HOW TO PICK A DOMAIN NAME THAT DOESN'T MAKE YOU LOOK LIKE AN AMATEUR
Your domain name is your digital address. A bad one makes you look unprofessional before anyone even visits your site. Here's how to pick a great one.
Your domain name is the first thing people type, see, and judge.
Before they see your design. Before they read your reviews. Before they know anything about you. They see your domain name.
And if it looks like this...
joe-the-plumber-guy-2019-austin-texas.wixsite.com
...they're not clicking. They're not calling. They're moving on to the plumber with the clean, professional URL.
can you blame them?
Your domain name is your digital address. And just like a physical address, it says a lot about your business before anyone walks through the door.
The Rules of a Good Domain Name
### Rule 1: Keep It Short
The shorter the better. Ideally under 15 characters (not counting the .com).
Good: joesplumbing.com Bad: joesplumbingservicesaustintexas.com
Every character you add is another chance for someone to make a typo. And every typo is a lost customer.
If someone says your domain name at a barbecue and the other person can't remember it by the time they get home... it's too long.
### Rule 2: Use .com
I know .plumber and .services and .biz exist. Don't use them.
.com is still the gold standard. It's what people type by default. It's what they trust. When someone hears your business name, their brain automatically adds ".com" at the end.
If the .com version of your business name is taken, adjust the name slightly. Add "tx" or your city abbreviation. But stick with .com.
joesplumbingatx.com > joesplumbing.services
Every time.
### Rule 3: Make It Easy to Spell
If someone hears your domain name on the radio, over the phone, or in conversation, can they spell it correctly on the first try?
Avoid: - Numbers ("plumbing4u.com" ... is that the number 4 or the word "four"?) - Hyphens ("joes-plumbing.com" ... nobody remembers hyphens) - Unusual spellings ("kwick-plumb.com" ... is that "quick" or "kwick"?) - Double letters at word boundaries ("joes-sewer-service.com" ... how many s's?)
If you have to spell it out letter by letter for people, it's too complicated. Go simpler.
### Rule 4: Include a Keyword (If It's Natural)
If you can naturally include "plumbing" or "plumber" in your domain, do it. It helps with SEO and it tells people immediately what you do.
joesplumbing.com tells you what Joe does. jmservices.com tells you nothing.
But don't force it. "bestcheapplumberaustintx.com" is keyword stuffing and it looks spammy. Keep it natural.
### Rule 5: Avoid Trademarked Names
This one bites people more than you'd think.
Don't include brand names in your domain. "rotor-rooter-alternative.com" will get you a lawyer letter. Same with including city names that are trademarked (rare, but it happens with some subdivision names).
Stick to your own business name or a generic, descriptive domain.
What If My Business Name .com Is Already Taken?
This happens a lot. Here are your options, in order of best to least best:
### Option 1: Add Your City or State Abbreviation
If "joesplumbing.com" is taken, try: - joesplumbingatx.com (ATX for Austin, TX) - joesplumbingtx.com - joesplumbingaustin.com
This actually helps with local SEO since your city is right in the domain.
### Option 2: Add "Co" or "LLC"
- joesplumbingco.com
- joesplumbingllc.com
Simple, professional, and usually available.
### Option 3: Slightly Modify the Name
- joetheplumber.com
- plumbingjoe.com
- joeplumbs.com
Get creative, but keep it professional and short.
### Option 4: Buy It From the Current Owner
If someone is squatting on your ideal domain, you can sometimes buy it. Prices vary wildly. Could be $100, could be $5,000. Usually worth a quick inquiry.
Domains to Avoid (I've Seen All of These)
Let me share some real examples of terrible plumbing domains I've come across. Names changed to protect the guilty.
- plumbingsolutions4u247.com (impossible to remember)
- the-best-plumber-in-dallas.net (trying way too hard, and it's a .net)
- bobfixespipes.wixsite.com (not even a real domain)
- lonestarplumbingheatingcoolingandelectrical.com (I ran out of breath reading it)
- bob2019.com (what does Bob do? Who knows)
I wish I was making these up
Free Subdomains Are Not Real Domains
Let me be crystal clear about this.
If your website URL is "yourbusiness.wixsite.com" or "yourbusiness.squarespace.com" or "yourbusiness.wordpress.com"... you don't have a real domain.
You have a subdomain on someone else's platform. And it screams amateur.
A real domain costs about $10 to $15 per year. That's less than a pack of PVC fittings. There is zero excuse for not having one.
If your current website URL includes someone else's platform name... fix that today.
How to Buy a Domain
It's embarrassingly simple.
- Go to a domain registrar (Namecheap, Google Domains, GoDaddy)
- Search for the domain you want
- If it's available, buy it ($10 to $15/year)
- Connect it to your website hosting
The whole process takes about 5 minutes and costs less than lunch.
Pro tips: - Buy it for at least 2 years (shows Google you're serious) - Turn on auto-renewal (so you don't accidentally lose your domain) - Use privacy protection (keeps your personal info off public records) - Register it under YOUR name/business (not your web designer's... yes, this happens)
That Last Point Is Important
I cannot stress this enough.
YOUR domain should be registered under YOUR name or YOUR business. Not your nephew's Gmail. Not your web designer's account. Not your buddy who "knows computers."
If the person who registered your domain disappears, moves, or holds it hostage (yes, this happens), you could lose your website address entirely.
You own the business. You own the domain. Period.
At FastLaunchWeb, we help you set up your domain under your own account. We never hold domains hostage. Because we're not shady rug merchants. See how we work.
Your Domain Is Your First Impression
Before someone sees your website design, reads your content, or checks your reviews... they see your domain name.
A clean, professional domain tells them you're legit. It's a key part of making a strong first impression.
A messy, complicated, or free subdomain tells them you're not.
Get this right. It's a $15 decision that impacts every online impression you make.
Get your free website audit and we'll review everything about your online presence, including your domain name, and tell you if it's helping or hurting your business. No cost. No pressure. Just honest feedback.
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P.S. If your current domain has more than 20 characters, includes a hyphen, or ends in anything other than .com... it's time for a change. New domains are $15/year. That's $0.04 per day for a professional first impression. Let us help you pick the right one.