Your domain name is your address on the web and a big part of your first impression. Get it right early and it works quietly for years; get it wrong and you'll feel the friction every day.

Keep it short and memorable

The best domains are easy to say, easy to spell and easy to remember. If you have to spell it out every time you tell someone, it's too complicated. When it comes to domains, shorter is almost always better.

Match your business name

Where you can, your domain should match the name customers already know you by. Consistency between your business name, your domain and your branding builds trust and makes you far easier to find.

Choose the right ending

For an Australian business, .com.au signals that you're a local, registered business and is often what customers expect to type. A .com works well too, especially if you serve a wider audience. Newer endings like .io or .studio can suit some brands — just make sure it fits yours rather than confusing people.

A few things to avoid

• Hyphens and numbers — they're easy to mishear and mistype.
• Unusual spellings that people won't guess.
• Word combinations that could be read differently when run together.

Say your domain out loud and ask someone to type it. If they get it wrong, keep looking.

Check before you commit

Before you settle, make sure the name isn't already trademarked, that the matching social media handles are free, and that it doesn't clash with an established business. A quick check now can save an expensive rebrand later.

We'll handle the technical side

Once you've chosen, we register the domain, set up the DNS and email records, and connect everything to your site and hosting — so it just works from day one, with renewals managed for you.

Christopher Swinnerton
Director, Swinn Digital