Your domain name is your address on the internet - and first impressions matter. Whether you're starting a brand new website or finally claiming your business name online, choosing the right domain is worth getting right the first time.
Here's what I look for when helping clients choose a domain name that works.
Keep It Short and Easy to Spell
The best domain names are ones people can type from memory. Aim for something short (ideally under 15 characters), easy to spell, and easy to say out loud. If someone hears your business name at a networking event, can they find your website without asking how to spell it? If the answer is no, it's worth reconsidering. Avoid:
• Hyphens between words (they look spammy and people forget them) • Numbers that could be written multiple ways (is it "4" or "four"?) • Unusual spellings or creative letter swaps
Match Your Business Name Where You Can
Your domain should match your business name as closely as possible. This builds trust and makes you easier to find through a direct search.
If your exact business name isn't available, try:
• Adding your location (e.g. yourbusiness.com.au vs yourbusinessdarwin.com.au) • Adding your service (e.g. yourbusinessphotography.com.au) • A small abbreviation that still makes sense
What to avoid: registering something completely unrelated just because it's available. It creates confusion and makes your brand harder to remember.
Choose the Right Domain Extension
The extension is the bit at the end - .com, .com.au, .net, .au and so on.
Here's a quick guide:
.com.au - The gold standard for Australian businesses. It signals that you're a legitimate, locally registered business and it's what most Australians expect to see. .au - A newer, shorter option available to Australian businesses. Great if you want something cleaner, and worth grabbing alongside your .com.au to protect your brand. .com - Still widely recognised globally, but if your business is based in Australia and serves local clients, .com.au is the stronger choice.
My recommendation for most small businesses in the NT: register both your .com.au and your .au so no one else can take them.
Avoid Trademarked or Brand Names
This one can land people in real trouble. Don't include another brand's trademarked name in your domain - even if it seems harmless. It can result in legal disputes and you could be forced to hand the domain over with no compensation. When in doubt, do a quick trademark search through IP Australia before you commit.
Register It as Soon as You've Decided
Good domain names get taken. If you've settled on your business name and the domain is available - grab it. You don't need to have a website ready to go. You can register the domain and park it until you're ready. Domains are cheap. Losing your preferred name to someone else isn't.
What About Multiple Domains?
If you have a few variations of your business name, or your name is commonly misspelled, it's worth registering those too and pointing them all to your main website. This protects your brand and captures traffic from people who make a small typo.
Need Help Choosing or Registering Your Domain?
I help Darwin and NT businesses register domains, set up hosting, and get their websites live - without the tech headaches.
If you're not sure which domain to go with, or you want to check availability and get set up properly, get in touch and I'll help you sort it out.
Your Domain Is Just the Starting Point
Once you've locked in the right name, the next step is building something worth visiting. Whether you need a brand new website, reliable hosting, or ongoing support to keep things running, we can help you with all of it.
This offer is available to verified members of the Small Business QUEENS (Australia/NZ) Facebook group only. Membership will be confirmed prior to the discount being applied.
$200 discount applies to new website packages only. Existing clients and renewals are excluded.
This offer only applies to website design, it does not apply to other services such as photography, brand or systems design.
The starting price for website packages is $2,500. Final pricing is determined after an initial consultation and is based on your individual project requirements.
Any features, pages, or functionality outside of the standard inclusions will be quoted separately and may affect the final price.
This offer cannot be combined with any other promotion or discount.
Offer valid for enquiries received and confirmed by 30 June 2025.
On Point Creative NT reserves the right to withdraw or amend this offer at any time.
