Your domain name is the online presence of your business. It’s the first thing customers see. It is the foundation of your branding, and often the difference between trust and doubt. But many startups make mistakes that cost them traffic, reputation, and even their domain itself.
Here are the 10 most common (and costly) mistakes startups make when choosing or managing a domain name and how you can avoid them.
❌ Mistake 1: Choosing Only .COM Without Exploring New TLDs
Most startups rush to grab a .com, assuming it’s the only credible choice. While .com is popular, it’s overcrowded and most short, catchy names are taken. Some of the domain names are already listed under premium domains which costs more than $1000 for the first year.
How to Fix : Explore modern TLDs like .tech, .store, .fashion, .travels, .online that fit your niche. Example: Instead of krishnakumartravels.com, go for krishnakumar.travels. Instead of sidhifashion.com, try sidhi.fashion.
❌ Mistake 2: Falling for First-Year Discounts
Some registrars attract startups with rock-bottom first year prices like selling first year registration for ₹99 or even for ₹1. But renewal costs in the second year can be 10x higher. Many startups are shocked when they see ₹1,800 to ₹2,500 renewal fees later. On the long run they end up paying more. When the customer decide to transfer to another registrar, they will find it difficult with the transfer process.
How to Fix : Always check renewal price before registering a domain.
❌ Mistake 3: Letting Others Control Your Domain
Some freelancers or small companies register client domains under a shared control panel. The client doesn’t get direct login access. If the relationship sours and if the customer want to transfer the domain, the developer may not cooperate with the transfer and may refuse transfer. The domain will be stuck there endlessly as you need to unlock and get the domain authorization code from the developer.
How to Fix : Always register the domain in your company’s name and email. Developers can be given access to the control panel, but you must own the domain. After the developer finishes the work, change the control panel password.
❌ Mistake 4: Using Hyphens and Numbers
Domains like best-fashion-4u.com look spammy, are hard to type, and customers forget them easily.
How to Fix : Keep it short, clean, and memorable. Example: bestfashion.store.
❌ Mistake 5: Not Checking Trademarks or Legal Issues
Some startups unknowingly pick names similar to big brands (e.g., starbuxcafe.in). Later, they face legal action or are forced to rebrand trademark infringement and brand confusion. Big brands like Starbucks have registered trademarks for their names and logos. Even if you spell it slightly differently (like starbuxcafe.in), it can still be considered “confusingly similar.” If customers might mistakenly think your startup is related to or endorsed by the bigger brand, courts usually side with the established company.
How to Fix : Do a quick trademark search before finalizing a domain. Pick a name that is unique, original, and not confusingly similar to famous brands
❌ Mistake 6: Using Free Subdomains Instead of Owning One
Launching on myshop.wordpress.com or xyz.wixsite.com may look cheap. Customers don’t trust businesses without their own domain. A custom domain (e.g., myshop.com) looks established and serious. Customers trust businesses that invest in their own domain. A subdomain makes people wonder if the business is small, unprofessional, or even a scam.
How to Fix : Even an affordable domain like myshop.online boosts trust.
❌ Mistake 7: Not Linking Emails with Your Domain
If your website is sidhi.fashion, but your email is still sidhifashion@gmail.com, customers see it as unprofessional. Sustomers may doubt your legitimacy. Free Gmail looks like a one-person setup, while domain emails suggest a structured business.
How to Fix : Use domain-based email (e.g., info@sidhi.fashion, sales@sidhi.fashion etc).
❌ Mistake 8: Picking Trendy Names That Don’t Last
Domains like covidmasks.in or fidgetspinnerstore.com work only for a short trend. Long term, they become irrelevant. Once demand drops, your domain name feels outdated and useless. A domain tied to one trend locks your business into that product. Expanding into other products or services becomes confusing for customers.
How to Fix : Choose timeless names that grow with your business. This gives you flexibility to pivot, expand, and stay relevant.
❌ Mistake 9: Not Checking How the Domain Looks in One Line
Some domains look fine in your head, but awkward when written together. Example: penisland.net (Pen Island) or expertsexchange.com (Experts Exchange). Such domains can make your business the butt of jokes, hurting credibility. If people feel awkward typing or saying your domain, you lose word-of-mouth marketing.
How to Fix : Spot hidden issues in the name before registering. If needed do some slight modifications or use hyphens to separate the words if there is no other choice.
❌ Mistake 10: Ignoring Renewal Reminders (and Losing It to Big Whales)
Forgetting to renew a domain can be disastrous. Once expired, there’s only a short grace period. If you miss it, the domain often goes to auction or released to public where anyone can register. Registrars usually give only a few days to weeks after expiry to renew at normal cost. After that, domains often enter a “redemption period” with high recovery fees, or they’re auctioned.
And here’s the catch: domain investors (the big whales) are hungry for 5+ years dropped domains. They know these names may have:
- SEO history
- Backlinks and traffic
- Brand recall
Once they grab it, they relist it as a “premium domain” charging thousand times more than the original price. If someone else grabs your domain, your website, emails, and online reputation can vanish overnight. Competitors (or scammers) may even use it against you.
How to Fix : Always enable auto-renewal and keep backup reminders. Register for multiple years. You can renew a domain up to 10 years and relax.
Your domain is your digital identity. Making the right choice early saves you money, legal issues, and brand damage later. Avoid these mistakes, and invest in a domain strategy that supports your long-term growth.
👉 Have you ever lost a domain or paid a shocking renewal fee? Share your story — it might save another startup from repeating the same mistake!
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