Your domain name is your address on the internet. It goes on your business cards, your vehicles, your email and every ad you run. Choosing a good one is easy if you follow a few simple rules.
What makes a good domain name
Short and easy to say
If you have to spell it out every time you say it, it's too complicated. Test it: say it to a friend once and ask them to type it.
Easy to spell
Avoid unusual spellings, hyphens and numbers that could be written two ways ("4" or "four"). Every confusing detail sends some customers to the wrong place.
Matches your business name
The simplest domain is usually your business name plus .com, like mariasbakery.com. It builds your brand and is easy to remember.
Or describes what you do and where
If your business name is taken or long, consider adding your service or city: mariasbakerysa.com or sanantoniocakes.com.
.com or something else?
.com is still the most trusted and remembered ending in the United States. If people hear your domain and guess the ending, they'll guess .com.
Other endings can work:
- .net or .co if the .com is taken, though some visitors will still type .com by mistake.
- Local endings like .us are fine but less familiar.
- Industry endings like .church, .design or .menu are memorable for some businesses, but less common.
If your perfect name is only available with an unusual ending, it may be better to tweak the name and get the .com.
Mistakes to avoid
- Hyphens. my-best-plumber.com is hard to say and easy to forget.
- Trademark problems. Don't use another company's brand name in your domain.
- Too long. Under about 15 characters is ideal when possible.
- Too clever. Puns and inside jokes often confuse new customers.
- Letting someone else register it for you. Where the extension rules allow, register the domain in your own name, under an account you control.
Should you buy more than one?
It can be smart to also buy:
- Common misspellings of your name
- The .net version, so a competitor can't take it
- A shorter version for print ads
You can point all of them to your main website.
How to buy a domain
- Pick a reputable registrar (such as GoDaddy, Namecheap or Squarespace Domains).
- Search for your name. If it's taken, try variations.
- Buy it in your own name, with your own email address.
- Turn on auto-renew and keep your payment method and renewal contact details current.
- Keep the login somewhere safe.
Check the initial registration price, renewal and any premium-domain charge with the registrar.
What about email?
Once you own a domain, you can have a professional email like hello@yourbusiness.com instead of a free email address. Customers trust it more, and it's usually only a few dollars a month per person.