How to Choose a Domain Name: Simple Rules

The short answer

To choose a domain name for your business, pick something short, easy to say on a phone call, and easy to spell the first time someone hears it. Use .com if you serve people outside India and .in if you only serve India, or buy both. Avoid hyphens, numbers and names too close to another brand. Buy it in your own name, not your developer's, and turn on auto-renewal. That is the whole job. The rest of this guide explains each rule.

Why your domain name matters

Your domain is your address online. It goes on your website, your email, your business cards and your invoices. Changing it later means updating every one of those, and any links pointing at the old address have to be redirected. So it is worth ten extra minutes now.

A domain does not rank you by itself. A name with a keyword in it is not a shortcut to the top of search results. Pick a name for people first. A name people remember and type correctly sends more of them to you than a clever one they misspell.

Rules of thumb for a good domain name

1. Keep it short. Two or three syllables is easy to remember. Long names get mistyped.
2. Make it easy to say aloud. Say it to a friend on the phone. If you have to spell it twice, change it.
3. Make it easy to spell. Avoid unusual spellings such as swapping "s" for "z", unless your whole brand depends on it.
4. Avoid hyphens. People forget them, and a hyphenated name sounds like a copy of a plain one.
5. Avoid numbers. "4" or "2" can be read as a digit or a word. Customers will not know which one you meant.
6. Match your business name where you can. Customers who search your name should find you.
7. Do not box yourself in. "Noida-cakes.com" is a problem the day you open in Delhi. Pick a name that survives growth.
8. Check it reads well written together. Join the words and read the result slowly. Some combinations spell something you did not intend.
9. Check the social handles. If the same name is free on your main networks, take them while you are there.

.com vs .in: which one should you pick?

Both work. The choice is about who your customers are.

If you...	Consider
Sell mainly in India	.in, with .com as a bonus if you can get it
Serve customers in India and abroad	.com first
Plan to expand to other countries	.com, and add local endings later
Want to protect your name	Buy the .com and the .in, and point one to the other

Customers often type .com out of habit, so if it is free, it is worth owning even if you use .in. Registrars have their own rules and prices for each ending, and some endings have conditions. Read the registrar's page for the ending you want before you pay, and do not rely on a blog for those details.

Newer endings such as .co, .shop or .tech exist. They can suit a particular brand, but many people will still type .com by mistake. If you pick one, say the full address in your marketing every time.

Avoid trademark trouble

Before you fall in love with a name, search for it. Check Google, social networks and the official trademark search of your country's government. If another business already sells similar things under a similar name, choose again, even if the domain is free. A free domain does not mean you have the right to use the name.

If your business name is important to you, ask a trademark attorney about registering it. We are a web agency, so we cannot give you legal advice. We can tell you from experience that rebranding after you have printed, launched and advertised costs far more than a short search up front.

Buy the domain in your own name

This is the rule we care about most. The domain should be registered to you or your company, using an email address you control.

When a freelancer or agency registers it for you, ask three things. Is it in your name as the registrant? Do you hold the login to the registrar account? Can you move it to another provider if you leave? If any answer is no, fix it now. Losing control of your domain means losing your website and your email with it.

At Astrafolio, you own the code, designs and accounts, and that includes the domain. We set it up in your name or guide you to do so.

Check the domain's history

Some domains have been used before. Search the address in a browser and look at what it used to be. A domain that was used for spam or an unrelated business can carry that history with it. If it was used before, ask your developer to check it before you commit.

If your preferred name is taken, do not rush to buy it from a reseller at a high price. Try a small variation first, such as adding your city or a plain word like "studio" or "co". Those can read naturally. Hyphens and random numbers do not.

Renewal: the step people forget

A domain is not bought once. It is rented, usually by the year, and it can be renewed for longer. If it lapses, someone else may be able to register it.

• Turn on auto-renewal, and keep a valid payment method on the account.
• Use a business email for the registrar account, not one that belongs to a person who may leave.
• Put the renewal date in your calendar, with a reminder a month before.
• Check the price at renewal. Some registrars charge a different amount after the first period. Look at the registrar's own pricing page for the figure.

We do not quote domain prices here, because they change by registrar and ending. Our guide to website costs explains that a domain is a yearly cost paid to the registrar, outside the website quote.

What to do after you have chosen

1. Register the domain with a reputable registrar, in your name.
2. Set up a business email address on it, so customers see your name and not a free mail address.
3. Tell your developer the exact address before the build starts, so links and redirects are right from day one.
4. Write the full address on your Google Business Profile, social profiles and printed material.

If you are planning a new site, our business websites service covers design, development and launch, with the domain in your name. For a wider look at the basics, read our small business website questions. If you are still deciding on a name, get a free website audit and we will tell you what we see.

What to do next

Write down five names, apply the rules above, say each aloud, and check each one is free. Pick the one you would be happy to say a hundred times a week. If you want help with the domain, hosting and site, book a call or email hello@astrafolio.com. We work Monday to Saturday, 09:00 to 21:00 IST and reply to every message within 12 hours.

Frequently asked questions

How do I choose a domain name for my business?

Choose a short name that is easy to say and spell. Avoid hyphens and numbers, check it is not too close to another brand, and buy it in your own name. Then turn on auto-renewal so you do not lose it.

Should I buy .com or .in?

Use .com if you serve customers outside India, and .in if you only serve India. If you can afford both, buy both and point one to the other. Check the registrar's page for any rules on the ending you choose.

Does a keyword in my domain help me rank?

Not in any way you should count on. A name that people remember and type correctly is worth more than a name stuffed with keywords. Search visibility comes mainly from the quality and usefulness of your pages.

Is it a problem if my developer bought the domain for me?

It can be, if it is not in your name. You should be the registrant and hold the registrar login. Ask for both, and if a developer refuses, treat that as a warning about the rest of the project.

What happens if I forget to renew my domain?

Your website and email can stop working, and after a grace period the name may be released for others to register. Registrars differ on how long that takes, so check yours. Auto-renewal and a reminder avoid the problem.

Can I change my domain name later?

Yes, but it takes work. Your site must be moved, every old address must redirect to the new one, and you must update listings, email and printed material. It is far easier to choose well the first time.