10 Domain Name Mistakes That Could Hurt Your Business
Learn the most common domain name mistakes businesses make and how to avoid them when choosing your web address.
Mistake #1: Making It Too Long
Domains Over 15 Characters
Long domains are the #1 mistake we see. They're hard to remember, easy to mistype, and nearly impossible to share on a podcast or phone call.
| ❌ Too Long | ✓ Better Alternative | Characters Saved |
|---|---|---|
| best-organic-dog-food-delivery.com | pawpantry.com | 23 characters |
| johnsplumbingservicesboston.com | johnplumbs.com | 16 characters |
| affordable-website-design-solutions.com | pixelcraft.io | 24 characters |
💡 The Fix
Aim for under 15 characters. Under 10 is ideal. Use our AI Generator to brainstorm shorter alternatives.
Mistake #2: Using Hyphens
Hyphens in Domain Names
Hyphens might seem like a clever way to get the name you want, but they create serious usability problems:
- People forget to include the hyphen when typing
- Verbally, you have to say "my dash brand dash name dot com"
- Search engines historically treated hyphenated domains as lower quality
- They look spammy and unprofessional
Real-World Problem
"Go to my-great-startup.com"
"Is that my-great-startup or mygreat-startup or my-greatstartup?"
— Confused customer who went to a competitor instead
💡 The Fix
Never use hyphens. If the unhyphenated version isn't available, choose a different name entirely.
Mistake #3: Including Numbers
Numbers Create Ambiguity
Numbers in domains create ambiguity:
Could be: four your health, for your health, 4 your health
Could be: two-four-seven support, twenty-four-seven support
Exception: Historical names like Studio 54 are acceptable
💡 The Fix
Avoid numbers unless they're part of an established brand name. If you must use one, register both digit and spelled-out versions.
Mistake #4: Ignoring Trademark Issues
Trademark Infringement
This is the most expensive mistake you can make. Registering a domain too similar to an established trademark can result in:
Legal demands to stop using the domain immediately
Formal proceedings that can force transfer of your domain
Trademark holders can sue for damages and legal fees
All branding, marketing, and SEO work becomes worthless
Case Study: Nissan.com
Uzi Nissan registered nissan.com in 1994 for his computer business. Nissan Motors sued in 1999. After 8 years of litigation and millions in legal fees, Nissan Motors won control of the domain. The moral: even if you have a legitimate claim, fighting a larger company is expensive and risky.
💡 The Fix
- Search USPTO's trademark database before registering
- Google "[name] trademark" and "[name] company"
- Check if the name is used by any established business
- When in doubt, consult a trademark attorney
Mistake #5: Choosing the Wrong TLD
TLD Mismatch
Not every TLD fits every business:
| Business Type | ❌ Wrong TLD | ✓ Right TLD | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Law Firm | smithlaw.io | smithlaw.com | .io seems too casual for legal |
| Tech Startup | codeapp.biz | codeapp.io | .biz is outdated |
| Non-Profit | charity.com | charity.org | .org signals non-profit status |
| Local Business | joespizza.global | joespizza.com | .global is confusing for local |
💡 The Fix
Match your TLD to audience expectations. See our complete TLD guide for recommendations by industry.
Mistake #6: Not Securing Variations
Only Registering One Version
If you own yourbrand.com, competitors or squatters might register:
- yourbrand.net
- yourbrand.co
- yourbrand.io
- getyourbrand.com
- yourbrands.com (plural)
- your-brand.com (hyphenated)
- yourbrand.org
- Common misspellings
💡 The Fix
At minimum, register the main TLD variants (.com, .net, .co). Also consider common misspellings. Set them all to redirect to your primary domain.
Mistake #7: Forgetting Mobile Users
Poor Mobile Typing Experience
Over 60% of web traffic is now mobile. Your domain needs to work well on phone keyboards:
Some words trigger autocorrect (e.g., "flick" → "flickr" doesn't auto-suggest)
Characters that require keyboard switching are frustrating
"Hey Siri, go to my dash brand dot com" rarely works
💡 The Fix
Type your domain on your phone 10 times. Try dictating it to Siri or Google Assistant. If either fails, reconsider.
Mistake #8: Ignoring International Implications
Unintended Meanings in Other Languages
Some English words have unfortunate meanings elsewhere:
In Spanish, "no va" means "doesn't go" — bad for a car brand
In German, "gift" means "poison"
In many languages, similar sounds have crude meanings
💡 The Fix
If you plan to operate internationally, research your name in major languages. Ask native speakers, don't rely on translation tools alone.
Mistake #9: Buying from Sketchy Registrars
Choosing the Wrong Registrar
Not all registrars are equal. Warning signs include:
$0.99 for year one, then $39.99/year after
Charging extra for WHOIS privacy (should be free)
Making it hard to move your domain away
Confusing checkout with unnecessary services
💡 Recommended Registrars
- Namecheap — Transparent pricing, free privacy
- Porkbun — Clean interface, fair pricing
- Cloudflare — At-cost pricing, excellent security
- Google Domains — Simple, reliable (now part of Squarespace)
Mistake #10: Waiting Too Long to Register
Procrastinating on Registration
Good domains get registered constantly. If you find a domain you love and it's available:
Register it NOW
The $10-15 annual cost is nothing compared to:
- Losing it to someone else
- Having to pay premium prices later
- Being forced to choose an inferior alternative
- Rebranding costs if you've already started using the name
💡 The Fix
When you find a good available domain, register it immediately. You can always let it expire if you change your mind, but you can't un-lose a domain someone else registered.
Summary Checklist
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