Irish Businesses seek to capitalise on staycations with a 64% growth in outdoor keywords in web addresses

The first half of 2021 saw a record number of new .ie domain registrations with the number totalling 33,815, according to the latest .IE Domain Profile Report 2021. By the end of June this year, the total number of .ie domains registered had reached 324,074, which equates to a 9.6% increase year-on-year. This trend is consistent with the current climate and the acceleration of all things digital. Over the past year or so, Irish businesses have been faced with forced closures and disruptions which has necessitated the need to have an online presence.

There was also a shift in the keywords used in new .ie web addresses with a decrease of 76% of pandemic related keywords such as Covid, sanitiser and vaccine being used, compared to the same time last year. The first half of the year also saw an increase of 64% in outdoor summer keywords being used, such as “pool”, “barbeque”, “tent” and “bike”. Trends like these suggest that entrepreneurs and business owners are choosing to adapt to the new wave of digital transformation while also responding to consumer demand and preferences.

Through the pandemic, people were forced to change their shopping habits but as physical shops open their doors again, we still see consumers choosing to research, browse and shop online. By having that online presence and ecommerce platform, Irish businesses can drive sales by giving consumers the choice.

Adapting to these changing consumer habits and trends will allow Irish businesses to continue to cater to their consumer’s demands. By offering new ways of improving the customer journey, companies will no doubt benefit from increased sales and improved customer loyalty.

Luckily, there have been a number of supports and grants available to help businesses navigate these changing trends and embrace the move to online. Contact us today to find out how to help your business grow and succeed online.