What is a domain name?
A domain name, put simply, is the address of your website. The domain name is the www. bit people type into their browser to find your business. You can’t have a website without a domain name.
Should I have a .com?
The .com extension on the end of a domain name refers to the type of entity your business is. .com is intended for commercial entities in the United States. Nowadays, it is regularly used for international online businesses. If you are a local business or service in Australia .com.au is your best choice. There are alternatives such as .net.au if .com.au is unavailable.
There are a raft of other options fresh to the market such as .studio, .co, .tech, .store. These could be an option for you too.
How do I choose a domain name?
If you already have an established business choosing a name should be easy. You should use your business name so it’s recognisable as your business, or something as similar as possible. If your business name has been taken you could add your location or industry/service to the phrase.
Quick tips on choosing a domain name
- Keep it short, simple, predictable
- Make it easy to say, spell out and pronounce
- Avoid hyphens, numbers and double letters
- Make it unique and brand-able
- See if the social media handles of the same name are available
How to choose a domain name for a new business
It’s important to put some thought into your new domain and business name. It can make or break your business, plus it is a bit of a hassle to change afterwards.
Take in the tips above and also consider the following:
- use keywords in your domain search
- leave room to expand
- do your research
- use a domain name generator for ideas
- don’t infringe on other trademarks
What is a domain name generator?
Artificial intelligence is used to come up with a variety of options based on the keywords available. They can also let you know if the domain name is available and if not, provide alternatives. nameboy.com is an option but there are many others, like crazydomains.com.au.
Next steps
Once you’ve decided on a domain name you will need to buy hosting. Hosting essentially is a storage space on a server that holds your website information.
I recommend buying your domain name and hosting together as usually you’ll get your domain name for free.
If you choose to use my “Simple Business Website Package”, I do all of this for you. Your domain name and hosting is included for two years. After that you can continue with the same company, or change.
Still confused and want to know more? Email me or book in a free 15 minute consultation using the button below so we can discuss your options.
