A domain name is the address people type to reach you, like yourshop.com. It costs a small yearly fee, and it can be registered in your own name.
01Why it matters
- The address stays the same even if you change who builds or hosts your site.
- It looks more serious on a card, a van or a shop sign than a long free address.
- You can use it for e-mail, so messages come from your business name.
02Whose name is it in?
This is the part owners get caught by. Domains are often registered years ago by a nephew, a former employee or an old web designer. If you lose touch with that person, you can lose control of the address.
Check today: ask whoever set it up to show you the account, or to transfer the domain to an account in your own name.
03Choosing a name
- Use your business name if it is free.
- If it is taken, add your trade or your city rather than hyphens or numbers.
- Keep it short enough to say out loud on the phone.
