What is a domain name?

A domain name is your web address and website name. For example, our domain name is www.digitalsupermarket.com

Domain names come with a variety of different ‘extensions’ such as .com, .co.uk, .net and many others.

Domain names must be bought (registered) before you can use them. Every domain name is unique. No website can have the same domain name as another.

You can register your professional email ‘at’ your domain name, which can help to improve your credibility and build your brand. For example, [email protected]yourdomain.com can make your website seem more professional and legitimate.

Email accounts may be included with certain web hosting plans, which you can compare here.

What domain name extension do I choose?

.com domain names are still the most popular choice for website owners around the world.

Research from Domain Name Stat shows that 43% of all domains have the “.com” extension.

If you’re not able to purchase the .com version of a domain name for your business, you should consider .net, .org or .co.uk (or the suitable extension for your country).

What domain name provider is best?

As with web hosting and other website services, there are a number of different domain registrars on the market, all offering similar prices and services to register the domain name you choose.

Look for some of the services that are offered, so you can decide what domain registrar is best for you.

• Low renewal price – don’t be drawn into the cheap 1^st year price without checking the price for the 2^nd year and beyond.
• Simple domain set up.
• Customer support by phone, email or live chat in case you have any questions.
• Domain protection and privacy.
  
  

Why is domain name choice important?

1. A domain name is your “first impression” online. Your URL (web address) is the first thing visitors to your site will see. A good domain name can make a lasting impression.
2. It’s important for SEO. While exact match domain names aren’t a necessity, having keywords in your domain name can still help your website with search engine ranking.
3. It’s part of your brand identity. Your domain name is a branding opportunity. You want it to be memorable, easy to spell and reflect the name of your company or brand.
   
   

How do I choose a domain name?

Here’s 4 tips to choosing a great domain name for your new website.

1. Make it memorable and easy to spell.
2. Shorter domain names are better.
3. Avoid using hyphens and numbers if possible.
4. If you can’t secure your brand name, choose something similar. For example, Tide the digital bank, have www.gettide.com as their domain name, as www.tide.com was already taken.