Naming Your Site & Sub-Domain
(Small Decision, Big Long-Term Impact)
Your site name tells visitors and Google what your site is for. If the name doesn’t match what users actually do, trust and SEO suffer.
Why naming matters more than people think
Before someone reads a word on your site, they see the URL.
Their brain asks:
“What am I supposed to do here?”
Your name should answer that instantly.
Good naming reduces confusion.
Confusion kills trust.
What names actually signal
Names send intent signals.
Examples:
- reviews.yoursite.com → comparisons and opinions
- deals.yoursite.com → discounts and offers
- picks.yoursite.com → recommendations and curation
- guides.yoursite.com → learning and help
If the name and the content don’t match, visitors hesitate.
A very common beginner mistake
Using names like:
- store
- shop
- products
when the site:
- doesn’t sell products directly
- doesn’t handle checkout
- doesn’t own inventory
Affiliate sites are not traditional stores.
When the name says “store” but the site behaves like recommendations, trust drops.
How to choose a good name
Ask yourself:
- What does the visitor actually do here?
- Are they browsing, comparing, choosing, or learning?
Good names describe user action, not platform features.
Better patterns:
- reviews
- deals
- picks
- favorites
- recommendations
Main domain vs sub-domain naming
If FreshStore is your main site
- Your main domain should clearly reflect the niche
- Keep it readable and honest
If FreshStore is a sub-domain
- The sub-domain should describe the store’s purpose
- Short and clear beats clever and branded
When to fix naming
Fix naming:
- before traffic
- before indexing
- before backlinks
Early changes are easy.
Late changes mean:
- redirects
- confusion
- lost momentum
✅ Quick Tip
If a first-time visitor can’t guess what your site does from the name alone, the name needs work.
⚠️ Common Mistake
Choosing names based on what “sounds cool” instead of what clearly explains the site.
Simple rule to remember
Clarity beats creativity.
Honesty beats hype.
A clear name helps everything else work better.