Getting started with any new business is an exciting time and -as every business needs a website to grow online– you’ll soon need to choose a domain name.
While it’s easy to jump straight in on a cheap domain name deal, it’s worth considering the impact that your domain name will have on your business in the near and distant future. Once you’ve branded up your vans and stationary and perhaps even achieved some domain ranking, it’s tough to change it; so you need to get it right.
In this post, we’re going to delve into the basic of domain names and take a look at the essential steps you need to take to ensure you get the domain that suits and serves your business properly.
What Is a Domain Name?
First of all, choosing a domain name for your website is crucial, but if you’re a little confused on what it is, you’re not alone.
A domain name is a human friendly name assigned to an IP address of your website. “Huh”, I hear you say?
Think of it as your online address, similar to your home address (but for the digital world).
33 Belford Avenue is a human friendly version of something like 13.632466,-49.388057, just as mywebsite.com is a human friendly version of an internet IP such as 35.152.15.37.
“fence.gross.bats” is the What Three Words reference for Buckingham Palace, otherwise located at the coordinates 51.5014° N, 0.1419° W. Easier to remember words?
To think of it another way, do you know your mum’s mobile number? I find “Mum” in my phone and hit dial. A domain name works the same way.
Instead of remembering a string of numbers, people remember your business name.
That’s it. No mystery.
How to Choose a Domain Name for Your Business
Choosing a domain name is more important than most people realise. It affects branding, trust and flexibility. It is much easier to choose the right one at the beginning than to rebrand later, however I’ve worked with a number of people who’ve insisted they have the golden domain idea, and experienced issues later on.
How to pick a good domain name for your business:
- Keep your domain name as short as possible, memorable, simple and easy to spell.
While hyphens are fine in a domain name, they are difficult to communicate verbally. Most people understand that a domain name doesn’t have spaces, so mydomainiscool.co.uk is easy enough to communicate. - Avoid overly niche or specific names that might limit your business’s future growth.
Instead, opt for something that reflects your brand or offerings while leaving room for expansion. For example, what happens when KitchensofWales.co.uk begin selling a bedroom range? That goes for business names too, by the way. - A domain name doesn’t need the keywords in it.
Prioritise the previous focus points when picking a domain name, and don’t opt for something like bestchickendishes.co.uk.
You may eventually offer beef dishes or fruit smoothies. And if bobsfood.co.uk has better content with “best chicken dishes” as a focus keyword, that’s what Google will offer in rankings anyway.
Simple and brandable beats keyword-heavy every time.
Should You Use .co.uk or .com?
If you are a UK business, this question always comes up.
A .co.uk domain still carries strong trust for UK audiences. It signals that you are local and operating here.
A .com domain feels broader and more global. However, strongly consider whether you need that for your intended audience.
For many UK small businesses, .co.uk makes perfect sense. If you can secure both .co.uk and .com, even better. It protects your brand.
While there is no technical reason why you can’t rank a .com here in the UK, to rank locally with a .com, you have to work harder on other signals, such as your Google Business Profile, local backlinks, and “NAP” (Name, Address, Phone number) consistency.
Also, if a .com and .co.uk are ranked together, UK users would generally feel more trusting of the .co.uk and feel it would suit their needs; go with that.
There is no absolute rule, but think about who you are serving and where you want your business to grow.
How to Check If a Domain Name Is Available
Once you’ve settled on the perfect domain name, ensure it’s available and register it promptly to secure your online identity.
To check availability, simply use a domain search tool on a registrar’s website such as GoDaddy or 123reg. Type in your chosen name and see if it is available.
You should also:
- Check Companies House to avoid name conflicts
- Search social media handles for consistency
- Avoid names that are too close to competitors
It is better to spend a little time here than rush into something you regret later. If you feel you’d benefit from a planning and strategy meeting, get in touch to arrange a meeting this week.
How to Buy and Register a Domain Name in the UK
Registering your domain name is simple to do at any number of registrars, such as GoDaddy or 123reg.
At Boosh, from our experience, we love 123reg with reference to the service they provide.
The registration is actually a lease, for a defined period of time. Don’t worry, you “own” it, for as long as you renew it.
Simply choose your domain, enter your details, pay the fee and you own a domain!
Understanding how that works with your website is another matter, so I always advise clients to register their domain with their web hosting provider. It keeps everything together and the setup is simple and automated. Please note, however, that some web hosts use terrible DNS controls and so while it’s ideal to keep them together, it’s dependent on the quality of your web host.
When registering, you will usually:
- Choose the registration period, typically 1 to 10 years
- Decide whether to add domain privacy protection
- Confirm your contact details
- Complete payment
You cannot buy a domain name permanently. You renew it annually or for multiple years at a time. As long as you renew it, it remains yours.
How Much Does a Domain Name Cost in the UK?
Domain names are relatively inexpensive.
A standard .co.uk domain might cost anywhere between £5 and £15 per year.
A .com domain is often between £8 and £20 per year.
Be aware that first-year offers are sometimes discounted, with renewal being slightly higher.
You may also see (rather unnecessary) add-ons such as:
- Domain privacy
- Email services
- SSL certificates
Keep it simple. A basic domain registration for a small business is not expensive. It is one of the lowest-cost parts of building a website and digital presence for your business.
When it comes to Email services and SSL certificates, these could (and should) be handled elsewhere, so you needn’t lump into them when purchasing your domain.
Who Owns a Domain Name?
If you are curious who owns a domain name, you can use a WHOIS lookup tool.
For .uk domains, Nominet is the official registry and provides lookup services.
Some domains have privacy protection enabled, which hides the owner’s personal details. That is normal.
This can be useful if you are checking brand availability or considering purchasing an existing domain.
Can You Get a Free Domain Name?
You may see offers for free domain names.
Often, these are bundled with hosting packages or free website packages as a promotional offer. The domain itself is not truly free long term. You will pay renewal fees in future years.
For hobby projects, this may be fine but for a serious business, your domain is part of your brand. It is worth investing properly and keeping control of it.
While we ourselves, at Boosh Digital, offer a free domain with our website design packages, these are no reason for you to jump into a binding contract (with us or anyone). Be sure about the surrounding ecosystem you would get with your domain name: if it’s a terrible AI website build, a bad hosting package and no support for a conversion focused digital system, go elsewhere for your domain.
But, as we’ve mentioned it, get in touch to get your free domain and learn about the added support we offer for your business.
Final Advice Before You Buy
Think long term.
Your domain name will appear on your website, email addresses, business cards, vans, invoices and marketing materials.
Changing it later is possible, but inconvenient.
Choose something simple. Secure it properly. Keep your login details safe. Renew it on time.
If you are unsure, get advice before registering.
Choosing the right domain at the start is far easier than rebuilding your brand later.
What to read next:
If you’re thinking of a DIY job on your website, check out this guide: How to Create a Small Business Website – 8 Essential Steps to Make It Work