Domains & DNS guide
How to Choose a Domain Name for Your Business
In short
Pick a name that's short, easy to spell when you hear it, and built on your brand rather than keywords. For a UK business, register the .co.uk and the .com.
You'll say your domain on the phone, print it on vans and type it into every email address, so it's worth an hour of thought before you buy.
Keep it short and memorable
Shorter names are easier to type, say and remember. Aim for something you can tell someone over the phone without spelling it out.
Make it easy to spell and say
Avoid hyphens, numbers and clever misspellings: they cause lost traffic and confusion. The 'radio test' is a good check: would someone get it right just from hearing it?
Think brand first, keywords second
A keyword in the domain helps a little and won't make you rank. A strong brand name you can grow into beats a stuffed keyword domain every time.
Choose the right extension and lock it in
For UK businesses, .co.uk is expected; .com is the global standard. Once you've decided, register it and consider grabbing close variations to protect your brand.
Found your perfect name?
Register it with Gander Web and pair it with fast UK hosting and email.
Register a domainQuestions
Should my domain include keywords?
A keyword can help slightly, but a memorable brand name is more valuable long term. Don't sacrifice clarity for keywords.
Are hyphens in domains bad?
They make a domain harder to say and easier to mistype, so avoid them where possible.
Should I buy more than one extension?
Often, yes. Registering the .co.uk and the .com (and obvious misspellings) stops anyone else using them.