How to Choose a Domain Name: Rules, Extensions and Mistakes to Avoid

Your domain name is the one part of your website that's hard to change later. Get it right once.

The rules of a good domain

• Short and easy to say — pass the "radio test": could someone type it after hearing it once?
• No hyphens or numbers — they cause typos and confusion.
• Brandable — distinctive names are easier to trademark and remember.
• Room to grow — avoid names that lock you into one product or city if you plan to expand.

Stuck? Try our Domain Name Generator and Business Name Generator.

Choosing an extension

Use .com when available. Consider a country code if you serve one country. Use newer extensions (like .ai, .io, .shop) when they clearly fit your audience — and check their renewal prices, which can be much higher.

Check before you buy

1. Search trademark databases in your market.
2. Check social handles for consistency.
3. Search the name to see what already ranks.
4. Look up the domain's history if it was previously registered.

Register it properly

Register in your own name (or your company's), enable auto-renew and registrar lock, and use WHOIS privacy where available. If an agency registers it for you, make sure the account is yours.

Connect it to your site

Point nameservers to your host, or add the DNS records your platform provides. Set up professional email with SPF, DKIM and DMARC records so your emails reach inboxes.

Next step: choose your hosting.