I still remember staring at my laptop at 2 AM, fingers hovering over the keyboard, checking if "myawesomeidea.com" was available for the 47th time that night. Spoiler alert: it wasn't. It never was.
We've all been there, right? You've got this spark of an idea for a website—maybe it's a blog, a portfolio, or that side hustle you've been dreaming about—and you think the hard part is building the actual site. Nope. The real soul-searching happens when you're trying to name your digital baby.
The Domain Name Rabbit Hole
Here's what nobody tells you: choosing a domain is less about availability and more about identity. I learned this the hard way. My first attempt was way too clever—some weird portmanteau that nobody could spell. My friends kept asking, "Wait, how many L's is it?" That's when I realized: if you have to explain your domain name, you've already lost.
I finally landed on using my actual name for my portfolio site. Revolutionary, I know. But here's the thing—it felt boring at first. Where was the creativity? The pizzazz? Then my mentor said something that stuck: "Your name is the brand you're already building. Everything else is just decoration."
Mind. Blown.
The ".com" Obsession Is Real (But Overrated)
Okay, can we talk about the ".com" obsession for a second? I spent days—actual days—chasing that perfect .com like it was the Holy Grail. But here's what I discovered after talking to actual website owners:
- .io is now cooler than .com in tech circles (and usually available)
- .co works brilliantly for companies and startups
- .me is perfect for personal sites and portfolios
- Country codes like .ca or .uk can actually boost local SEO
I ended up going with a .co because the .com version was being squatted on by someone who wanted $3,000 for it. Three grand for a domain? Hard pass. My .co has worked perfectly, and you know what? Nobody's ever said, "Oh, I would have visited your site, but it's not a .com."
The Emotional Attachment No One Warns You About
Six months after launching my site, something weird happened—I started feeling protective of my domain. It wasn't just a URL anymore; it was my corner of the internet. I'd invested time, money, and a ridiculous amount of emotional energy into that string of characters.
When the renewal email hit my inbox, I didn't even hesitate. $15 a year to maintain my little digital home? Absolutely worth it. That's when I understood: domains aren't just technical necessities. They're digital real estate where your ideas live, breathe, and hopefully, grow into something bigger.
My Real-World Advice (Take It or Leave It)
- Sleep on it: Don't register a domain at 2 AM. Trust me on this. What sounds brilliant in the middle of the night often feels questionable in the morning light.
- Say it out loud: If it sounds weird when you tell a friend, it'll look weird typed into a browser. Simple as that.
- Check the socials: Before you buy, make sure the matching social media handles are available. Nothing's more frustrating than having a great domain with @myawesomeidea837493 as your Instagram handle.
- Don't overthink the extension: .com is great, but it's not the only game in town anymore. Pick what works and move on.
- Just pull the trigger: I spent three weeks agonizing. You know how long it took to actually build and launch my site? Four days. The domain was the hardest part.
The Bottom Line
Your domain name matters, but not as much as you think it does when you're in the thick of decision paralysis. What actually matters is what you build there. The content, the community, the value you provide—that's what people remember.
So if you're currently staring at a "domain unavailable" message, take a deep breath. Step away from the screen. Grab a coffee. The right name is out there, and you'll find it when you stop trying to force it to be perfect.
Just don't register it at 2 AM. Seriously. Learn from my mistakes.