Shopify Domain Checker: Find Your Perfect Domain Name

In this article, we will delve deep into Shopify domain names and their importance in e-commerce. You can learn the critical steps and tips to pick the perfect Shopify domain name and several technical methods to buy or change your Shopify domain.

What is a Shopify domain?

A Shopify domain is essentially your online store’s address where customers visit. It’s vital to choose a name that’s both memorable and reflective of your business. Plus, in the digital world, ensuring your store is mobile-friendly is a must, and Shopify caters to this need effortlessly.

A unique domain name enhances your brand and provides consistency as your business evolves. Opting for simple endings, like .com, makes it easier for customers to locate you and boosts your visibility on search engines.

Shopify simplifies the process by offering a comprehensive package: From domain registration and hosting to streamlined domain management. This integrated approach ensures that from your storefront to your sales, everything is consolidated, eliminating the complexities of juggling multiple platforms.

4 Steps to choose the perfect Shopify domain

Step 1: Think of potential domain names

Kick off the process by brainstorming possible terms for your domain. You should think about your product or brand and consider synonyms or related words that capture your business’s essence. Using your brand name as the domain name is another viable option. After generating potential names, it’s time to check if they’re available.

Step 2: Ensure your domain name isn’t taken by using domain checker

Shopify’s domain checker lets you see if your desired domain name is available. If it’s free, you can use it; if not, think of other names. It’s a good idea to check both the .com and .net versions. Even with new options like .shop or .us, .com domains often seem more trustworthy for online shops.

Step 3: Create your account and adjust your DNS settings

Shopify offers a variety of domain options for your convenience. Here’s a simple guide to help you navigate the choices:

• Select a Domain: Pick one that suits your needs and set up your account.
• Adjust DNS Settings: After selecting, modify your DNS settings. If you need assistance, Shopify’s support team is ready to help.
• DNS Activation: The DNS records might take a few hours to activate. You can track the status in Shopify admin under the ‘Domains’ section.
• Subdomain vs. Root Domain: If you prefer a subdomain (e.g., shop.mydomain.com) over a root domain (e.g., mydomain.com), adjust it in the ‘Domains’ section.
• Linking to Specific Store: Want to connect a particular Shopify store to a custom domain? Add the domain under ‘Store settings’ in the ‘Domains’ section.
• Note on Shopify Lite Plan: Remember that with Shopify Lite, you’re limited to a shop.shopify.com domain and cannot link a custom domain.

You can efficiently set up and manage your Shopify domain by following these steps.

Step 4: Link your domain to Shopify

After your DNS settings are active, you can connect your domain to Shopify and create your online store. This is the step to link your new domain to the Shopify store for later business operation.

Overall, to briefly set up a Shopify domain, here is the breakdown of the full guided steps:

• Navigate to ‘Settings‘ in Shopify admin.
• In the ‘Domains‘ section, input your desired domain in the ‘Domain name’ field.
• If the domain is free, select ‘Add domain‘.
• If already in use, opt for an alternative domain name.

Pros & Cons of Shopify domain name

Let’s dive deeper into the pros and cons of procuring a domain name directly from Shopify. 

Pros

Shopify provides a platform for creating a personalized e-commerce store without coding knowledge. In addition to having access to top-rated Shopify apps, here are a few more advantages to purchasing a domain from Shopify:

• The platform is user-friendly and has features designed to accelerate your business growth. 
• Shopify takes care of hosting, alleviating you from the hassle of setting up and managing your website server. 
• Being a hosted platform, the Shopify domain provides the flexibility to be accessed and managed from any location worldwide. 
• An added benefit is the SSL encryption (HTTPS) that comes preconfigured with your domain, saving you the trouble of setting it up separately.

Cons

On the other hand, considering some potential downsides before purchasing a domain name from Shopify is worth considering: 

• Your options are restricted to Shopify’s features, limiting your flexibility. 
• The cost associated with Shopify’s paid plans may be steep compared to more budget-friendly, open-source alternatives such as WooCommerce.

Costs of Shopify domain name

Shopify’s domain pricing is quite transparent, having no concealed charges, and it stands as one of the most reasonably priced options for securing a .store or .shop domain. Read everything about Shopify’s Domain Pricing here

When comparing Shopify domain costs with other competitors, Shopify still holds the pricing advantages since:

• Jimdo Domains: Priced at 20 euros annually with limited TLD options. The domain might be free for the first year, depending on your chosen plan.
• Square Online: Limited to a few countries, though it’s gradually expanding. A point to note for global customers.
• WordPress Pricing: Attractive start-up costs, but the renewal rates are much higher.
• Zyro Pricing: Offers affordable rates in the first year, with renewal costs that are more moderate than WordPress.

To better understand the current domain that different platforms provide, the following table contains the cheapest free plan available on each site builder that provides a free domain for the initial year.

7 Tips to choose the best Shopify domain name

1. Opt for a short, catchy domain name that’s easy to remember

If you already have an established brand name, it’s highly beneficial to register it as your domain. This strategy simplifies online search for users and links your business to your website more effectively. Ideally, you should secure the .com domain, but .co and .net can be valid substitutes.

In choosing your domain name, ensure it’s simple, concise, and memorable. Here are some guidelines to consider:

• Keep your domain name no longer than 15 characters
• Steer clear of slang (for instance, avoid using “U” in place of “you”)
• Shun words that are complicated to spell and understand

2. Skip hyphens and numbers

While typing errors are inevitable, you can reduce the chances of mistakes in your domain name by avoiding numbers and hyphens. For instance, using “4” instead of “for” can confuse visitors. By skipping numbers and hyphens, your domain becomes more mobile-friendly. On mobile devices, switching between letters and numbers can lead to typos. So, here’s what you might want to avoid:

• Merging numbers and words like in c00l-d0main.com
• Using hyphens like in cool-domain.com
• Including abbreviations like in coolest-domain4u.com
• Doubling letters, as in coolesttopdomain.com

3. Prioritize a .com domain

Choosing a domain extension often revolves around driving traffic. The .com extension is popular, with 78% of businesses preferring it, largely because of its reputable image. Many smartphones even have a “.com” button, making typing easier. 

However, if .com isn’t available or is too expensive, alternatives like .co or .net can be considered. For example, if .com costs hundreds of thousands and .net is much cheaper, the latter might be a sensible pick. But always ensure your choice doesn’t infringe on existing copyrights. It’s a crucial step not to overlook.

4. Think of top-quality domains like ccTLD’s or .shop

If the .com domain isn’t available for your preferred domain name, don’t worry! Here are some alternate top-level domain (TLD) suffixes you can look into, with the same quality as the .com domain:

• .city

Ideal for physical businesses established in a specific city, such as .london or .boston.

• .country (like .ca, .us, .uk, etc.)

Perfect for retailers aiming to infiltrate international markets.

• .co 

A universal substitute to .com, accommodating all languages and cultures.

• .org 

A unique identifier for non-profit organizations. 

• .shop 

An excellent alternative for ecommerce platforms, offering clarity and brevity.

• .store 

Suitable for small business entrepreneurs and online merchants.

• .trade 

An apt pick for B2B ecommerce platforms or wholesale businesses.

If your target market is a specific country, like the UK or India, consider using country code TLDs. For instance, Suta, a Shopify merchant based in Mumbai, opted for the .in extension over .com. This facilitated a simple and memorable domain name that can be easily recollected.

5. Consider adding relevant SEO keywords to your domain

Using keywords in your domain name can be beneficial, but only if it stays relevant. Keywords help search engines recognize your website’s content. Quality content paired with a good user experience might improve your site’s ranking on Google. Consider merging your brand name with fitting keywords. For instance, adding “apparel” to your domain can be a good move if you’re in the clothing business.

The structure could be [brand name] + [general keyword] = [domain name].

For instance:

• Sunday + apparel = sundayapparel.com
• Diane’s + candles = dianescandles.com or candlesbydiane.com
• Cosmik + masks = cosmikmasks.com. 

It’s best to limit your keywords to one or two to avoid appearing spammy, which could deter potential visitors.

6. Use tools like domain generators to spark ideas

If you have trouble deciding on an idea for a good domain name, try using Shopify’s domain name generator for some inspiration. Simply open the tool, input a keyword of your choice, and the Shopify tool will present a variety of popular and alternative domain names you could consider for your enterprise.

7. Research to ensure your domain name isn’t already in use

When choosing an optimal domain name, it’s essential to ensure that another entity doesn’t use it. Shopify’s Domain Search tool allows you to check your preferred domain’s availability quickly. Alternatively, a WHOIS lookup can provide the same information. 

Before settling on a domain name, verifying that it’s not being used elsewhere is crucial by conducting three checks:

• Perform a trademark search. Visit USPTO.gov and use its trademark database to determine whether there’s a similar registered name.
• Review social media platforms. Look up your chosen name on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and other key social media sites to ensure it is unique. This step is also beneficial when setting up your own social media accounts.
• Utilize Google search. Input your domain name into Google to discover if there are any entities closely associated with your brand.

How to buy a Shopify domain 

Here are the step-by-step instructions to purchase a domain from Shopify:

• First, access the Shopify app and navigate the ‘Domains‘ section.
• Next, click on the ‘Buy a New Domain‘ option.
• Type your desired domain name in the provided search bar and hit ‘Search.’
• If your chosen domain is available, click ‘Add to Cart.’
• If your selected domain is already taken, you must choose another one.
• Once you’re set, click ‘Checkout.’
• In the checkout interface, fill out your contact details and payment information.
• To finalize the purchase, click ‘Confirm Order.’

Congratulations! You’ve now successfully acquired a domain name from Shopify. Remember that to keep your store operational, you’ll need to select a Shopify plan and make monthly payments.

How to change Shopify domain

To modify your Shopify domain name, adhere to these straightforward steps:

• Navigate to Shopify Admin > Online Store > Domains on your store page.

• In the displayed domain list, find and select ‘Change primary domain‘.
• After typing in your new domain name, remember to hit ‘Save‘.

3 quality domain name checker tool for references

GoDaddy Domain Name Search

Benefits:

• Extensive Database: GoDaddy has an enormous database of domain names.
• Recommendations: Offers alternative names and extensions if your desired domain is taken.
• Additional Services: Provides hosting, website builder, and SSL certificates.

Pricing:

Basic domain names start from as low as $0.99/year, but prices can go up based on the domain’s popularity and extension.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• User-friendly interface.
• Integrated services from domain registration to web hosting.
• Offers domain auctions for buying and selling domain names.

Cons:

• Renewal rates can be higher than initial pricing.
• Upselling of other services during checkout can be aggressive.

Namecheap Domain Name Checker

Benefits:

• Free WHOIS Privacy: Offers free domain privacy to protect user’s personal information.
• Domain Insights: Suggests domain names based on popular keywords.
• Variety: Large selection of traditional and new TLDs.

Pricing:

Prices start from $0.88/year for some domain extensions, with regular .com domains around $8.88/year.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Transparent pricing with no significant increase upon renewal.
• User-friendly dashboard.
• Excellent customer service.

Cons:

• Fewer integrated additional services compared to GoDaddy.

Google Domains

Benefits:

• Simple Interface: Minimalistic and user-friendly design.
• Integrated with Google Services: Seamless integration with services like G Suite.
• Transparent Pricing: No hidden fees or aggressive upselling.

Pricing:

• Prices for .com domains start at $12/year.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• No additional cost for domain privacy.
• Transparent renewal pricing.
• Reliable due to Google’s robust infrastructure.

Cons:

• Fewer promotional offers or discounts.
• Limited domain-related additional services.

FAQs

Bottom line

In conclusion, a Shopify domain is pivotal for creating a distinct online identity. It not only offers a professional touch to your e-commerce store but also plays a vital role in brand recognition and search engine optimization. By choosing a memorable and relevant domain through Shopify, businesses can ensure a seamless user experience and establish a strong online presence.