Choosing a domain for your website: tips and tricks for your business URL

Hey folks! This week, we’re talking about domain names, what they consist of, and what to avoid when purchasing your own.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through how what a domain is, the purpose it serves, and the do’s and don’ts of purchasing a domain.

WHAT IS A DOMAIN?

A domain is the unique name that identifies a website on the internet. It’s the address people type into their web browsers to visit a specific site, like “www.yourcoolsite.com“. All domains consist of two parts:
 
  • 1) The name itself: This is the customizable part, representing your brand or business (e.g., “yourcoolsite” in www.yourcoolsite.com).
  • 2) The extension (TLD): This is the suffix at the end and could range from .com, .org, .net, to more specialized options like .tech or .shop.
Generally speaking, most small businesses use a .com extension. With non-profit organizations, you will often see the .org extension. Whatever you choose as your extension, remember a good domain name is memorable, easy to spell, and often reflects the business’s name, services, or mission. You want to keep it relevant to your business while also keeping it as short as practically possible. Less is more here!

When choosing your primary brand color, think about what you want people to feel when they interact with your business. Excited and energized? Calm and secure? Happy and inspired? Your color choice will do a lot of heavy lifting! 

BEST PRACTICES FOR DOMAIN NAMES

1) Omit unnecessary hyphens and numbers. (ex; thegr8place.com or my-little-boutique.com) These characters aren’t naturally in our minds when typing words into search bars so it’s better to omit them from your domain. But, if the domain you want is already in use, opt for using them to differentiate it (from the already-owned domain) while still keeping the same verbiage you were hoping to secure.
 
2) Avoid naming your business/filing an LLC before purchasing your domain. We recommend checking domain availability WHILE brainstorming your business name! 
 
3) Stray away from an overly-long domain name. The people who are trying to find you on the internet will thank you! Less truly is more here, as long as it’s still practical.
 
✨️ PS, We take care of the domain curation AND purchase during the web building process so you don’t have to! We’d actually prefer to take the reins on this, as we can usually find the best deals and save you money in the long-term. ✨️
omit hyphens or numbers
check if your business name matches with available domains
keep it short
examples

OUR TRUSTED (HELPFUL) TOOLS

Starting your new business and looking around for name ideas? Here’s a great tools to get your ideas rolling:

Once you’ve nailed down your business name, we recommend checking if a relevant domain is available before finalizing. You can search for domain availability with these tools:

As always, if you have questions or need guidance for getting started.. we are here to help. Fill out our inquiry form and we will get back to you in 24 – 48 hours: Website Chat x SHibicki Designs

Skyler is a full-time, professional web designer based in Madison, WI. Small business heart, big agency quality is her motto. She helps new and budding businesses, freelancers, creatives, and non-profits elevate their web presence with web, branding, and SEO services.

In her free time, you can find her soaking up quality time with her boyfriend and two fur-kittos, getting messy in the kitchen or weekend adventuring in the fresh air! ✨🌲😸 🥑🌞

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