Setting up your book direct site starts with securing a domain name. Your domain name is the unique web address where guests will find and book your property. It serves as the first point of contact for your potential visitors and plays a vital role in establishing your online presence.

A well-chosen domain name is memorable, relevant to your property, and helps guests easily identify your brand. Here’s a complete guide to choosing, registering, and managing your domain name:
 
Choosing the Right Domain Name

Selecting the perfect domain name is a critical step in creating your book direct site. Consider the following when brainstorming ideas:
  • Relevance: Your domain name should reflect your property’s identity, location, or key features. For instance, if you own a coastal retreat, a name like CoastalCottage.co.uk communicates the type of property and its location effectively.
  • Memorability: Choose a name that’s simple, easy to spell, and concise. Avoid overly complicated or lengthy names, as they can be hard for guests to remember or type.
  • Extensions (TLDs): The domain extension you choose should align with your target audience and market. Common options include:
.com: A global and widely recognised extension.
.co.uk: Perfect for UK-based properties.
Specialised Extensions: Options like .holiday, .rentals, or .stay may suit specific types of holiday rentals.
  • Keywords: Adding relevant keywords, such as your property type or location, can improve your website’s search engine ranking. For example, BoomerangBeachRetreat.co.uk highlights both the property and its location.
 
Checking Domain Availability
After deciding on a few potential names, you’ll need to check if they’re available. Most domain registrars offer instant availability check tools to help you determine if your desired domain is already taken.

If your first choice isn’t available, try slight variations, such as adding a descriptive word or using a different extension. For example, if SeasideCottage.com is taken, consider SeasideCottageHoliday.com or SeasideCottage.co.uk.

Registering Your Domain
Once you’ve found an available domain, it’s time to register it with a trusted domain registrar. Registration ensures you have exclusive rights to use the domain during the registration period, which is usually one to five years.

Key Points to Consider When Registering:
  • Fees: Domain registration costs vary depending on the registrar and extension. Common extensions like .com may be priced differently than specialised ones like .holiday or .rentals.
  • Multiple Extensions: To protect your brand, consider registering multiple versions of your domain (e.g., .com, .co.uk, and .net). This prevents competitors from using similar names.
  • Auto-Renewal: Ensure your domain doesn’t expire by enabling auto-renewal. Expired domains can be purchased by others, which could disrupt your site.
Trusted Domain Registrars
 
Here are some reliable platforms to purchase and manage your domain:
  • Hostinger: Hostinger is a beginner-friendly option with affordable pricing. They offer domain registration alongside hosting services, making it easy to manage everything in one place. Hostinger also provides free SSL certificates and WordPress templates for your site. Visit Hostinger’s domain purchasing page.
  • GoDaddy: GoDaddy is one of the largest domain registrars, offering a wide range of extensions and additional features like email and hosting. Their user-friendly tools make it simple to search for and register domains. Visit GoDaddy’s domain purchasing page.

  • Bluehost: Bluehost is an excellent choice for those bundling domain registration with hosting. They offer free domain registration for the first year with their hosting plans, making it an ideal solution for those just starting out. Visit Bluehost’s domain purchasing page.

What’s Next?

After registering your domain, the next step is to connect it to your web hosting provider. This process ensures that visitors typing your domain into a browser are directed to your website.

Most hosting providers, such as Hostinger, GoDaddy, and Bluehost, offer step-by-step guides or tools to simplify this process. Generally, it involves updating the DNS settings to point your domain to your hosting server.

Click here to view the full tutorial.