Company Website Domain Name Everything You Need to Know

Having the right company website domain name is crucial for building a strong online presence from the start. Don’t rush into registering the first available name that comes to mind; make sure it’s appropriate for your business in the long run.

In the context of website design, this careful selection can significantly impact your branding and search engine optimization (SEO).

Your choice of domain name should depend on the type of business you have and your future plans.

For instance, if you’re starting an online store that sells baby clothing but plan to add other products like toys, books, linen, cots, and furniture, it’s best to choose and register a domain name like babyuniverse.com instead of babyclothing.com.

Likewise, if you’re a photographer who plans to offer family photography, portraits, and other services besides wedding photography, avoid limiting yourself by choosing a domain name like theweddingphotographer.com

Do I really need a domain name to have a website?

The answer is both yes and no.

For personal blogs or hobby websites, you can sign up for an account with platforms like Wix or WordPress and get a website address that looks like username.wixsite.com/siteaddress.

However, if you’re running a business, having a company domain name is essential to be taken seriously.

Let me explain more about domain names

What is a domain name?

Think of a domain name as a street address or telephone number that directs customers to you on the Internet.

It forms the base of your email and web addresses.

For example:
Company Name: Websites 4 Small Business
Domain Name: web4business.com.au
Web Address: www.web4business.com.au
Email Address: info@web4business.com.au

What happens if I don’t register a domain name?

If you don’t register a domain name, you risk losing your website address if you switch web hosting companies or if the company goes out of business.

Additionally, website addresses that don’t contain your company name can be hard to remember and may not appear professional.

Compare these two and see which one you are more likely to remember

JamesBrown.wixsite.com/JBCleaning OR
www.JBCleaning.com.au

So it is a good idea to register a domain name, even if it is just to protect yourself for the future.

Say for example, your business name is JB Cleaning and you decide not to register your domain name for now.

Along comes Joe Bloggs who opens his own cleaning business and registers JBCleaning.com.au domain name.

After a year you decide you want to have your own domain name, but since Joe Bloggs already owns it, you won’t be able to register it. Not to mention your customers who know your business as JB Cleaning may visit his website, thinking it’s your web address and instead hire Joe Bloggs Cleaning.

What domain name should I register?

A domain name normally consists of 2 parts – your company name and the organisation type/region.

For example with the domain web4business.com.au – web4business is the company name or a name derived from it.

The .com.au indicates that Websites 4 Small Business is a commercial organisation in Australia.

.com.au – Commercial Organisations in Australia
.net.au – For network infrastructure and Internet Service Providers in Australia
.gov.au- Australian government and semi-government departments
.org.au – For clubs and various forms of affiliation groups in Australia
.edu.au – Australian educational institutions
.asn.au – Australian associations
.com – Commercial organisations in the United States
.net – For network infrastructure and Internet Service Providers in the United States
.gov – US government and semi-government departments
.edu – Educational institutions in the United States

Recently there have been other domain name extensions which have been released including:

.page
.app
.travel
.agency
.me
.reviews
.social

And many others.

However, I would strongly recommend you stick with what people are used to – .com.au if you are a business in Australia or .com if you have a global business.

For a complete list of available extensions, check out.

https://www.name.com/domains

Tips for Choosing a domain name

When choosing a domain name, consider how it reflects your brand and how easy it is for customers to remember. Additionally, it can be helpful to explore platforms where you can buy websites online to find inspiration and see what’s available.

To ensure that your chosen domain name is not in use, it must comply with a set of rules set up by the registering authority in each country.

In Australia, for example, domain names must be unique within the .com.au domain and must not infringe on anyone else’s right to use the name. The name must contain only alphanumeric characters or dashes and be at least two characters long.

Traditionally, commercial domain names in Australia could not be common English dictionary words or place names, but this has changed over the past few years.

When selecting a domain name, it should closely resemble your existing registered company or business name or relate to your products or services.

For example a company named Acme Oils Pty Ltd could register one of the following domain names – acme.com.au, acmeoils.com.au, ao.com.au,

Or if you are a business coach and you trade under your name, you could register JennyJones.com.au or businesscoachingsydney.com.au, provided they are not already taken.

Once you have selected a name, the registering authority will require an ACN (for companies) or an ABN (for sole traders). After the registration process is complete, webhosting servers must be configured to identify the domain name as a unique address and propagate it through the internet, making it accessible globally.

How many domain names should I register?

This is a tough question to answer.

While one domain name is sufficient for running a website, many companies choose to register multiple domain names to protect their brand.

Registering a name for each country in which you operate with that country’s extension is recommended for international businesses.

If you have several products or trademarks, it may be wise to register their domain names to prevent others from doing so.

Say you are a business coach and you have clients in all the English speaking countries. You can register:

JennyJonesCoaching.com (US / Global)
JennyJonesCoaching.ca (Canada)
JennyJonesCoaching.co.uk (United Kingdom)
JennyJonesCoaching.com.au (Australia)

Also if you have a number of products or trademarks, you may wish to register the domain names to ensure no one else can register them. This is particularly useful for companies with well-known products.

For example, Johnson & Johnson has registered band-aid.com.au as it owns the trademark. They have not only registered the domain name, but also created a whole website around that brand.

However, if you register dozens of domain names, thinking it will improve your search engine ranking, it’s a waste of money.

I have seen business owners register domain names such as:

JBCleaning.com.au
JBCleaning.net.au
JBCleaner.com.au
JBCleaner.com
JamesBrownCleaning.com.au
JBrownCleaning.com.au
JamesBCleaning.com.au
JBWindowCleaning.com.au
JBOfficeCleaning.com.au

Having lots of domain names and pointing them to your website is NOT going to rank you well in Google. Google looks at over 200 different elements in order to rank your website, so simply having lots of domain names is not going to make any difference.

Domain name checklist

Different countries have different requirements so check with your local domain registars. The following checklist will help ensure that your domain name is not rejected if you are registering a .com.au domain name.

– You must supply the legal name of the organisation.
– You must supply your ABN, ACN or Business Number
– Domain name must be at least two characters long.
– Domain name must contain only alphanumeric characters (ie. A-Z, 0-9) and hyphens (-).
– Domain name must not start or finish with a hyphen.
– Domain name must be directly derived from the legal name of the commercial entity or be closely related.

Domain name availability

Once you have decided on the domain name that you would like, you need to check if it is available. To check, visit: MelbourneIT – www.melbourneit.com.au

If your preferred domain name is not available, you might have to get a little creative and perhaps add a letter or a word at the beginning or end of the domain name.

Say your business name is “Fresh Flowers”, but the domain name “freshflowers.com.au” is already taken, you can see if the following are available.

Freshflowerdelivery.com.au
Onlyfreshflowers.com.au
Freshflowersonline.com.au
Sydneyfreshflowers.com.au

Here are some other words you can add if your preferred domain is no longer available:

A
Academy
Adore
Advanced
Advice
Answer
Best
Boss
Central
City
Diva
Easy
Embassy
Gal

Genie
Guy
Headquarters
Hq
Hub
Improve
Insider
Journal
Just
Local
Lounge
Magazine
Man
Mastermind

Matters
Mobile
Notes
Online
Overhaul
Planet
Reboot
Restart
Roundtable
School
School of
Shop
Simply
Studio

Sydney
Team
The
Time
Today
Top
Tutor
Universe
University
Web
Wizard
World
Yes to

Frequently Asked Questions about Domains

How much does a domain name cost?

Registering a domain name is not expensive – much depends on the domain name and the length you wish to register it for, But generally you are looking at between $15 and $140.

Can I get a free domain name?

Yes, it is possible to get a free domain name, but there are some limitations and conditions.

Some web hosting providers offer a free domain name as part of their hosting package, but usually, this is only for the first year and subsequent years require a renewal fee.

Additionally, free domain names are typically limited to certain extensions like .tk, .ml, .ga, .cf, and .gq, which are not always recognized as legitimate by some organizations and search engines.

It is also worth noting that free domain names may have some restrictions on customization, and the provider may place ads on your website to cover their costs.

Overall, while it is possible to get a free domain name, it is often recommended to invest in a paid domain name to have more control over your website and its branding.

Can I change my domain name?

While it’s possible to change your domain name, it’s not recommended unless absolutely necessary. Changing your domain name can have a negative impact on your website’s SEO and branding.

How long does a domain name registration last?

Most domain name registrations last for one year, but you can usually renew your registration for multiple years at a time.

Can I buy a domain name that’s already taken?

Yes, you can try to purchase a domain name that’s already taken, but it may be more expensive than registering a new domain name. You can also try negotiating with the current owner to purchase the domain name.

What’s the difference between a domain name and a website?

A domain name is the address that people type in their web browser to visit your website, while a website is the collection of web pages and content that people see when they visit your domain. Think of the domain name as the street address and the website as the house.

What is an IP address?

An IP address is a unique numerical identifier that’s assigned to every device connected to the internet. It helps direct traffic between devices and servers, allowing data to be transmitted across the web. In relation to domain names, IP addresses are used to map a domain name to a specific web server.

When someone types a domain name into their web browser, the browser sends a request to the domain name system (DNS) to translate the domain name into an IP address. This IP address is then used to locate the web server where the website is hosted, allowing the browser to load the website. Without IP addresses, domain names wouldn’t be able to function as a way to access websites on the internet.

Can I use Gmail or Hotmail accounts for my email?

Professional emails are a crucial part of any business communication strategy. They help establish your brand identity, build trust with customers and partners, and convey a sense of professionalism and credibility.

When you use a domain name in your email address, it creates a consistent and recognizable brand identity for your business. For example, if your domain name is “mybusiness.com”, you can create email addresses like “info@mybusiness.com” or “sales@mybusiness.com“.

This not only looks more professional than using a generic email provider like Gmail or Yahoo, but it also helps reinforce your brand and make it easier for people to remember and contact you. By using a domain name in your email address, you can show your customers and partners that you take your business seriously and are committed to building a strong online presence.

What are top level domains?

Top-level domains (TLDs) are the highest level of domain names in the hierarchical Domain Name System (DNS) of the internet. They are the letters that come after the final dot in a domain name, such as .com, .org, .net, .edu, .gov, and .io. These TLDs are managed by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and are divided into two main categories: generic top-level domains (gTLDs) and country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs).

gTLDs are not associated with a particular country and can be used by anyone, anywhere in the world. They include common TLDs such as .com, .org, and .net, as well as newer ones like .xyz and .blog.

ccTLDs, on the other hand, are associated with a particular country or geographic region. Examples include .us (United States), .ca (Canada), .uk (United Kingdom), and .au (Australia). These TLDs are managed by individual countries or territories, and each one has its own set of registration requirements and restrictions.

What website builder should I use to create my website?

If you’re looking for a website builder to create your website, WordPress is a great choice. WordPress is a powerful and versatile platform that’s used by millions of websites around the world. It’s user-friendly and easy to use, with a wide range of customization options and add-ons available to help you build the website you want.

One of the biggest advantages of using WordPress is its flexibility. It’s a free and open-source platform, which means you can use it to create any type of website you want, from a simple blog to a complex e-commerce site. It’s also highly customizable, with thousands of themes and plugins available to help you customize the look and functionality of your site.

Another advantage of WordPress is its popularity. Because it’s such a widely used platform, there are many resources available to help you learn how to use it effectively. This includes online tutorials, forums, and documentation, as well as a large community of users who can provide advice and support.