1. Purchase and register your domain name
First things first: you need a domain name. This is just a fancy way of saying the URL or website address (starting with βwwwβ) that people will use to get to your website.
You want it to be something simple and relevant to your business. Ideally, itβll be intuitive enough for your customers to remember easilyβprobably related to theΒ name you chose for your business.
Letβs say youβre opening your own bagel shop called The Corner Bagel Shop. Youβd want your domain to be something simple and to the point, like www.cornerbagelshop.com.au.
Thatβs a great URL! Nice choice. But you actually have to buy it before you can claim it.
Where do you purchase a domain name? Today, almost everything you need to build your business websiteβyour domain name, hosting (which weβll talk about next), templates and moreβis included in one platform or website builder. Something like Squarespace or Wix will get you everything you need in a one-stop shop.
But if youβre looking to just purchase a domain to get started, there are plenty of places you can do that. These include:
Using one of those platforms, search for the domain name that you want to use. If itβs available, youβll purchase it and fill in your informationβand then youβre the proud new owner of that domain.
What if your domain name is already taken?
Itβs not uncommon that the domain name you want to use is already taken and unavailable for purchase. What then? There are a few things you can do, including:
- Change the ending:Β itβs true that .com.au endings are the most common (and theyβre probably your best bet if you can swing it). But there are other options you can use, like .net, .net.au, or .org.
- Add another word:Β even adding one small word can make your domain different enough to be available. So, if www.cornerbagelshop.com.au is taken, you might be able to secure www.thecornerbagelshop.com.au.
- Add your location:Β that didnβt work? Try incorporating your location in some way. For example, www.bondicornerbagelshop.com.au might be available.
How much does a domain name cost?
Domain names can be surprisingly cheap. For example,Β Google DomainsΒ says that purchasing www.cornerbagelshop.com.au will cost just $18 per year. Exactly how much youβll need to spend will vary, but planning for $15 to $25 per year for your domain is probably a safe bet.