When you are thinking about your church website, it's important to first consider your domain name. A domain name is what your users will type into the URL of their browsers to get to your website. But what exactly is a domain name?

A domain name is the part of a network address that identifies particular web addresses. It includes both a name and an extension suffix that together represent the website. This may sound complicated but is really quite simple. Using "google.co.uk" as an example, the word "google" is the name, and the ".co.uk" is the extension.

We are often asked about what makes a good domain name, and how you should go about choosing this for your church. So, we've put together our top tips, FAQs and then some practical help on how to go about getting your domain. 

How do you choose your church domain name?

• Your domain name should reflect your church: It's good to have a short domain name, but it still needs to resemble your church. Using your church name for your domain name is a good place to start. Not only helps people searching to find you, but also makes it easier for people to remember.

• Keep it short and to the point: The perfect Church domain name would be one or two words long and easy to remember. Short domain names are not only easier to remember, but your visitors will have an easier time typing it into the URL. Shorter domain names are also beneficial if you want to include your Church website link in any print work as it will take up less space.
• Choose an extension: An extension in a domain name is the suffix at the end of the web address that specifies the internet category or country code that the related website. Some examples of these extensions are ".com" for commercial, ".org" for organisations, ".co.uk" for websites in the UK. A good choice for an extension for your Church website's domain name would be ".com", ".church", or ."co.uk". This is because these extensions are more commonly used and associated with Churches online, and would be easier for your users to remember.

How much do church domain names cost? 

Domain names will often vary in price based on the popularity of the extension. Preferred extensions such as ".com", ".co.uk", and ".church" will usually cost more as they're more desirable, and non-preferred extensions will be cheaper. It's important not to go for a non-preferred extension such as extensions for obscure country codes, or other variants such as ".co", ".cc", or ".ws" based on their price as it will be more difficult for people to remember.

Do certain church domain names help you rank? 

In short, it can but not really. Domain names can help as signals i.e. if you include your location and name, this can help you. Some extensions will help to give your domain more authority, for example, using ".com" or ".church", but your domain should be made to represent your church, not to rank on search engines.

Where can you get your church domain name?

Church Pages can get it for you!

If you would like to purchase your domain name with help from the team here at Church Pages, we're more than happy to do so for you! This will be the easiest option if you're not confident in your tech skills and would like a more seamless process in connecting your domain with your Church Pages website

Buy from a domain name provider

There are many options of domain name providers that you can buy your domain name from. Some examples being GoDaddy, NameCheap and Hover. These options are good as if the domain name you wanted is already taken, providers will often suggest similar options and have a large range of related domain names to choose from. Buying your domain this way also gives you more control over your domain, however, linking it to your Church Pages website may be more difficult.

What if I can't get the perfect domain name?

If you can't get hold of the perfect domain name for your church, it's not the end of the world. A memorable name that is a good representation of your church and will be a good choice, even if it's not exactly what you wanted.

Can we help? 

Here at Church Pages, we're passionate about ensuring churches have excellent websites that help them be found by their community. If you'd like to speak further to our team to mull over your domain name ideas or get advice on how to get started online, do not hesitate to get in touch and we'd be more than happy to speak with you.