Choosing a domain name for your website: how to do it
A good domain name is short, clear and easy to remember. Here is how to pick one when you build a website for your business.
You are going to build a website for your business. One of the first choices is your domain name. This is the address people use to find your site, like yourbusiness.com. You choose it once and use it for years. So take a little time over it.
What is a domain name?
A domain name is the address of your website. Like your home address, it lets visitors find you. It is also the part after the @ in your email address. With your own domain name you can use info@yourbusiness.com. That looks more professional than a free email address.
Keep it short and clear
A short name is easier to remember, type and pass on. Keep these points in mind:
- Short: 2 or 3 words rather than a whole sentence.
- Easy to say: can you read it out over the phone without spelling it?
- No awkward characters: hyphens and numbers often cause typing mistakes.
- No confusing spellings: avoid words that can be written in two ways.
Use your business name or say what you do
You have roughly two options. The first is your business name, for example smithbakery.com. This works well if customers already know you by name. The second is a name that says what you do, such as plumberleeds.com. This helps new customers understand at once what your site is about.
A word from your trade in the name can help you be found in Google. But it is not a magic formula. Good texts on your site matter more than the name alone.
Pick the right ending
The ending is the part after the dot, such as .com or .co.uk. Choose the one that fits your customers. If you work mostly in one country, a local ending is often trusted there. If you work with customers abroad, .com can be handy. Endings like .shop or .info are possible, but visitors often type .com out of habit.
Check that the name is free
Before you decide, check that the name is available. Also check whether another business already has a very similar name. That avoids confusion and possible disputes later. Look at the business register in your country and on social media too.
Think ahead
Ask yourself a few questions:
- Will the name still fit if my business does something different in 5 years?
- Does it contain a place name? That makes moving or growing harder.
- Can I easily say it out loud at a birthday party?
- Is it free of clashes with another business or brand name?
If you can say yes three or four times, you are in good shape.
Arrange your domain name in time
You usually rent a domain name per year. Put the renewal in your diary or switch on automatic renewal. Expired domain names can be registered by others. Then you lose your address. Also make sure the domain is registered in your name or your company's name, not in the name of a friend or an agency that once built your site.
A short checklist
- Short and easy to remember
- No hyphens or numbers unless needed
- An ending that suits your customers
- Free and not too close to another business
- Registered in your name
Torn between two names? Ask three people to hear it once and then write it down. If they spell it right, the name is clear enough.
Want to build a website with your own domain name? Try Qsite and see how far you get, at your own pace.