02 · Build the foundation
Domain names and branding
Your domain is your website’s address. Your brand is the feeling and memory people take away from that address.
Plain meaning
A domain name is like a street address for your business online. Branding is the sign, colors, voice, and promise that help people recognize the business when they arrive.
Why this matters
A good domain is easy to say, spell, remember, and share. A consistent brand makes the website feel trustworthy instead of looking like a collection of unrelated pages.
What to decide
- Business name: What should people remember?
- Domain: Is the web address short and easy to type?
- Extensions: Is
.comthe best fit, or is another ending more appropriate? - Visual identity: What colors, logo, and style should repeat across the site?
- Voice: Should the business sound friendly, professional, direct, or playful?
Simple example
Weak: A long address with random numbers and a different style on every page.
Strong: A short domain, consistent colors, clear language, and the same promise everywhere: “We make the next step easy.”
Strong: A short domain, consistent colors, clear language, and the same promise everywhere: “We make the next step easy.”
Next step
Write down three possible domain names and test each one: Can someone hear it once and type it correctly? Can they tell what the business does? Would you feel comfortable putting it on a business card?