Your domain name is your address on the internet. You will put it on your logo, your emails and your business cards, and changing it later is painful. This guide shows you how to choose a good domain name in a few simple steps, which endings to pick, and which old domain myths you can ignore.
Quick answer
Choose a name that is short, easy to say, easy to spell and fits your brand. Get the .com if you can, avoid hyphens and numbers, and check the name’s history and trademarks before you buy. Then register it at a trusted registrar with free privacy and auto-renew turned on.
10 simple rules for a good domain name
- Keep it short. Shorter names are easier to remember and type. Aim for under 15 letters if you can.
- Make it easy to say and spell. Use the “radio test”: if you say it out loud, can someone type it without asking how to spell it?
- Pick .com first. People still type .com by default. If it is taken, see the extension guide below.
- Avoid hyphens and numbers. They are easy to forget and hard to say (“is that the number 4 or the word four?”).
- Make it brandable. A unique name like “Hostinger” is easier to grow than a long keyword name like “cheap-best-web-hosting-deals”.
- Leave room to grow. “BobsCupcakes” is a problem if Bob later sells cookies too.
- Check trademarks. Do not use a famous brand name in your domain. You can lose the domain and face legal trouble.
- Check social media names. It helps if the same name is free on the networks you plan to use.
- Check the domain’s history. A used domain may carry a bad past. See our guide on how to check a domain’s history.
- Buy it before you tell people. Good names get taken fast.
Which domain extension should you choose?
The extension is the ending, like .com or .org. Here is a simple guide:
|
Extension |
Best for |
Notes |
|---|---|---|
|
.com |
Almost everyone |
The most trusted and remembered ending |
|
.net or .org |
Tech projects (.net), nonprofits and communities (.org) |
Good second choices if the .com is taken |
|
Country endings (.uk, .de, .ca) |
Businesses that serve one country |
Shows visitors you are local |
|
.io, .ai, .co |
Tech startups and apps |
Popular, but often cost much more to renew |
|
New endings (.store, .shop, .blog) |
Clear, descriptive brands |
Cheap first year, check the renewal price |
Why do some extensions cost more than others?
Each extension is run by a company called a registry, and the registry sets the base price. Registrars like Namecheap or GoDaddy add their own margin on top. That is why a .com usually renews for around the same price everywhere, while endings like .ai or .io cost much more. Some very short or popular names are also sold as “premium” domains at a much higher price set by the registry or the current owner. For fun, see the most expensive domain names ever sold.
Watch the renewal price. Many endings are cheap in the first year and expensive after that. Always check the renewal price before you buy, just like with hosting.
Should you use your own name as your domain?
Using your own name (like janesmith.com) works well for writers, freelancers, coaches and personal brands. It is easy to remember and it follows you if you change what you do.
It is less ideal for a business you may want to grow or sell one day, because the brand is tied to you. It can also be a problem if your name is hard to spell or very common. In that case, try adding a word, like janesmithwrites.com.
Domain name tips for small businesses
- Use your business name if it is short and free.
- If it is taken, add your city or what you do, like “smithplumbingdallas.com”.
- Use the same name for your email, so you look professional (you@yourbusiness.com).
- Register common misspellings only if your brand is well known and people often mistype it. Point them all to your main site.
Signs of a low-quality domain name
- It is very long or hard to read
- It has several hyphens or random numbers
- It uses odd spellings that people will mistype
- It includes another company’s brand name
- It was used before for spam or adult content (check its history)
Domain name myths you can ignore
|
Myth |
The truth |
|---|---|
|
A keyword domain ranks much higher |
Google reduced the boost for low-quality exact-match domains back in 2012. A strong brand matters more. |
|
Older domains always rank better |
Domain age alone is not a big ranking factor. The site’s content and links matter far more. |
|
New endings like .store rank worse |
Google treats new generic endings like any other ending. |