Shopify Business Name Generator
Although the tools name suggests its just for generating business names, Shopifys Business Name Generator actually delivers available domain name ideas.
Start by choosing a keyword that you want your domain to include, and youll get hundreds of suggestions. Although the site encourages you to create a Shopify shop using the domain name theyve suggested, you can go elsewhere to purchase the web address. Suggestions use the .com extension.
Setting Up Your Domain
If you want to acquire a domain name, you must buy one and register it. To do this, visit a domain name registrar, like GoDaddy or Google Domains, plug your desired domain name in, check its availability and price, and then buy it, if its in your price range. From there, you’ll be able to associate that domain with your server and hosting provider, making your site accessible via the web address.
Editor’s note: This post was originally published in February 2019 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.
Originally published Jul 19, 2022 7:00:00 AM, updated July 19 2022
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What Are The Parts Of A Domain Name
Domain names are typically broken up into two or three parts, each separated by a dot. When read right-to-left, the identifiers in domain names go from most general to most specific. The section to the right of the last dot in a domain name is the . These include the generic TLDs such as .com, .net, and .org, as well as country-specific TLDs like .uk and .jp.
To the left of the TLD is the second-level domain and if there is anything to the left of the 2LD, it is called the third-level domain . Lets look at a couple of examples:
For Googles US domain name, google.com:
- .com is the TLD
- google is the 2LD
But for Google UKs domain name, google.co.uk:
- .com is the TLD
- .co* is the 2LD
- google is the 3LD
*In this case, the 2LD indicates the type of organization that registered the domain .
Also Check: How Much Do Domains Sell For
Verify Ownership Of Your New Domain
Paying for your domain might seem like the last step in the process, but you also need to verify your ownership. This step lets you send email using the domain and keeps other people from using it without your permission.
If you purchase your domain through Mailchimp, this process is simple. Youll receive a verification email after you complete your purchase. Simply click on the Verify Domain button in the email and follow the instructions on the next page, and you can start using your domain to build your brand. Youll only ever have to complete this step once.
How To Buy A Domain Name: Domain Registration Guide
What you need to know about domain names, how to choose the right one, and the steps to take to check if a domain name is available and to register your domain.
If you want to start a blog or a new online business, youll need to register a domain name, the name for your website. Getting the right domain for your needs might sound technical at first, but the process is pretty simple.
This domain registration guide will tell you what you need to know about domain name extensions, how to choose the right one for your needs, and the steps youll need to take to check if a domain name is available and to register your domain.
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The Difference Between A Website And Domain Name
Think of your website as a virtual, or digital, storefront. You need this storefront, this structure, for people to browse and purchase your wares. But how do these people find your digital store? This is where your domain name comes into play. Your domain name is unique there isnt another one just like it in all the internet When someone types your domain name into their browser its like an address that tells the computer where to go to find your website. Its an awful lot like following a map you need to know the name of your destination before you can punch it into your GPS to get there.
Back in the wild n wooly early days of the internet, domain names didnt exist. Instead, computers relied on strings of numbers called IP Addresses to find one another. If you typed in the right IP address, youd arrive at the site you wanted to visit. However, how many strings of numbers can you remember? We can hardly remember Pi . It became apparent to the internet powers-that-be that using IP addresses wasnt going to cut it. Humans have a hard time remembering long strings of numbers, but you know what we are good at remembering? Words, and specifically, names. And so the domain name system was born with two main purposes, the same purposes that IP addresses have:
That domain names can also influence your brand and peoples perception of you is an added bonus!
What Is The Domain Name System
The Domain Name System is a technical process by which domain names are translated into their corresponding Internet Protocol addresses .
As we mentioned previously, every website has a unique, complex string of numbers and letters known as an IP address that computers use to render a web address to an end user.
While humans use words, letters and numbers to navigate to a specific website, the internet uses IP addresses to identify the web pages location.
When you type in the domain name or URL that you want to visit, the DNS works behind the scenes to find the sites correct IP address, and then it connects you to the website.
Also Check: How To Select Domain Name For Website
Register A Domain And Then Build A Website For Your Business
There are a variety of differences between a website and a domain, but both are vital components to creating a successful online presence. Your online success starts with a fantastic domain and an equally impressive website.
Domain.com has the tools you need to continue building your business into a success.
Kristin Crabb
Content Marketing Strategist working in the digital marketing industry. Skilled in SEO-focused content creation, keyword research and competitive analysis, interactive content, web content optimization, and landing page creation.
Keep It Short Simple And Predictable
So, we already talked about brandability , but there are also some other, more general, characteristics of a quality domain name. The big four being:
- short preferably with fewer than 15 characters, excluding the TLD
- simple no hyphens, no underscores, no complicated words as part of the domain, or any other punctuation
- just words avoid using numbers unless absolutely necessary
- predictable no weird spellings (for example, if your name is Myke and you want to make it part of your domain such as MykeBlogs.com every single time people will mistype it as MikeBlogs.com.
Also, you can:
Read Also: How Much Does It Cost To Renew A Domain Name
Pick A Domain Name Thats Flexible
Your domain name is one area where you dont want to put yourself into a box. While you should be specific enough to attract an audience, you dont want to be so precise that theres no room for your website to grow.
For example, shutter.photography might be perfect for a photography blog. However, if you decide to write about other art forms in the future, youll be stuck with an inaccurate domain name.
Therefore, its smart to consider how your site or business may expand over time. Youll want to make this decision with a long-term vision.
Pick A Trustworthy Domain Registrar
The domain registrar is a company that registers a domain name on your behalf, and then gives you full access to that domain name.
The key with registrars is to only use respectable and trustworthy companies. You really dont want to run into any domain problems further down the line when your websites brand is already established and losing the domain would mean trouble.
The registrars we always recommend are:
- SiteGround our top recommended hosting company that also sells domain names.
Read Also: Is Squarespace A Domain Registrar
A Domain Name Has Authority
Hosting your content on a third party blogging or social media platform can seem unprofessional, and undermine your efforts to build a business or professional identity. Since these hosted platforms are often used for personal blogs and other kinds of informal sharing, it can be harder to establish your site as a trustworthy, authoritative source in your niche. Thats where domain name registration comes in. Your own domain name can let potential customers and clients know that youre a legitimate business with long term plans.
Choose The Right Domain Extension
When picking the extension or TLD for your domain name, .com is still the best choice unless you have a reason to choose something else. Roughly 43% of all domains have a .com extension, making it what people expect to see the most.
While Google confirms that your choice of TLD will not impact rankings, it does affect consumer perception. Many people view other TLDs as less trustworthy.
That said, .net or .org extensions are not uncommon, so they can be good secondary options if you find the perfect name and the coveted .com isnt available.
But if you do decide to go with an extension other than a .com, make sure you take a look at what type of website is currently on the .com extension. Someone is bound to go there accidentally while looking for your brand. If the site holds fishy or offensive content, you might want to steer clear of that name altogether.
Finally, avoid those niche domain name extensions like .space, .club, .pizza, unless you really think theyll enhance your brand.
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How Do I Search For Expired Domain Names
Expiring domain names are just what they sound like: Domain names that were unavailable because they were already registered but are about to expire, making the website name available for purchase again. You can search for expiring domain names using keywords or you can check the list of about-to-expire names. Search domains expiring now
Consider Buying The Other Main Tlds As Well
Having your main domain name extension secured be it a .com or a local TLD is only step one. Step two is getting all of the other popular TLDs, and then setting them to redirect to your main TLD.
For example, if your desired address is SeeMeBloggin.com, also consider getting the likes of:
- SeeMeBlogg.in
- SeeMeBloggin.org
- SeeMeBloggin.co.uk, etc.
While this will contribute to your overall domain name bill at the end of the year, youre also preventing possible trouble further down the line. Mainly, you wouldnt want to end up competing with another site with the same domain name but ending in a different TLD.
Some other things you dont want:
- People creating imposter sites sites that look like yours but arent .
- People registering some of those missing TLDs and then trying to sell them back to you at a much higher rate.
- Genuine visitors mixing up your TLD and not being able to access your website.
Read Also: How To Connect A Godaddy Domain To Squarespace
Why Should You Get A Domain Name
The online world is rich with opportunities to create a business or blog on free or paid hosting sites, or even on social media. Free Facebook pages and blogging platforms like BlogSpot or Medium allow users to claim a space for posting content and images of all kinds. Online marketplaces like Shopify and Etsy provide storefronts for entrepreneurs to sell physical and digital goods. Sites like Squarespace make it possible for creatives like photographers and designers to set up an online portfolio without creating a whole website from scratch.
These sites demonstrate that its possible to have an online presence without owning your own domain. But if your aim is to be widely visible and build authority for your brand, these platforms and social media sites have considerable drawbacksproblems that can be avoided with the purchase of your very own domain name.
Whats The Difference Between A Domain & A Subdomain
A domain name is the name of your website. Subdomains act as an extension of your main website domain name, such as the word support in the example www.support.business.com. They are often used to house specific types of information, such as support resources for customers, blogs, forums, and so on.
While it can be tempting to use a free subdomain, those building a business website should always use their own domain to appear professional and credible. Read our guide to learn what a subdomain is and how to use it.
Also Check: What Is The Io Domain Used For
The Purpose Of A Website Domain
One question you may still have is, What is a website domains purpose? The purpose of a domain is to put a simple, recognizable name to a website. It serves as a name that users and browsers alike can make sense of. Without domains, websites would be known by their IP addresses, which appear as strings of numbers.
An example IP address would be 256.185.138.91. That isnt very convenient to try remembering. Walmart.com, on the other hand, is much more easily recognizable.
In a word, then, the purpose of a website domain is convenience.
Understanding Domains And Trademarks
As you might imagine, many brands target their organization name as their domain name. For instance, GoDaddy uses GoDaddy.com, Pepsi uses Pepsi.com and McDonalds uses McDonalds.com.
The value of a branded domain cannot be overstated, but are brands awarded these domains under trademark laws? Are domain owners awarded any protection over their domain names?
The relationship between domain names and trademarks is important to understand before you purchase a domain and start building a website and business. There are risks to purchasing a domain name without researching trademarks first.
Domain availability doesnt protect from trademarks
Just because a domain name is available, doesnt mean there isnt a trademark protecting that brand name.
For instance, if you found a variation of GoDaddy that was available for registration, you could not purchase and operate a business on that domain because it would still be protected under trademark law.
Choosing a domain name requires more research than just availability you need to make sure that you are not walking into any legal conflict by picking a domain name that is protected by the United States Patent and Trademark Office .
When it comes to domains and trademarks, remember these basic considerations.
Related: Trademark vs. copyright Which one does your business need?
Protecting domain names with trademarks
Domain name and trademark case study: Nissan.com
Protecting yourself from trademark infringement
Recommended Reading: Why Do You Have To Pay For A Domain Name
Tips When Registering A Domain Name
Obtaining the right domain name from the start is important, especially if youre creating a business or personal brand website. Changing domains is not only expensive but also potentially damages search engine rankings and conversion rates.
With this in mind, here are some things to consider when buying a domain name:
Purchase The Domain Name
When you have settled on the domain name and a suffix, you will pay to register the domain name with the domain registrar. This is not a one-time purchase, however. Typically, you will pay to own the domain name for one year, after which you can renew your registration for a fee. You can expect a registration fee of about $10 to $15.
Recommended Reading: Should I Buy Multiple Domain Names
How Does Domain Registration Work
The steps are easy enough:
- enter the domain you want to use
- enter your own information
- pay the registration costs
A domain registration generally lasts for one year. At the end of that year, you can renew or cancel the registration.
Should you cancel your domain is held for a short time. During this grace period, you can still get your domain back. If you decide not to renew your domain registration, the domain name will be released for registration by anyone.
Always Register Your Domain Name Yourself
Its a good idea to not let anyone else register a domain name for you. Even though its slightly less hassle that way , it can lead to trouble later on.
If someone else registers the domain, youre giving them a hold over you and your website. If you ever want to move away from their services, you can encounter trouble in terms of them not being too eager to transfer the domain over to you and give you full control of it.
Just to name a few bad things that can happen: They may take an awfully long time to complete the transfer, they may try to extort some fees from you to do that, or they may decline completely .
Plus, perhaps most importantly, if the agency/person goes bankrupt or loses access to the domain registrar for whatever reason, you could lose your domain name entirely.
Long story short, always register your domains on your own. Its not that difficult anyway. Heres our step-by-step guide.
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Domain Names Are Crucial To The Way The Internet Works And To Your Online Success
Domains and domain names play a critical role in signaling to what kind of goods or services you offer. If this is all that a potential customer or website visitor sees, its got to say the right thing to get their attention. Selecting the perfect, creative domain name that is both relevant and available requires brainstorming and strategizing. However, not only is an investment in a good domain name necessary, its essential to the future online success of your business.
Natalie Brownell
Domain.com Marketing Manager. She believes in the power of words and loves a good story. She resides in MA and spends her days behind the keyboard with her two feline coworkers. Connect with her on .