This article is designed for business owners who want to learn more about website domains but have been too afraid to ask, for fear of asking what might be considered a stupid question.
Rest assured, there are no stupid questions because, unless web design and development are part of your daily life, you can’t be expected to know.
After decades of designing and building websites, these are the questions we’ve been asked most about, regarding domains.
What is a domain name?
Short summary
A domain name is the address of your website. As an example, the domain associated with this website you’re currently on is kudosdesignswebsites.co.uk. We chose it because it includes our company name and describes what we do.
Choosing a domain name
How do I choose my domain name?
Your company name tends to have the biggest influence on this, as it’s your unique identifier. Therefore, careful thought is needed when choosing your company name if you’re at the beginning of your business journey.
Business names that are tricky to spell or really long can cause issues when it comes to your website. People might type them in incorrectly, or they may become too long when used as email addresses.
Registering a domain name for your business can be challenging because many domain names are already registered, either by companies with similar names or by domain name resellers who register domains solely to sell them on for a higher price (a bit like ticket touting in the web world).
It’s best to choose something that includes your company name and the service or product you sell (e.g. ‘plumbing’ or ‘solicitor’). This will help when people search for your company, service, or product online.
To help, here are some examples of good domain name choices:
aceplumbing
– It’s short, memorable and includes the service they provide.
aceplumbingservices – This could be a good alternative if the shorter one is taken.
Here are some examples of bad ones:
aceheatingandplumbingservices
– Far too long and not easy to remember. You’ll struggle to fit this on a business card!
ace-plumbing
– Looks quite clumsy when displayed on items, and people may not be sure whether it’s a long dash or a short dash.
Do I need .co.uk or .com?
These are known as domain extensions. If you’re a UK business and have no plans for global domination, then .co.uk is all you should need. You can register .com if it is available to prevent someone else from registering it and causing confusion between your business and another with a similar name.
There will be many other options available, such as .uk and .co, but these can be confusing for people. It is always best to stick with the most commonly used ones, if available. There are some specific domains that people might choose, for example, .org (for charities) and .net (for technology companies), but generally most other domain extensions have been created solely to sell more domains.
What if my favourite domain name is taken?
Quite simply, choose another one. Some domain resellers will offer to buy it from someone else on your behalf, for a price. The cost of this can run into hundreds or even thousands. In our opinion, it’s just not worth it. Sometimes, by adding an extra word, you’ll find an available domain that will still suit.
If I have two domains, do I need two websites?
No, you don’t. Your web developer can set up a redirect from one to the other.
For example, if your main domain is aceplumbing.co.uk and you have also registered aceplumbing.com, your main website could be attached to the .co.uk version, but when someone types in aceplumbing.com, it will point towards your .co.uk website.
Domain name registration
How do I purchase a domain name?
There are many domain resellers to choose from, and, in our opinion, not much difference between them.
Here are the ones we have experience with personally and know have been operating for a significant amount of time:
https://www.namecheap.com/domains/domain-name-search/
https://www.godaddy.com/en-uk/domains
https://www.123-reg.co.uk/domain-names/
Bear in mind that all of these providers are a bit like Ryanair. When you purchase a domain, they will try to upsell several other services at the same time, which can turn your shopping basket from a few pounds into hundreds of pounds. This doesn’t mean you necessarily need these extra items or services, or that they are any good.
Self-build website packages from domain name providers are not industry-leading, and the professional email packages they offer are not as comprehensive or as flexible as purchasing from an expert.
We recommend that you chat to a professional web provider before going down the DIY website route, and to an IT provider before purchasing email services from a domain reseller. We have known many people who have bought these as add-ons and later regretted it.
Can my website/IT provider purchase a domain name for me?
Yes, they can. We do that on behalf of clients who find the whole thing just too technical and confusing, or don’t have time to do it. Honestly, though, it’s your business, so we recommend that you always register and control your own domain name.
Having control of your own domain prevents you from ever being at the mercy of a website or IT provider. At the beginning of business, it’s tempting to give someone else the responsibility, but this can unravel later if you and your provider have a fall-out, if the provider gets bought out by another company or if they cease trading.
We have dealt with new clients over the years who have been held to ransom by the previous provider who registered their domain on their behalf. This shouldn’t happen, but it can. You may have a legal case to regain ownership if the domain is associated with your company name, but pursuing it in court can be costly.
Don’t forget, once a web address is printed on a variety of promotional materials, vehicle livery, and workwear, it’s hard to change without incurring high costs.
Domains can be transferred to another account, but this can result in website/email downtime if not done correctly, and it still relies on maintaining a good relationship with your website/IT provider.
Benefits of registering your own domain
- It can work out cheaper.
- Complete control over its use.
- Auto-renewal can be set up, with a backup payment card, so it doesn’t expire.
- Easier to switch website/IT providers later, if you’re not happy with their service.
- You can choose when to provide access for technical changes.
Benefits of having a website provider register your domain name
- Saves you time and effort.
- Your website/IT provider has full access to perform technical changes.
What else is my domain name used for?
Professional email addresses
Your domain can be used for a professional email address. It can be used for a general enquiry email, such as enquiries@aceplumbing.co.uk, or a personal company email, such as joe@aceplumbing.co.uk.
Domain-name-based email accounts aren’t free, unlike jogbloggs@gmail.com, but they can appear unprofessional to potential customers. It can prevent potential enquiries as prospects may think that either you operate at the lower end of the market, you lack professionalism, or that you don’t take your business seriously.
What’s next after purchasing your domain?
Well, it’s highly likely that you’ll need a website. Kudos Designs and Websites can save you lots of time and hassle. If you don’t want to spend precious time figuring out where to start and what to include on your website, we can help.
Take a look at our web services. Then drop us a message or WhatsApp us at 07550 030343.
