Choose a Domain Name

Choosing your domain name is a strategic decision that affects the visibility and credibility of your website.

Your domain name will appear everywhere: on your business cards, social media profiles, professional emails, and in Google search results. A good choice will serve you for years to come. A poor choice can hold back your online growth. Take the time to think it through before committing.

How do you choose a good domain name?

An effective domain name follows a few simple guidelines:

• Short and memorable — ideally 2 to 3 words maximum. The shorter it is, the easier it is to remember and type
• Easy to say out loud — if you say it in conversation, the other person should be able to spell it without hesitation
• Related to your business — the name should immediately suggest what you do or who you are
• No special characters — avoid underscores, accents, and numbers. Simple hyphens (-) between words are acceptable
• Unique — make sure it does not resemble an existing website or registered trademark

Which extension should you choose (.com, .co.uk, .io)?

The extension is the part that follows the name in your web address. Each extension sends a different signal to your visitors and to Google.

Extension	Best for	Avg. price/year
.com	International businesses and personal brands	€10–15
.co.uk	UK-based businesses targeting local customers	£5–10
.io	Tech startups, SaaS companies, and digital businesses	€30–50
.shop / .store	Online shops and e-commerce stores	€15–30
.fr / .de / .es	Businesses with a strong local geographic focus	€7–15

How do you check if a domain is available?

Before making a final decision, you need to verify that your desired domain name is still available:

1. Use a domain search tool — registrars like Namecheap, GoDaddy, or Gandi offer a search field where you can check availability instantly
2. Try several extensions — if my-business.com is taken, my-business.co.uk might still be available
3. Check variations — with or without hyphens, singular or plural forms
4. Register quickly — good domain names are claimed fast. If you find the right one, do not wait to register it

What mistakes should you avoid?

Certain mistakes come up frequently and can hurt your online presence:

• Name too long — best-artisan-bakery-in-london-uk.com is impossible to remember or type
• Multiple numbers and hyphens — bakery-martin-69-lyon.com causes confusion
• Complex spelling — if people have to think about how to spell it, you will lose traffic
• Name too similar to a competitor — you risk losing visitors who go to the wrong site, and potential legal issues
• Obscure extensions — extensions like .xyz or .click can appear unprofessional to some visitors
• Not checking trademarks — using a domain that matches a registered trademark can lead to legal action

Does Madra help you choose a domain?

Yes. The Madra team supports you through the entire domain selection process:

• Personalized advice — based on your business, location, and goals, we suggest several tailored options
• Availability check — we verify that your chosen domain is free and does not conflict with any existing trademarks
• Purchase and setup — with the Pro plan (€39.90/month), the team can handle purchasing the domain and completing the full technical configuration

You do not need any technical knowledge. Simply tell us the name you want, and we take care of the rest.