Choosing a domain name you will still like in five years

You will say this name on the phone, print it on a van, and type it half-asleep. Optimise for that, not for keywords.

Rules of thumb

• Shorter beats longer. If you have to spell it twice, keep looking.
• Avoid hyphens and numbers — 'five or F-I-V-E?' kills word of mouth.
• Say it out loud. If it sounds like something rude or confusing, it is.
• Check the obvious social handles at the same time, even if you never use them.

.co.nz or .com?

For a New Zealand business serving New Zealanders, .co.nz signals local and costs about $35 a year. .com (about $22 a year) travels better if you might sell overseas. Many businesses hold both and point one at the other — it is cheap insurance against confusion.

Availability changes fast. Check .com and .net instantly in our search above; for .co.nz and everything else we confirm with our registrar before you pay anything.