Before You Launch That Side Hustle, Secure the Name

It’s exciting to take a side hustle somewhere just beyond earning a bit of extra cash on the side. When a side hustle has the potential to turn into something financially incredible and life-changing, you should be treating it like the business it will eventually become.

One of the most important steps for launching a side hustle is to secure the name. The name of your brand and business, as well as everything that will be associated with the name, is essential to secure legally as your own.

That also includes your domain name, which is a common error that some small side hustles and startups make or forget about in the chaos of viral and abrupt success.

In this guide, we’ll explain why naming and domains are important for serious entrepreneurs, and how to avoid those common mistakes that people make when buying a domain.

Why naming and domains are step zero for serious entrepreneurs

For those looking to take their side hustle seriously as an entrepreneur, they need to make sure they’re starting with a domain name. That also means that knowledge of the name of the brand is imperative to have before you do anything else.

Naming of the business and securing the domain help to establish several things. Let’s take a closer look at the importance of having a domain name in place first and foremost.

Creates trust

With a domain name, you create that trust between your brand and the customers from day one. The name is an influential advantage to a brand or business, so getting the name right is crucial. A poorly chosen name can make a business appear less legitimate and less likely to be trusted.

Establishes credibility and brand identity

Your name and domain name are often the first impression that a potential customer gets from the business. Establishing that credibility and brand identity helps set the right impression from the beginning.

Forms an initial connection

A good name evokes the right emotion and helps set expectations for your services and products. Establishing a powerful emotional connection with your audience helps solidify that relationship even further.

Ensures scalability

Avoid names that are too specific to a product or service and location. That can restrict your opportunity to scale the business and expand it further than its initial success.

Domains are your digital real estate

Your company’s domain acts as a digital real estate and is therefore essential for building a digital presence. Owning the right domain is therefore crucial because it secures your online home, where a large portion of potential customers first search online for such a product. 

Registering your company name and common variations will help prevent your business from cybersquatters who may use similar variations of the domain or name to profit from your success.

A relevant and well-chosen name is also helpful when it comes to powering your SEO and marketing efforts. It’ll help improve search engine rankings, as well as make it easier for your customers to find you.  

Common mistakes people make when buying a domain

To help launch your side hustle with success, starting with purchasing a domain, there are some common mistakes that people will make. Knowing what these are will help avoid them happening to you.

Name and spelling mistakes

The use of numbers and hyphens can often make a domain hard to type, remember, and share, which often leads to user error.

Choosing complex words

A name that is difficult to spell or pronounce will often alienate visitors, and that might also make word-of-mouth referrals difficult, too. 

The use of numbers and hyphens will also make it harder to remember and type out correctly when searching for it.

Using slang or odd spellings

These spellings will often appear unprofessional and therefore might not be understood by a wider, international audience. You’re therefore shooting yourself in the foot from potential expansion.

Legal and historical mistakes

There are several legal and historical trademarks that you’ll want to avoid making. For example, ignoring trademarks and not researching the domain’s history can be problematic and harm your site’s reputation as a result.

Being too long or generic

Short and memorable names are often easier to recall. If you’re creating an overly long name that’s prone to typos, then you might find that this compromises your success, too.

Strategic and long-term mistakes

Focusing only on the current project that enabled you to create the brand in the first place can limit your brand’s growth later on down the line.

It’s also important to check the social media availability of the name on all platforms, and buying without a plan can often lead to a name that doesn’t really align with the brand or your target audience.

Purchasing and renewal

Once you’ve purchased a domain, a lot of people make the mistake of using a low-quality registrar. There’s also the consideration of renewal costs, as well as forgetting to renew. A domain that is forgotten about in terms of its renewal can often be lost to a competitor.

The small investment that protects your big idea

A domain name is often a small investment that helps to protect your big idea. It establishes a unique personal brand identity, particularly for you. It also prevents confusion and competition that could damage your financial success now and in the long term.

It’s a small investment that helps to build trust and creates that air of professionalism you need when starting a business. It also secures your future online presence, which is important to have in this digital age.

As an official communication channel, having a domain name on your site, as well as setting up via your emails, helps align all of your communications together so that it looks seamless in its branding.

Make sure to do your research and search carefully for the right domain name, taking the time to check that the name selected is the right one for your side hustle success this year.