1. Easy to Find: A domain makes it super simple for customers to find you. Without it, they’d have to guess or search endlessly online.

2. Looks Professional: Imagine if a business handed you a card with a strange, long liAnk like this: www.some-random-site/free-business-123. It doesn’t inspire much trust, right? A custom domain like www.tastytreats.co.nz shows you’re serious about your business.

3. Helps Your Brand: Your domain is part of your brand. It can make people remember you better and even help you stand out from competitors.

4. Custom Email: With a domain, you can have professional email addresses like info@tastytreats.co.nz, which looks much better than using a free email service.

When choosing a domain, here’s what to think about:

1. Keep it Short and Simple: A short name is easy to remember and type.

   • Good: www.bestpets.co.nz

   • Too Long: www.thebestpetfoodstoreinnewzealand.com

2. Make it Relevant: Choose something related to your business. If you sell flowers, include words like “florist” or “blooms.”

3. Avoid Confusion: Don’t use hard-to-spell words or hyphens. Imagine telling someone your domain over the phone—can they type it without asking for clarification?

Domains aren’t something you make up and keep forever for free. 

You "buy" them (or more accurately, you rent them) from companies called domain registrars. Popular ones include GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Google Domains.

Here’s how it works:

1. You search for the name you want. If it’s available, you can register it.

2. If someone else already owns that name, you’ll need to choose another or make a slight variation (e.g., add “nz” to the end).

3. You pay a yearly fee to keep it. Prices usually range around $30 per year, depending on the name and the extension (like .com, .co.nz, etc.).

The extension is the part of the domain that comes after the dot, 

like:

• .com: Most common and used worldwide.

• .co.nz: Perfect for New Zealand businesses because it shows you’re local.

• .org: Often used by charities or non-profits.

Choose an extension that makes sense for your business and audience.

Note: extensions can change the cost of your domain

Think of a domain as a shortcut. 

When someone types www.tastytreats.co.nz into their browser, the domain points them to the place where your website is stored (like a digital filing cabinet). 

This is called hosting, and it works hand-in-hand with your domain.

1. Act Fast: If you find a domain you love, grab it before someone else does! Popular names get taken quickly.

2. Think Long-Term: Choose a name that will still make sense as your business grows.

3. Check for Typos: Make sure the name looks good when written as one word. For example, www.we-make-scents.com could confuse people if read as wemakescents!

Buying a domain is like planting a flag for your business on the internet. 

It’s where customers can find you, learn about your products or services, and connect with you easily. 

Invest in a good domain—it’s the first step in building your online presence!