If you're looking for a cute and catchy domain name that will make your website stand out from the crowd, you should consider purchasing an emoji domain - they're currently at the top of the charts.
It's no secret that the domain name you choose can help make or break a small to medium-sized business (SMB) and turn a personal blogging site(opens in new tab) into a rising star or allow it to fade into obscurity.
A domain name is your site's address, but it's much more than that - it can be the first thing that draws someone's attention to your site, making it just as important as your logo and brand name.
A long uniform resource locator (URL) may raise a few red flags, and if it's difficult to remember, your site's fate is sealed, and most of your potential customers will avoid it.
So, keep it short, sweet, and somewhat catchy - and what better way to make something simple to remember than to use something most of us use in day-to-day communication, both professional and personal? Of course, by inserting an emoji.
What exactly is an emoji domain?
An emoji domain is simply a domain name that contains an emoji or multiple emoji.
Emoji domains aren't exactly new, with the first being created in 2001. However, with the rise of smartphones, we've seen a significant increase in their popularity in the last few years. Some major corporations, such as Coca-Cola, have also experimented with emoji domains as part of their marketing campaigns.
With over 2,600 unique emojis available for use with text, the possibilities appear limitless.
What distinguishes an emoji domain from a regular domain?
While emoji domains have been around for a while, adding an emoji to top-level domains (TLDs) such as.com,.net, or.org is still not permitted, which is unfortunate but understandable. It's because several phishing sites have been discovered on emoji domains, raising red flags for many domain registrars (opens in new tab).
Furthermore, because emoji domains aren't supported by all browsers, apps, and social media platforms, you'll have to register one twice: first in image form, and then in a text format known as Punycode - a regular domain doesn't require this.
For example, if you wanted to use a shocked emoji for some reason (""), it would look like this after being converted to Punycode - so, if your browser doesn't support emoji domain instead of emoji, you would see a confusing combination of characters above.
Furthermore, because the number of TLDs for emoji domains is severely limited, with.ws,.st, and.fm being the only available extensions for a long time, the domain you want may already be taken if you don't create a surprisingly unique combination of emoji.
Registering an emoji domain is also more difficult than registering a regular domain, so we'll go over that in more detail later.
What are the advantages of purchasing an emoji domain?
Despite the disadvantages, owning an emoji domain has a slew of advantages, which we'll go over in detail.
1. They overcome the language barrier
An emoji, like the smile that connects the world through a simple yet powerful facial expression, can create a connection between people who don't even speak the same language.
They're everywhere, from social media sites to customer support platforms, and they're intertwined in almost every aspect of our daily lives - and they're here to stay.
2. They will assist you in connecting with the younger generation.
If you're trying to get your website to speak the language of the new generation, emojis might be a good place to start. Today's generation, unlike their predecessors, grew up with the emojis we now know and love - they're their second language, and they use them all the time.
So, if you feel like something is getting lost in translation while trying to communicate in their language, try using emojis.
3. They can help you improve your marketing strategy.
Emojis can be found everywhere, from your great-Facebook grandmother's account and your niece's latest TikTok video to best-selling clothing brands and billboards - they're demonstrating to the world that they're inventive, imaginative, and low-cost marketing tools (opens in new tab).
Emoji domains, because they are easy to remember, can benefit all types and sizes of businesses, start-ups and thriving businesses alike - and they are best for subscription-based businesses trying to stay in touch with their customers, especially if they are targeting digital nomads.
Where can I get emoji domains?
As of this year, there are 11 top-level domains available for emoji domain registration, including.cf,.fm,.ga,.gq,.kz,.ml,.st,.tk,.to,.uz, and.ws, as well as 14 second-level domains.
Because the majority of the top domain registrars do not support emoji domains, you'll have to convert your chosen emoji to Punycode or take the easy route and choose a register that does - your options include i.ws(opens in new tab), dotFM(opens in new tab), and Register.TO (opens in new tab).
How to Purchase an Emoji Domain for Your Business
In a nutshell, as mentioned in the preceding chapter, if you want an emoji domain, you must purchase it from an emoji-specific domain registrar or a regular domain registrar that supports emoji domains (for example, Namecheap domain registration service).
The most straightforward method is to use an emoji-specific domain registrar, enter the domain you want to register in the domain lookup box (don't forget to select an emoji or emojis), and check its availability. If it's ready for use, you'll be able to get it right away and for a reasonable price - it should be around $5 per year. If it isn't, you'll be prompted to select one of the suggestions.
If you chose the difficult route, copy the emoji or emojis you want to use and go to Punycode converter (opens in new tab), where you'll paste it into the box and tap "Convert to Punycode."
Once the conversion to ASCII is complete, you'll be left with a bewildering array of characters that you'll want to save somewhere - the best part is that you can mix multiple emojis in any order you want and even combine them with ASCII - that is, any numbers, English letters, and special characters.
The next step is to go to the domain registrar of your choice and paste your preferred combination (Punycode alone or combined with ASCII) into the domain lookup box, check for availability, and finally register your newfangled domain - that's all there is to it.
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Emojis are a simple yet effective way to humanize and add emotion to your domain name, making it more memorable and thus more effective as a marketing tool.
The only thing left to do is learn Punycode (which is extremely simple) and register your emoji domain like any other.
However, before you begin, keep in mind that not all browsers, apps, and social media sites will display your domain in the way you intend. Furthermore, there are many emoji look-alikes out there, which may cause some unlucky web users to confuse your site with others.
