Part 2: Pick and Buy Your Domain Name

Launch Your Website series: Part 2 of 7

Your domain name is your website’s address, like sunnybakery.com. It’s often the first thing people see, so let’s choose a good one. Here’s how to buy a domain name, step by step.

Step 1: Pick a good name

A good domain is:

• Short. sunnybakery.com is better than thesunnysidebakeryanddessertshop.com.
• Easy to spell. If you have to spell it out loud, it’s too hard.
• Easy to say. Avoid numbers and hyphens (sunny-bakery-4u.com is confusing).
• Related to you. Use your business name or your own name.

Tip: Say it out loud to a friend. Can they type it correctly without help? Then it’s a good name.

Step 2: Choose the ending

The ending (like .com) is called the extension.

• .com is the most trusted and best known. Choose it if you can.
• Your country’s ending (like .co.uk, .in, .ca or .com.au) is great if your customers are all in one country.
• .org suits charities and community groups.
• Newer endings (like .shop, .studio or .blog) are fine if .com is taken.

Step 3: Check if it’s available

1. Go to a domain registrar: a shop that sells domain names. Well-known ones are Namecheap, GoDaddy, Porkbun, Cloudflare and Hostinger.
2. Type your name into the search box.
3. If it says available, great! If it’s taken, try:
   • Adding a word: sunnybakeryshop.com or getsunnybakery.com
   • A different ending: sunnybakery.shop

Step 4: Buy it

1. Click Add to cart.
2. Choose 1 year to start. You can renew later.
3. Turn on auto-renew. If your domain expires, someone else can buy it.
4. Say yes to free “privacy protection” (also called WHOIS privacy). It hides your home address and phone number from public lists.
5. Say no to extras you don’t understand, like paid email, “SEO packages” or “site lock.” You can add them later if you ever need them.
6. Pay. Most domains cost about $10–20 a year.

Shortcut: buy it from your website builder

Many website builders (Wix, Squarespace and others) sell domains too. Some give you one free for the first year. Buying both in the same place means fewer steps later. The only downside is that renewals can cost a little more.

Either way works. If you’re unsure, buy the domain from the same website builder you’ll choose in Part 3.

Common worries

• “Do I own it forever?” You rent it year by year. As long as you keep renewing, it’s yours.
• “Can I change it later?” You can buy a new one anytime, but it’s easier to pick well now.

Next: Part 3: Choose Where Your Website Lives →