website from others and is an essential part of establishing an online presence. For businesses like lawnmower and tractor dealerships, owning a domain name for their website is especially important. In this blog post, we’ll explore why lawnmower and tractor dealerships need to own their domain name and how it can benefit their business. We’ll discuss the advantages of having a domain name, such as building a strong brand identity, establishing credibility, and improving search engine optimization. So, let’s dive in and explore the importance of owning a domain name for lawnmower and tractor dealerships.

How Much Does a Domain Name Cost?

The cost of a domain name can vary depending on several factors, including the top-level domain (TLD) chosen (such as .com, .net, .org, .biz, .info, etc.), the domain registrar used, and the length of the registration period. Generally, a domain name can cost anywhere from a few dollars to several hundred dollars per year. For example, a .com domain name can typically be registered for around $10 to $20 per year, while a more specialized TLD like .law or .consulting may cost more. It’s important to note that some domain registrars may offer promotions or discounts for first-time buyers or for longer registration periods. Additionally, some premium domain names may cost significantly more due to their popularity, marketability, or brand recognition. It’s also worth mentioning that domain names are typically registered on a yearly basis and need to be renewed annually to maintain ownership. Failure to renew a domain name can result in losing the domain, so it’s important to keep track of renewal dates and renew the domain name in a timely manner.

How do I go about buying a domain name?

If your dealership needs a domain name, we can help! Contact Us to get started! To purchase a domain name for your lawnmower and tractor dealership, you will need to follow these general steps: Choose a domain registrar: There are many domain registrars to choose from, such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Google Domains. Compare prices, features, and customer support before selecting a registrar that suits your needs. Check domain availability: Once you have selected a domain registrar, use their search tool to check if your desired domain name is available. If it is not available, the registrar may suggest similar domain names or variations that are available. Select a domain name: Choose a domain name that is easy to remember and relevant to your business. Try to keep it short, simple, and easy to spell. Complete the registration process: Once you have found an available domain name, follow the registrar’s instructions to complete the registration process. This may involve providing personal or business information, selecting a registration period, and making payment. Set up domain hosting: After purchasing the domain name, you will need to set up hosting for your website. You can choose to host your website on the registrar’s platform or use a third-party web hosting service, like Dealers Digital. Build your website: Once your domain name and hosting are set up, you can start building your website. This may involve designing a website yourself, using a website builder, or hiring a web developer.

5 Reasons Why You Should Own Your Domain Name

Branding: Owning a domain name that reflects the name of the dealership or the brand of lawnmowers and tractors they sell can help build a strong brand identity. It also makes it easier for customers to remember and locate the dealership’s website. Credibility: Owning a domain name gives the dealership credibility and legitimacy. It shows that the dealership is serious about its online presence and has invested in creating a professional website. Control: Owning a domain name gives the dealership control over their online presence. If the dealership relies on a third-party platform or social media site to host their website, they may be subject to changes in terms of service, platform outages, or other issues that are beyond their control. Customization: Owning a domain name allows the dealership to customize their website to better suit their needs. They can choose their own design, layout, and content, and they are not limited by the restrictions of a third-party platform. Search engine optimization (SEO): Owning a domain name that contains relevant keywords can help improve the dealership’s search engine ranking, making it easier for potential customers to find them online. Additionally, owning a domain name that reflects the dealership’s location can help them attract local customers. Owning a domain name is an important investment for lawnmower and tractor dealerships as it helps build their brand, establishes credibility, provides control and customization, and helps with search engine optimization.

Establish Your Dealership Online

Owning a domain name is an essential step for lawnmower and tractor dealerships looking to establish an online presence and attract customers. By owning a domain name, businesses can build their brand, establish credibility, and improve their search engine optimization. While the cost of a domain name can vary, it is generally an affordable investment that can pay off in the long run. If you’re a lawnmower and tractor dealership looking to take your business to the next level, owning a domain name is a must. By choosing a memorable and relevant domain name, selecting a reputable registrar, and following the necessary steps to complete the registration process, you can set yourself up for success. So, don’t hesitate to take the first step in establishing your online presence today!
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Love Your Website and It Will Love You Back

by with No Comment Uncategorized

This article originally appeared in the May edition of OPE Business

If you had the chance to hire someone who doesn’t take days off, requires no benefits and was responsible for bringing in the lion’s share of customers to your door, I imagine most business owners would do that in a heartbeat. Clearly, that person doesn’t exist, but your website – the digital front door of your dealership – does all of those things and more. Why then do so many dealers take a “set it and forget it” attitude toward their web presence?

Here are the five things you should be doing to make sure your website is truly working for you and your dealership.

  1. Keep it Updated
     This may seem rudimentary, but websites get stale and need to be updated. Your best-sellers from last year, may not be your best-sellers this year. Featuring zero-turns on your homepage in the dead of winter when your dealership is in Northern Minnesota might cause a disconnect with your customers. More importantly, search engines like Google value content freshness. Keeping your website updated with proper hours, services and catalog information signals to your customers and to Google that you are committed to providing a superior user experience.
  2. Design Matters
    You know what they say about first impressions right? Site design is not an area to skimp. In fact, a whopping 75% of consumers admit that they judge a business’ credibility on the quality of their website design. Showcasing your professionalism is important for every interaction a potential customer has with your business and for many, the customer journey begins when they find your website. In 2021, a poorly designed website is worse than not having a website at all. For dealers, that means you need to have full product catalogs, complete with high quality product images and multiple calls to action to capture user info.
  3. Make it Snappy
    When I first start building websites around 1997 or so, internet speeds were, shall we say, a bit slower than they are today. The general rule of thumb back then was shoot for an average load time of 8.8 seconds for best user experience. Today, 47% of consumers expect a web page to load in 2 seconds or less! If you want to see how quickly your website loads, head on over to google.com and search for “Page Speed Insights” and you’ll be able to see exactly how Google measures your website performance.
  4. Mobile is important, but don’t ignore desktop
    Almost 56% of global web traffic comes from mobile devices, a trend that’s largely gone unchanged since 2017. For dealerships, we’re still seeing a larger percentage of traffic coming from desktop computers and tablets than the national average for other businesses. The reason for this is because lawn and ag equipment is many times a heavily researched purchase decision due the price and financing implications involved. Users will come back to your website over and over to compare models, promotions and financing offers and in our experience, a good amount of that research is still done on desktop devices.
  5. Commit to SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
    Building a website isn’t like Field of Dreams. “If you build it, they will come” has no bearing on the Internet. When you consider that 92% of all website traffic comes from the first page of Google results, you can see how important it is to commit to making sure your name and your brand can be found at the top of search results. It’s not enough to just show up #1 when a customer Googles your business name – that’s what Google Maps/Google My Business is for. The hard part is making sure a customer that doesn’t know you or has never been exposed to your brand can find you easily when searching for things like “lawnmower repair near me” or “Cub Cadet dealer Bardstown KY”. While some technical assistance may be required for long-term SEO efforts, if you want to start making an impact right away with your own SEO efforts, commit to creating content that can be added to your website. This content can take the form of manufacturer specific landing pages or by blogging frequently about your service offerings and promotions. Remember, Google prioritizes freshness and it craves original content. In a world where all of your competitors might be using the same website provider, with same content and the same designs, a little extra effort on your part or direction from a professional, might just be the little bump your dealership needs to outshine the rest.

Like anything else, if you put time and effort and resources into your web presence, the benefit to your dealership is nearly immeasurable. It is the #1 most essential tool you’ll ever utilize for your business so show it some love and it will love you back.

If your business is struggling to be found or your competitors are seemingly EVERYWHERE, we can help. Contact us to talk about SEO for OPE Dealerships & Landscapers.