Domain names can prove to be valuable branding assets to new businesses, according to one entrepreneur.

IT and business expert Hugh Chappell told Fresh Business Thinking that acquiring the right domain name is a crucial step for small companies.

He explained that memorable domain names can help draw customers to business websites, potentially leading to the formation of long-lasting brand relationships.

Mr Chappell noted that in many cases, coming across a domain name may be the first exposure a consumer has to a particular company.

As a result, it is vitally important to make a positive first impression, he said:

"While the exponential growth in the number of registered sites has seen fitting, shorter names become hard to come by, suitable domain names are still available to the owner willing to use several words," Mr Chappell added.

Writing for Search Engine Watch, IT commentator Josh McCoy recently explained that the inclusion of search-friendly keywords can help bring more visitors onto business websites.