Why domain names matter to businesses
You have a business name and now you want to get a website for your business. Not so fast! The first step is to register your domain name. Before you even start building your website, secure your domain name so you can protect your brand and take your name off the market. A domain will also let customers know that your website is safe, credible and trusted.
Registering a domain name is quick, easy, and is a relatively small expense.
Find your domain today!
What is a domain name?
A domain name is the address that helps users connect to the websites they are looking for. Instead of having to remember an Internet Protocol (IP) address (something like 11.11.11.111), a domain name translates that long string of numbers into a simple web address like www.PhatBiz.com.
When choosing a domain name, you must pick an appropriate extension – the section of your domain name after the dot. Some domain extensions are affiliated with countries like .CA for Canada or .fr for France.
How to choose a domain name for your business
You can take the traditional route and match your domain name to your business name. However, there are a few other variations you can try if you want a catchy domain name or if the name you want is already taken.
See how other businesses have used different name formats for their domain:
| Business name | Naming strategy | Domain name |
|---|---|---|
| Peace by Chocolate | Business name | peacebychocolate.com |
| Kichesippi Brewing Company | One letter from business name + product | kbeer.com |
| Mountain Equipment Co-op | Abbreviation | mec.com |
| Mrs. McGarrigal’s Fine Food and Mustard | Product keyword | mustard.com |
| Switch Energy | Catchy call-to-action | maketheswitch.com |
| Bread and Butter Bakery and Fine Pastries | Short version of business name | breadandbutter.com |
| Number 9 Audio Group | Letter + number | number9.com |
| Tails and Trails | Business name + serviced location | tailsandtrailsnl.com |
Tip: Try to register a short domain name if possible.
Shorter domain names are easier to remember and type into a web browser.
About more than half of currently registered .com domain names are between five and 12 characters long.
Curious if your business name is available?
Use our search tool to see if your domain name is available.
IS YOUR DOMAIN NAME ALREADY TAKEN?
WANT TO REGISTER YOUR DOMAIN NAME?
Do you need more than one domain name?
Domain names are relatively inexpensive, (it’s the hosting and other add-ons that add up), so registering additional ones and redirecting them to your main site can help you protect your brand and capture additional traffic. Here are some examples of businesses using a domain portfolio:
Your domain contains a word that’s commonly misspelled or spelled differently in American English:
neighborhoodcoffee.com
⬇
neighbourhoodcoffee.com