Choosing the right ecommerce domain for your brand

More and more people are opting to stay indoors and shop online rather than stepping foot in the sun. In fact, retail ecommerce sales are estimated to exceed 6.3 trillion USD worldwide in 2024, [1] and this number will likely go up with every passing year.

With that information in mind, entrepreneurs can naturally conclude that having their business operate online is no longer optional but necessary. To have an established ecommerce brand, having a domain name is a must – and a good one at that. 

Let’s break down the key factors you must consider when selecting an ecommerce domain and how to land the perfect one for your business.

Why your domain name matters

A name is far more than just a “label.” Names are associated with emotions, a way to refer to someone or something, and a way to create an individual identity. Ecommerce domain names serve the same purpose for a business. Businesses often settle for a domain name that does not truly represent them, either due to a lack of availability or not wanting to spend time trying to come up with one. 

However, choosing the right domain name is incredibly crucial for a business, and here are a few reasons why it matters much more than you would initially assume:

1. First impressions count

The first contact between a brand and a consumer rarely involves a product or a service but rather their name. An ecommerce domain that’s relevant, catchy, or interesting makes your business stand out and gives it a better chance of being remembered. Often, a brand’s name builds a community around it. For example, Red Bull and Monster both instantly give an aggressive or “high energy” impression, and, being energy drinks, they fit perfectly.

2. Brand credibility

Consider domain names to be your online identity. Choosing a name that sits well with the vibe your brand is trying to create helps reinforce identity and makes it easy to relate to the kind of message you’re portraying. Just like with people, when you call someone by their name, it almost builds a sense of comfort and belonging. 

3. Reach and Recognition

An ecommerce domain is how potential customers look for you online and refer you to others. A memorable name makes it easier to recall, market, and establish your identity in the massive ecommerce space. It's also an Investment. This may come as a surprise, but most times, a domain name turns out to be a profitable investment. It’s considered a valuable asset that can be appreciated over time.

Tips to choose a great ecommerce domain

Before you even think of purchasing your ecommerce domain, you must keep certain things in mind. 

• Keep it short (if possible): The shorter a domain name, the easier it is to remember and pronounce. Shorter words are easier to remember. Aim for 1-2 words, ideally, but there’s creative freedom if you have a specific name in mind.

• Make it memorable: Your domain name is the first impression you give a potential customer, so it should reflect your brand’s personality and almost make it obvious what your brand is about, in one way or the other. A creative name leaves a last impression and tends to attract many potential customers solely based upon the coolness factor of your name, so choose one that’s unique and relevant to your business. 

• Make it brandable: Picking a unique name can be challenging, but it’s worth the effort if it helps you stand out among the crowd. Your ecommerce domain should be something that could be easily associated with your brand, unique in one way or another, and distinct from your competitors, as you would not want the title of a copycat.

• Avoid numbers and hyphens: When a specific domain name is not available, businesses often resort to using numbers and hyphens. While this may get you a somewhat close-to-your-desired domain name, it’s difficult to read and remember.

• Use relevant keywords: SEO comes into play not just for content but also for domain names. Including relevant keywords in your domain name can help improve your search engine rankings and make your website appear higher on the SERPs. However, general SEO practice applies here, too; avoid keyword stuffing for it will hurt your SEO efforts. This is a more passive boost to your SEO efforts, so you don’t specifically have to use a domain name that contains relevant keywords - it’s not a make-or-break situation, but it helps. 

• Select the right extension: Domain extensions refer to what comes after your domain name and the dot – .com, .net, .org, and others. Dot Com is still the most popular and is generally the best choice for any business, including ecommerce, as that’s what most people are familiar with.

Tools and techniques to find the perfect ecommerce domain

There’s no set rule for choosing the best domain for ecommerce. In fact, the best names often pop up when you least expect them. 

However, here are some tools and techniques to get your brain thinking in the right direction:

1. Domain name generators

These are tools available online that help you generate creative ecommerce domain name ideas. Most of them use artificial intelligence and combine keywords and phrases related to your niche and preferences to generate a list of potential candidates.

All you do is enter related terms, and it’ll provide you with names to select or at least help you get inspiration to spark creativity. Popular domain name generators include BusinessNameMaker, Lean Domain Search, NameMesh, and Shopify Business Name Generator.

2. Competitor analysis

Analyzing your competitors’ domain names can be a valuable source of inspiration. Start by listing top competitors in your niche, which you can find using a tool like Semrush or Similarweb. Examine their domain names to identify elements that make them effective – like keyword usage and brand representation. Look for patterns in their naming strategies, such as including relevant keywords that boost SEO. Notice how well their domain names reflect their brand and resonate with their audience.

For example, "BestBuy.com" clearly conveys value and product range, making it memorable and effective. Studying successful competitors can help you gain insights into what works well and apply these techniques to your domain search.

3. Manual brainstorming

Good old sitting around and trying to come up with a name is sometimes the best course of action. If you have a team or a group of creative individuals, gather them and start jotting down ideas. Don’t be afraid to be creative and explore all possibilities. How you go about it, individually writing down ideas on a piece of paper or using a whiteboard to visualize ideas, can be a subjective choice.

4. Use a thesaurus

A thesaurus, also called a synonym dictionary, can be a great tool for finding unique and memorable words. Experimenting with different word combinations and variations will help you come up with domain names that might suit your liking. 

Start with a keyword representing your brand and look up synonyms and related words. This technique can uncover creative options that you might not have considered. For example, if your brand focuses on "fitness," a thesaurus might suggest words like "wellness," "health," or "vitality." You could then come up with a domain like "VitalityGear.com" or "WellnessShop.com." This approach not only helps you find an available domain but also ensures it effectively represents your brand while incorporating relevant terms.

Once you have selected a few potential domain names, it's time to check if they’re available for use. Most domain name registrars offer a domain search tool where you can enter your desired name and see if it's available for registration. If you run into the dreaded “That domain name is already taken!”, you would need to consider alternative options or, perhaps, contact the domain name owner and purchase it.

Here’s a table of some of the best domain name registrars:

Next Step: create your ecommerce store with Shopware

Shopware is our open-source D2C, B2C, and B2B ecommerce software that helps you build your online store from ground zero and customize and automate repetitive tasks and processes without any coding skills. It’s the ideal “next step” after selecting your domain name. Here are some of the key features:

• Secure payment gateways and shipping integrations

• Powerful reporting and analytics tools to monitor performance

• Ecommerce automation tools, such as rule builder

• Digital Sales Room to interact with buyers and accelerate the sales cycle

• Integrated CMS for crafting valuable content

• Advanced inventory/product management tools for physical and digital products

• Multiple languages and currencies for worldwide targeting

Moreover, our platform is highly scalable and flexible, as it’s designed to grow with your business. We also have an active community of developers along with extensive professional support services.

Shopware powers thousands of businesses worldwide, helping them run their online stores effectively. One of our customers, Thomas Philipps, is an incredible example of our software's capability. It’s a leading retail company that needed a solution that could handle complex business processes while providing a better shopping experience for customers, unlike its previously chosen software.

By using Shopware, Thomas Philipps took advantage of customized automation features and various systems, such as rule builder, flow builder, and advanced search, to optimize their business operations. Our flexible platform helped Thomas Philipps deliver a better shopping experience, ultimately boosting their operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Take a product tour and request a demo to see the software in action and get to know Shopware inside out.

Closing thoughts

Bold claim, but choosing a great ecommerce domain name has to be one of the most important decisions. Your name represents you, and it is no different for your business, online or offline. Follow the tips and techniques to come up with a domain name that best aligns with your brand’s persona and vision, host your online store on a reputed, easy-to-use, and feature-rich ecommerce platform like Shopware, and begin your journey in this ever-competitive space.

Frequently asked questions

What is ecommerce domain?

An ecommerce domain is the web address for your online store, acting as your digital storefront where customers can find and purchase your products.

How to get a domain name?

You can register a domain name through a domain registrar, such as GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains. Simply search for your desired name, check availability, and purchase it.

Do people trust .store domains?

Yes, .store domains are very trusted and recognized as dedicated ecommerce sites. In fact, they’re great for ecommerce businesses, as the domain clearly states that it’s a “store.”

References

1. https://www.statista.com/topics/871/online-shopping/