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Building Trust and Credibility in Developer Communities with a Descriptive Domain Name

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PROFILE

Name: Mac Install Guide
Location: Global
Founded: 2020
Website: mac.install.guide

CHALLENGE

After noticing an ongoing need for comprehensive tutorials for developers, Daniel Kehoe, a seasoned tech journalist and developer, created a platform with technical tutorials and high quality content that developers could trust. But he needed a domain name that would stand out in a crowded digital landscape and immediately communicate the site’s value.

SOLUTION

In December 2020, Kehoe registered install.guide, recognizing the power of a descriptive web address (a domain name that uses meaningful words on both sides of the dot) to enhance his platform’s visibility. By choosing a .guide domain, Kehoe was able to convey the site’s focus on detailed installation tutorials within the web address, which helped improve both search engine optimization (SEO) and user trust. As Kehoe explains, “Many organic searches by my users contain the word ‘install,’ so the domain install.guide gives me a boost in search rankings. More importantly, it tells users at a glance that my site will provide exactly what they need."

Thanks to his expertise in SEO and the descriptive domain name, install.guide quickly gained traction. The site now offers over 90 tutorials for setting up development environments on Mac. It covers essential topics like installing macOS Sequoia, Mac setup, managing Xcode command line tools, how to add ChatGPT to the desktop, and setting up Python for AI-related development.

“The domain install.guide gives me a boost in search rankings. More importantly, it tells users at a glance that my site will provide exactly what they need.” – Daniel Kehoe, founder of mac.install.guide, tech journalist and developer

RESULTS

As of August 2024, install.guide has grown to 110,000 monthly active users, 90% of whom arrive via organic Google searches. The domain’s clarity and relevance have helped the site establish authority among developers, while sponsorships from major software companies provide a steady revenue stream. These sponsors are eager to introduce their products to developers at critical moments—such as when they are setting up their development environments.

“The success of install.guide is due not only to the quality of the tutorials but also to the recognition and authority users associate with the domain name. It affirms the site’s relevance before they even click through,” says Kehoe.

Kehoe continues to refine his platform, producing new content about topics like macOS Sequoia and Python installations, further solidifying install.guide as a trusted resource for developers. Future plans may include expanding to additional platforms like Windows or Linux.

CONCLUSION

The install.guide domain has proven to be more than just a web address for Kehoe—it has become a key asset in building a trusted and authoritative platform for developers worldwide. With Identity Digital’s extensive portfolio of descriptive domains, entrepreneurs like Kehoe can choose a domain that not only aligns with their content but also enhances their brand visibility and credibility online.

Access the PDF version of the case study here.

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