Your domain name is your address on the internet. It’s the thing people type into a browser to find you, and it’s what shows up in Google results next to every article you ever write.
It also doesn’t matter nearly as much as you think it does.
Your home address is very important. It tells people where you live. It also…doesn’t matter what the address is. It’s just a collection of characters.
Domain names are largely the same.
I know that’s not what most blogging advice says. Most blogging advice will have you agonising for weeks over the perfect domain, running it past friends, checking whether it “sounds professional,” worrying whether it’s too long, too short, too niche, not niche enough.
Here’s what actually matters: picking something decent and getting on with it. The blog you don’t start because you can’t decide on a name earns exactly £0.
That said, there are a few things worth knowing before you type your card details in, because getting it right the first time (or more like not getting it wrong) will be an easy win.
What is a domain name, exactly?
A domain name is the web address people use to find your site — the “carolinecocker.com” part of a URL. It’s separate from your hosting (where your site actually lives) and separate from your content. You can change your hosting provider without changing your domain. You cannot easily change your domain once your site is live and indexed by Google, which is why it’s worth spending ten minutes thinking about it now.
Does your domain name affect your Google rankings?
Not directly, no. Google stopped giving ranking boosts to exact-match domains (EMDs) years ago. “bestpothosplants.com” is not going to outrank “nobodymistme.com” just because it has the keyword in it. It even sounds a bit scammy somehow.
What your domain affects is trust and memorability. A domain that’s easy to say, easy to spell, and doesn’t look spammy will always perform better over time — because people remember it, share it, and click on it in search results.
The one domain mistake that’s actually hard to fix
Picking a domain that’s too specific for your niche.
This sounds counterintuitive — niche blogs are literally the whole point of this site. But there’s a difference between a niche blog and a niche domain.
If you start “veganrecipes247.com” and then discover two years in that you want to write about sustainable living more broadly, you’re stuck. You either rebrand (painful, SEO-damaging, confusing for your audience) or you keep writing vegan recipes forever whether you want to or not.
My domain is carolinecocker.com. My name. That means I can write about literally anything and the domain still makes sense. It’s a personal brand rather than a topical one, so I can (and have) do with it what I please.
For my pothos site, I went with nobodymistme.com. It’s a pun — misting is one of those bits of plant care advice that gets repeated everywhere but is actually pretty pointless for most houseplants, and “nobody missed me” felt like the vibe. It’s brandable, memorable, and not so specific that it boxes me into one plant forever.
You don’t have to be that clever about it. But do think about whether the domain you’re considering would still make sense if your niche shifted slightly.
How to choose a domain name: a practical framework
Is it easy to say out loud?
Say it to someone. Could they spell it back to you? If you have to explain “it’s ‘four’ but with the number 4” or “there’s a hyphen between the two words,” that’s a problem.
Is it easy to spell?
Avoid unusual spellings, numbers in place of words, and hyphens. All three make it harder for people to find you when they’re typing your URL directly.
Is it too long?
Shorter is better. Under 15 characters is ideal. Over 20 and people start making typos.
Does it paint you into a corner?
Ask yourself: if this blog went really well and you wanted to expand slightly, does the domain still work? “thehappyhouseplantblog.com” gives you more room than “goldenpothoscare.com.”
Does it look credible in a Google result?
Imagine your domain appearing next to a search result snippet. Does it look like a real site someone would click on?
What about using your own name?
Using your name as your domain (like carolinecocker.com) is a solid option if you genuinely can’t decide on anything else, or if you’re building a personal brand alongside your niche content. The upside is total flexibility. The downside is it’s slightly harder to rank for topical keywords because there’s no subject signal in the domain at all — though again, this matters less than people think.
If your name is already taken, try adding “blog,” “writes,” or your middle name. Don’t add numbers — “carolinecocker2.com” looks like an afterthought.
Which domain extension should you use?
Go with .com unless there’s a specific reason not to.
.com is the default expectation. If someone tries to find your site and guesses the URL, they’ll type .com first. If you’re based in the UK and writing specifically for a UK audience, .co.uk is fine. Anything else — .blog, .net, .online — tends to look less established to a first-time visitor.
Where to buy your domain
You have two options:
Buy it separately from your hosting. This is technically best practice. If you ever want to switch hosting providers, having your domain at a separate registrar (like Namecheap or Squarespace) means you’re never locked in. It also means your domain survives even if you cancel your hosting.
Get it free with your hosting. Most hosting providers — including Hostinger — offer a free domain for the first year when you sign up. It’s slightly less flexible, but for a complete beginner it removes one thing to think about, one login to manage, and one potential DNS headache.
For this site (carolinecocker.com) my domain is help by Squarespace. Not by choice. I used to buy all my domains from Google until they sold that branch of the business to Squarespace.
But if you’re just starting out and want to keep things simple, the free domain with your host is absolutely fine and you can always transfer it later. That’s exactly what I did with nobodymistme.com — Hostinger domain, Hostinger hosting, zero DNS faff.
I’m gonna leave it there until I’m compelled to move it. If anything bad happens because my hosting and domain are both held by Hostinger I’ll let you know!
The most important advice I can give you about domain names
Don’t let this decision slow you down.
Seriously. I’ve watched people spend three weeks “deciding on a domain” when what they were really doing was avoiding starting. Pick something that isn’t embarrassing, isn’t too specific, and ends in .com. Pay the £10. Move on to the actual work.
The blog that gets written on a mediocre domain will always outperform the perfect domain with nothing on it.
What to do next
Once you’ve chosen your domain, you need somewhere to host your website. That’s what Article 13 covers — what web hosting actually is, what to look for, and which provider I use and recommend.
TL;DR
| What matters | What doesn’t |
|---|---|
| Easy to spell and say | Having the exact keyword in it |
| Not so niche it traps you | The “perfect” name |
| Ends in .com | Using .co.uk if you’re UK-based |
| Under 15–20 characters | Minor length differences |
| Looks credible in a Google result | What your friends think of it |
FAQ
Does my domain name affect my SEO?
Not significantly. Google doesn’t give meaningful ranking boosts to exact-match domains. Focus on content quality and site structure rather than keyword-stuffing your URL.
Should I buy my domain separately from my hosting?
It’s best practice, but not essential when you’re starting out. Buying both from the same provider (like Hostinger) simplifies the setup considerably. You can always transfer your domain later.
What if the .com version of my domain is taken?
Try a slight variation before switching to a different extension. Add “blog,” “hq,” or a relevant word. Avoid hyphens and numbers. If you can’t find a .com you like, .co.uk is fine for a UK-focused site.
Can I change my domain name later?
Technically yes, but it’s painful. You lose any SEO authority you’ve built, all your links break, and you have to redirect everything. Much easier to choose something you can live with now.
How much does a domain cost?
Usually £10–15 per year for a .com. Hostinger and most other hosts offer one free for the first year with a hosting plan.