Your domain name is your website’s address on the internet — like yourbusiness.com. It’s one of the first things people see, and it sticks with you for a long time. The good news? Choosing and registering a domain name is much easier than it sounds. Let’s break it down step by step, no tech jargon involved.

What Makes a Good Domain Name?
A good domain name should be:

  • Easy to remember; if someone hears it once, they should be able to type it later without guessing.
    Good e.g.
    brightbakery.com
    janesdesignstudio.comNot so good e.g.
    bright-bakery-247-online.com
    j4nesd3sign.com
  • Short and simple
    Shorter names are easier to type and less likely to be misspelled.
    Aim for: 2–3 words maximum
    No unnecessary extras
    Easy to spell

If you have to explain it every time, it’s probably not ideal.

Avoid:

  • Unusual spellings
  • Doubled letters (people often miss them)
  • Clever wordplay that only works when written

Relevant to your business
Your domain should tell people what you do, perhaps where you do it or who you are.

Examples:

  • photographer → sarahphotos.com
  • café → riversidecafe.com
  • consultant → alexmarketing.co

2.Choosing the Right Domain Ending (Top Level Domain)
The part at the end of a domain (like .com, co.uk, org etc) is called a domain extension.

Here are the most common options:

  •  .com – best for corporate or international services
  • .co.uk –  the cheapest domain extension and it tells visitors that you are UK registered

If those are already taken?
Look at suitable alternatives:

  • .net / .tech – online services
  • .org: – non-profits or communities
  • .uk, .ca, .au, etc. –  country specific . Great if your business serves one country. Helps with local trust and search results

Checking If a Domain Name Is Available
Once you have a few ideas, it’s time to see if they’re already taken.

You can check availability on domain registrar websites like:
GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains etc

Just type in the name you want, and they’ll tell you instantly if it’s available.

Pro tip: Always have 2–3 backup options. Popular names get taken fast.

How to Register a Domain Name
Registering a domain is basically renting it — you pay yearly to keep it.

Step-by-step:

  • Go to a domain registrar website
  • Search for your chosen domain
  • Add it to your cart
  • Choose how many years you want to register it for (1 year is fine to start)
  • Create an account and pay

That’s it. Once it’s registered, it’s yours (as long as you renew it).

Important Extras (Worth Knowing)
Domain Privacy Protection

This hides your personal details (name, email, address) from the public internet.

  • Strongly recommended
  • Often free or very cheap

Auto-Renew
Turn this on so your domain doesn’t expire by accident. Losing a domain can be messy and expensive.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Choosing a personal name that nobody knows, that doesn’t indicate what you do; a name that people will not type into a search engine!
  • Choosing a name too close to another brand
  • Using hyphens or numbers unless absolutely necessary
  • Registering a domain without planning to use it
  • Forgetting to renew it

Final Advice
Don’t overthink it. A “perfect” domain doesn’t matter as much as:

  • Being clear in showing what you do and /or where you do it, if it’s a local service.
  • Keeping it simple and memorable
  • Actually using it!

Many big brands started with simple, imperfect domain names — and built value over time.
If your domain is easy to remember, easy to type, and makes sense for your business, you’re doing great.