Your domain name appears on your website, your email address, your visiting cards and your adverts. Choosing well at the start saves a lot of trouble later. Here are practical rules to follow.
Keep it short and easy to spell
If you have to spell your domain out loud every time, it is too complicated. Avoid hyphens, numbers and unusual spellings where you can.
Match your brand
Ideally, your domain is your business name. If that is taken, add a simple word that describes what you do or where you are, for example your city or your main service.
Pick the right extension
- .com is the most familiar worldwide.
- .in or .co.in tells customers you are an Indian business.
- Country extensions such as .ae or .qa help if you serve Gulf markets.
Many businesses register more than one extension and point them all to the same website, so competitors cannot take them.
Check for trademarks and social handles
Before you register, make sure the name is not someone else’s trademark, and check that matching social media handles are available.
Register it in your own name
Always make sure the domain is registered to your business, with an email address you control. We regularly help businesses recover domains that were registered by a former employee or developer.
Turn on auto-renewal
An expired domain takes your website and email offline. Turn on auto-renewal and keep your contact details up to date.
Ready to secure your name? Search for your domain, or contact us for help choosing.