How to Choose a Domain Name for Your Website

Your domain name is one of the first things you’ll decide when designing your new website. You’ll need to have chosen your domain name before you find a web design agency. But which domain name should you choose?

Read on to discover what makes a good domain name and what you should consider when choosing a domain name for your website.

What is a domain name?

Simply put, your domain name is your business identity on the internet. It’s your website address – the URL that your potential customers will type into their internet browser to find your website.

Your domain name is one of the first points of contact that a potential customer may have with your brand, so it’s important to get it right. First impressions are important, after all.

Where can you get a domain name?

There are lots of different websites where you can buy a domain name for your website. Some of the most popular places to buy a domain name include 123 Reg and GoDaddy.

Where you buy your domain name from won’t make much difference to your website, so it’s worth shopping around to find the cheapest site which has your preferred domain name available.

How much does a domain name cost?

You can often find offers for your first year of domain registration, frequently starting from just 99p. However, the price will increase after 12 months so make sure you check how the price will change after your first year.

The price of your website’s domain name will depend on its popularity. Prices can range from £10 a year up to £2000 a year. It’s worth trying a few different options to see how it affects the price of your domain name.

What makes a good domain name?

A good domain name will be easy for a potential customer to remember, leaving little room for error. For this reason, it’s best to keep your domain name as short as possible so that it’s quick and easy to type. You should also keep it simple, minimising the use of any numbers or hyphens. If your domain name is complex, there’s a chance the consumer may type in the wrong URL and end up on the wrong website.

You should also make sure that your domain name is unique to avoid any copyright or trademark issues later down the line.

Should you choose .co.uk, .com or something else?

If you’re looking to attract customers from across the globe, you’ll need your domain name to end in .com. If you’re intending to sell to only UK customers, .co.uk is sufficient and is generally the cheaper option.

If you want to cover all bases, you can purchase both domain names and redirect both to the same website. This will ensure there is no confusion from potential customers who enter the wrong web address.

Ultimately, the choice between .co.uk or .com is down to your individual preference – there’s no right or wrong answer.