Your domain name is your shop's address on the internet. It appears on your visiting cards, your packaging, your Instagram bio and every WhatsApp message you send with a link. A good one is easy to say, easy to type and easy to remember. A poor one gets misspelt, forgotten or confused with someone else's.
This guide covers how to choose a domain, where to buy it, and how to connect it to your online store without needing a technical person.
What makes a good domain name
Short and easy to spell
Imagine saying your domain over the phone to a customer. If you have to spell it out letter by letter, or explain "with two Ls", it is probably too complicated. Shorter is usually better, though clarity matters more than length.
Matches your shop name
The best domain is usually just your brand name. If you are known as "Lakshmi Silks" in your town, lakshmisilks.in is far easier for people to find than something generic. If that exact name is taken, try a simple addition that still makes sense, such as the city or what you sell: lakshmisilksmadurai.in or lakshmisilkssarees.com.
Avoid hyphens and numbers if you can
Hyphens are easy to forget when someone types from memory, and numbers create confusion ("is that 4 or four?"). They are not forbidden, but use them only if there is no better option.
Think about the future
If you sell only sarees today but might add kurtas and jewellery next year, a domain like priyasarees.in may feel narrow later. A brand name gives you room to grow.
Check it isn't someone else's brand
Before you buy, search for the name on Google, Instagram and the trademark registry. Using a name that is close to an established brand can cause confusion and legal trouble. If in doubt, choose something else.
.in, .co.in or .com?
All of them work well for an online store. A few points to help you decide:
- .in tells visitors you are an Indian business, which can be reassuring for local shoppers. Short, good .in names are often still available.
- .com is the most widely recognised ending worldwide. If you plan to sell abroad, it may suit you, but short .com names are harder to find.
- .co.in also signals India, but people sometimes forget the "co" part. Many businesses choose plain .in instead.
If both the .in and .com of your name are available and affordable, some owners buy both and point one to the other, so that customers who guess the wrong ending still reach the store. This is optional.
Where to buy a domain
Domains are sold by companies called registrars. Most charge a yearly fee, and the price can be different in the first year and when you renew. Before buying, check:
- The renewal price, not just the first-year offer.
- That the domain is registered in your name or your business's name, with your own email address, not a web designer's or a friend's.
- That you can easily edit DNS records, which you will need to connect your store.
- That auto-renew is available, so the domain does not expire by accident.
Domain ownership matters. If someone else registers it on your behalf and later becomes unreachable, you may lose control of your own shop address. Keep the login details safe, and make sure the registration is yours.
Connecting your domain to your store
Once you own the domain, you need to tell the internet that it should point to your store. This is done with DNS records, which are small entries you add in your registrar's control panel. It sounds technical, but it is usually just copying two values into a form.
The two records you will usually add
- CNAME record: this points a name such as www.yourshop.in to your store. Think of it as a sign that says "this address lives over there".
- TXT record: this proves to your store platform that you own the domain. It is a line of text the platform gives you, which you paste into your registrar's DNS settings.
In UpMinutes, you add your domain in the dashboard and it shows you the exact CNAME and TXT values to copy. You add them at your registrar, come back, and the store checks them for you.
Step by step
- In your store dashboard, go to the domain settings and enter the domain you bought.
- Copy the CNAME and TXT values shown.
- Log in to your registrar and open the DNS or "Manage DNS" section for your domain.
- Add a new CNAME record with the name and value shown. Add a new TXT record the same way.
- Save, then go back to your store and check the connection.
DNS changes are often picked up within minutes, but they can take longer, sometimes up to a day or two, depending on the registrar and on caching around the internet. If it does not work immediately, wait a while before changing anything.
Common mistakes
- Typing the full domain in the name field when the registrar expects only the part before it (for example "www" rather than "www.yourshop.in"). Check your registrar's help page.
- Leaving an old record in place that conflicts with the new one. If there is already a record for "www", edit it instead of adding a second.
- Extra spaces copied with the value. Paste carefully.
If you get stuck, our help pages walk through the process, and your registrar's support team can show you where their DNS settings are.
Moving from an old website
If you already have a website on this domain, think about the pages people and Google already know. Old product links shared on WhatsApp or listed in search results should not lead to error pages after you move. Setting up redirects from old addresses to the matching new pages keeps those links working. UpMinutes lets you add redirects from an old site, and our switching guide explains the full move.
After you connect
- Visit your store at the new address on your phone and computer, and check that the padlock (HTTPS) shows in the browser.
- Update your Instagram bio, Google Business Profile, WhatsApp Business profile and visiting cards.
- Add the domain to Google Search Console so you can see how your store appears in search. Our SEO guide covers this.
- Switch on auto-renew at your registrar and keep your contact email up to date.
In short
Choose a short, clear name that matches your brand, register it in your own name, and connect it with a CNAME and a TXT record. It is one of the quickest jobs in setting up a store, and one of the most lasting.
You can build and test your store first, then connect your own domain when you are ready. Start a 14-day free trial of UpMinutes, no card needed, and see the plans on the pricing page.