Domains · April 10, 2026 · 4 min read
5 domain name mistakes that will haunt you
Every one of these decisions looks harmless at registration. By year two, they're each costing you customers.
Hyphens get lost when people say the name out loud. Numbers raise the question: is that 'four' or '4'?
Niche TLDs (.biz, .info, .shop) feel cheap to a lot of customers. Stick with .com when you can.
Don't lock yourself in with a name that's too narrow. 'Sarahs-cupcakes-downtown.com' won't grow with you. 'Sarahsbakery.com' will.
Get more like this
One short, useful note in your inbox each week, written for people running real businesses.
Up next
Previous · Trust
SSL, trust signals, and the little things that matter
Most trust isn't built by what you say. It's built by the small signals that tell a stranger you've done this before.
Next · Launch
How to announce your launch without cringing
The trick isn't writing better copy. It's accepting that two clear sentences will outperform two paragraphs of hedging.