Short and clear
Easy to read out, no spelling doubts.
Website design · 2026 edition
Choosing a domain name: the right address, first time
Your domain name is the address of your website and often of your emails. It is hard to change once it is printed everywhere. Here is how to choose it, check it and, above all, keep it in your name.
- The extension
- Ownership
- Checks
Updated October 2026Rules checkedNo jargon
Choosing well in 30 seconds
In short
Choose a short name that is easy to say over the phone and to spell correctly, ideally your business name. For customers in one country, its national extension is a very good choice; a .com suits an international business. Check that it does not copy a registered trademark, then register it in your name, not your provider's. You rent it every year: turn on automatic renewal.
The right extension
Country extension for local customers, .com for international.
In your name
You must be the registrant, not your provider.
Renewed on time
Forgetting could cost you your address.
Which extension for which use?
The extension does not decide your Google ranking, but it affects trust and who you reach.
| Extension | Who it suits | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Country extension | Customers in one country | Some registries limit registration to holders based in the country or in Europe: check the rules |
| .com | International business | Very widespread, short names are often already taken |
| .eu | European customers | Restricted to eligible holders in Europe: check the registry's rules |
| Local or trade extensions | Regional or niche brand | Less familiar to the public, sometimes more expensive to renew |
Good practice: also register the .com or the country extension of your name, even if you do not use it, and redirect it to your website. This stops someone else from using it.
Choose and register in 6 steps
An hour is usually enough. The checks take the longest.
How much does a domain name cost?
Each registrar sets its own price. Compare the renewal price, not just the first-year price.
A standard country extension or .com
Often from a few euros to around twenty euros a year. Part of the price is the fee the registry charges the registrar.
First-year promotions
A name at €1 for the first year can cost much more on renewal. Read the price for the following year.
Email addresses
An address on your own domain name looks more professional than a free one. It is often paid for separately.
Premium names
Some very short names are resold for hundreds or thousands of euros. A simple, available name is almost always enough.
From a one-page site to a website that works for you
Choose the package that fits your business. The price is fixed in advance.
Simple Website · 1 page
A one-page website, simple and professional, to be present online.
- 1 mobile-friendly page
- Your copy and your logo
- WhatsApp button
- 1 round of changes included
- File delivered, ready to publish
Essential Website
For a small business that wants a serious website, fast.
- Up to 5 pages
- Copy written for you
- Basic SEO
- Contact form
- Publishing included
Multilingual Pro Website
To reach customers in several languages.
- 5 to 10 pages
- 2 or 3 languages
- Full SEO
- Form linked to a tracking spreadsheet
- WhatsApp button and direct contact
Website + Automations
For a website that works for you, day and night.
- Everything in the Multilingual Pro Website
- Quotes calculated and sent
- Orders recorded automatically
- Automatic invoices and reminders
Online Presence Pack
Everything you need to exist on Google, set up for you.
- Domain name in your name
- Professional email address
- Business Google account
- Your website registered with Google
Options, for every offer
- €29Domain name purchase and setup
- €49Going live on hosting
- €39Extra page with copywriting
- €59Translation, per language
- €19/monthWebsite monitoring and alerts
The website and the domain name are in your name. Simple Website: text and logo supplied by you, going live as an option. Indicative prices.
A professional address, a website that responds on its own
Your domain name carries your website and your emails. The website can then handle enquiries for you.
Acknowledgement
Every enquiry gets a reply from your professional address.
Centralised enquiries
All website contacts land in a spreadsheet.
Renewal reminder
Your domain name's renewal date goes into your calendar.
WhatsApp button
Customers message you in one tap from the website.
Your questions, our answers
Is a country extension or a .com better?
For customers in one country, its national extension inspires trust. A .com suits an international business better. Ideally, register both and redirect one to the other.
Is a domain name mine forever?
No. You rent it for a renewable period, usually one year. If you do not renew it, someone else can register it once any grace period has passed.
How do I find out if a domain name is available?
Run an availability search with any registrar or on the registry's website. Then check registered trademarks with your national intellectual property office.
Does the domain name help SEO?
A little, through clarity, but not decisively. A keyword in the name does not replace good pages. Go for a memorable brand name.
What can I do if someone has registered my brand name?
Many country extensions have a dispute resolution procedure run by their registry. For a .com, there is an international procedure. Get advice if the stakes are high.
My provider registered the name in their own name. Is that a problem?
Yes, it is risky: legally, they are the registrant. Ask them to transfer it to your name, as the registry rules allow.
Sources: the registration rules of each domain name registry (eligibility, allowed characters, prices) · the trademark database of your national intellectual property office.
General information, up to date as of October 2026. It does not replace advice from a professional.
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