Your domain name is your website’s address on the internet, or the URL that readers type into their browser to find you, like janesmithauthor.com. It’s one of the first pieces of your author brand that readers will encounter, which makes choosing the right one an important early decision.
The good news is that, for as important as it is, choosing a domain name doesn’t need to be an overly complicated process. A good domain name is simply one that’s clear, consistent, memorable, and easy for readers to find.
Start with Your Author Name
For most authors, the best domain name is often just their name or pen name, if it’s available. This makes it easy for readers to remember and search for you.
For example:
- janesmith.com
- janesmithauthor.com
- janesmithbooks.com
If just your name isn’t available, try adding a simple relevant word like “author,” “books,” or “writes.”
If you do end up needing to add an additional word to help distinguish your site, it’s a smart practice to put that word at the end of your name rather than the beginning (e.g., refrain from authorjanesmith.com). This helps with the memorability aspect of things.
Prioritize Clarity Over Creativity
A clever domain name might seem fun, but readers shouldn’t have to guess how to spell it or what it means.
Generally, it’s better to choose a domain that immediately tells visitors who you are rather than choosing one that’s vague or overly-branded. Remember that readers are most often searching for your name, not your business slogan or some specific nod to your books.
This is also why the best domain names are short, simple, and easy to recall. Try to avoid:
- Long strings of words
- Unusual spellings
- Numbers
- Excessive abbreviations
- Excessive hyphens
If someone hears your domain name once during a podcast interview or at a book signing, they should be able to remember it well enough to type it into their browser later.
Say it Out Loud
A useful test is to say the domain name you’re considering out loud. When you do, ask yourself:
- Is it easy to pronounce?
- Would someone know how to spell it after hearing it?
- Could it be misunderstood in any way?
- Does it sound too similar to something else?
If you find yourself explaining how to spell, pronounce, or interpret your domain, it may create unnecessary friction for readers and leave your website with far less traffic than it deserves.
Think Long-Term
Choose a domain name that can grow with your author career. For example, something like romancequeen2026.com may feel limiting if you later write in multiple genres, or outdated if you’re planning to build a long-term business.
Whenever possible, choose something flexible enough to represent your author business for years to come. This is why simply using your author or pen name can be a great choice, as it’s unlikely to change unless you do branch into other genres or write under other names, at which time it may be wise to have multiple author websites.
Aim for Consistency Everywhere Online
When possible, try to use the same name across your website domain, social media accounts, retail platforms, and any other platforms you use. Doing so has become increasingly important as readers rely on a mix of traditional search engines, social media platforms, and AI-powered search tools to discover books.
The more consistently your author brand name appears across the internet, the easier it is for both people and technology to link everything together and better identify and recommend your work. So be sure to do your research across all types of platforms first when choosing a domain.
If, for example, you choose something like janesmithauthor.com, then making sure you can also secure usernames like @janesmithauthor across social media platforms is key.
This is why it’s also important to do some research before getting attached to a domain name. Always be sure to check how it aligns with:
- Already-taken domains
- Social media usernames
- Business name availability (if relevant)
- Existing authors with similar names
So don’t stop at your first idea—create a list of several possibilities and put time into seeing how they might work across a variety of online platforms.
Want more great tips about how to prepare for building your first author website? Check out this article.
Don’t Obsess Too Much!
Some authors make the mistake of spending weeks or months trying to concoct the “perfect” domain. In reality, readers care far more about your books and the ability to find them easily than they do about the flawlessness of your URL.
A clear, professional domain that represents you well and can be utilized across online platforms as similarly as possible is all you need. Then you can move on to building the parts of your author business readers will remember the most: your books, your presence, and how you connect with those readers.
Related Questions
What is domain hosting and why is it important?
Domain hosts are the services that reserve and hold your website address so that nobody else can use it. It’s different from website hosting, which is the service that stores your website’s actual files and makes them accessible online. Without a registered domain with reliable hosting, readers may have difficulty finding your site or accessing it consistently. The Bookshelf is both a domain host and website host, where you can register for a domain and then build your related website all in one place.
Is “.com” still the best domain extension for author websites?
In most cases, yes. The .com extension remains the most widely recognized extension, making it easier for readers to remember and type correctly. That said, alternatives like .net, .co, or even .author can still work if they better fit your brand or if your preferred .com domain isn’t available (though they may cost you more annually). Just be aware that most people will assume your website ends in .com, so choosing a different extension may require a little more effort to promote.
Should I have a domain and email address that match?
Yes, this is generally a wise idea. Using a professional email address that matches your domain (e.g. hello@janesmithauthor.com) creates a more polished and trustworthy appearance rather than using a free, unrelated email service. Matching the two also strengthens your author brand by creating consistency across your online presence. The Bookshelf offers one free author email address and accessible inbox with every account that registers or transfers a domain to the platform.
