{"id":2587,"date":"2025-08-01T06:29:36","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T05:29:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/?p=2587"},"modified":"2025-07-29T15:10:31","modified_gmt":"2025-07-29T14:10:31","slug":"should-i-buy-lots-of-domain-names-for-my-small-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/2025\/08\/should-i-buy-lots-of-domain-names-for-my-small-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Should I Buy Lots of Domain Names for My Small Business?"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 6<\/span> minutes : <\/span><\/span>

Should I Buy Lots of Domain Names for My Small Business?<\/h1>\n

If you\u2019ve got a small business and a website (or you\u2019re about to make one), you might be wondering whether it\u2019s worth snapping up a load of different domain names and pointing them all at your main site. You\u2019re not the only one. Loads of small business owners have thought about this \u2013 it seems like a smart move at first, right?<\/p>\n

But here\u2019s the thing: it can be smart\u2026 or it can be a complete waste of money. It really depends on what you\u2019re trying to do, how you set things up, and whether it actually brings any benefit. So let\u2019s break it all down and help you figure out whether buying a bunch of domain names is a good shout or just another thing to clutter up your business expenses.<\/p>\n

This article was written after “yet another” conversation with a client who thought lots of domains was a good idea.<\/p>\n

What Does \u201cPointing Domains at Your Website\u201d Even Mean?<\/h2>\n

First off, let\u2019s get clear on what we\u2019re talking about. You\u2019ve got your main domain name \u2013 let\u2019s say it\u2019s amazingcakes.co.uk<\/strong>. That\u2019s the one people type in to find your cake shop online.<\/p>\n

Now, maybe you\u2019re thinking about buying amazingcakes.uk<\/strong>, amazingcakes.com<\/strong>, bestcakesinlondon.co.uk<\/strong>, and even birthdaycakesdelivered.uk<\/strong>. You\u2019d then \u201cpoint\u201d all of those at your main website. So, if someone typed in any of those extra domain names, they\u2019d still end up on amazingcakes.co.uk<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s like having loads of roads all leading to the same shop.<\/p>\n

Why Would Anyone Do That?<\/h2>\n

There are a few reasons people buy multiple domain names:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • To protect their brand name<\/strong> \u2013 so no one else can use a similar domain and confuse customers (or worse, pretend to be them).<\/li>\n
  • For SEO<\/strong> \u2013 thinking it might help them show up more in search engines.<\/li>\n
  • To catch typo traffic<\/strong> \u2013 in case someone spells their domain name wrong.<\/li>\n
  • To look more professional<\/strong> \u2013 by owning the .com, .co.uk, .uk and so on.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Let\u2019s go through each of these and see what\u2019s actually worth it and what\u2019s just hype.<\/p>\n

    Protecting Your Brand Name<\/h2>\n

    This one\u2019s probably the strongest reason to buy extra domains. If you\u2019ve got a unique business name, you might want to grab the main versions of it so no one else can take them. That usually means:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • .com<\/li>\n
    • .co.uk (if you\u2019re in the UK)<\/li>\n
    • .uk (since Nominet released those for UK sites)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      You might also grab .net, .org, or even .shop if they feel relevant. That way, if someone tries to copy your name or ride on your coattails, you\u2019ve already got the main domain names tied up. It gives you a bit of peace of mind, especially if you\u2019ve worked hard to build a good reputation.<\/p>\n

      It\u2019s like registering your company name in all the obvious places so nobody else can pinch it and cause confusion.<\/p>\n

      But Do I Really Need Every TLD?<\/h2>\n

      Not necessarily. It depends how unique your name is and how worried you are about copycats. If your business is called something like \u201cThe Brighton Bookshop\u201d, it\u2019s probably not worth buying 15 versions of the domain because the name is quite generic. But if you\u2019ve got a made-up or brand-style name like \u201cBookaroo\u201d or \u201cZappity\u201d, then it could be worth snapping up the big ones before someone else does.<\/p>\n

      It\u2019s especially important if you\u2019re planning to grow or franchise, or if you\u2019re investing in advertising and brand recognition. Once people know your name, someone else buying the .com version could cause confusion.<\/p>\n

      What About Using Extra Domains for SEO?<\/h2>\n

      Right \u2013 this is where things get a bit trickier. In the past, some businesses bought lots of domain names with keywords in them and pointed them all at their main site, thinking it would help them rank higher in Google. For example:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • bestplumberinmanchester.co.uk<\/li>\n
      • emergencyplumber24hours.uk<\/li>\n
      • localplumbingexperts.com<\/li>\n
      • shoeshopinreading.co.uk<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        The idea was that these keyword-rich domains would make Google take notice and give you better rankings.<\/p>\n

        But here\u2019s the truth: that trick doesn\u2019t really work anymore. Google\u2019s search engine has grown up a lot. It cares way more about your actual website content, structure, and how trustworthy you are than whether you own 20 domains with keywords in them.<\/p>\n

        Can Keyword Domains Help at All?<\/h3>\n

        If you build full websites on those domains with their own good content, then yes \u2013 they might help. But that\u2019s a lot of work. Just buying the domain and redirecting it to your main site won\u2019t boost your SEO. In fact, if you do too much of that, it can even hurt your rankings because it looks a bit spammy.<\/p>\n

        Search engines don\u2019t fall for that stuff anymore. They want to see value, not tricks.\u00a0 Besides which, if keyword domains helped, would the last one above “shoeshopinreading.co.uk” be shoe shop in Reading\u00a0 or shoes hop in Reading – and we won’t go near my all time favourite “expertsexchange.com” (experts exchange or expert sex change)<\/p>\n

        What About Typos and Misspellings?<\/h2>\n

        This one\u2019s actually a fair reason to buy a couple of extra domains. If your domain is hard to spell, or people often mistype it, you might want to grab the common misspelt versions. For example:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • shoeluvvers.co.uk<\/strong> \u2013 people might type shoelovers.co.uk<\/strong> instead.<\/li>\n
        • cakelicious.uk<\/strong> \u2013 someone might try cakealicious.uk<\/strong> or cakelicius.uk<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          If you can afford to, it\u2019s not a bad idea to cover your back with these. That way, if someone types the wrong thing into the address bar, they\u2019ll still end up on your site.<\/p>\n

          Just don\u2019t go overboard. Buy the most likely ones \u2013 not every possible misspelling under the sun.<\/p>\n

          Does Owning Multiple Domains Make You Look Bigger?<\/h2>\n

          Some people think having a bunch of domain names makes you seem more professional or more established. And yes, having the .com and the .co.uk can make you look like you\u2019ve thought things through. But no one\u2019s really impressed if you say, \u201cYeah, I own 50 domains.\u201d Most people won\u2019t even notice.<\/p>\n

          What makes you look professional is having a good-looking website, proper contact details, and actually delivering what you promise. Domain names help protect your brand, but they don\u2019t do the heavy lifting when it comes to trust.<\/p>\n

          So, How Many Domains Should I Buy?<\/h2>\n

          Here\u2019s a sensible approach that works for most small businesses:<\/p>\n

            \n
          1. Buy your main domain \u2013 whatever name you\u2019ve chosen for your business.<\/li>\n
          2. Buy the most obvious other versions \u2013 .com, .co.uk, and maybe .uk if you\u2019re based in the UK.<\/li>\n
          3. Consider buying 1 or 2 typos if your name is tricky to spell.<\/li>\n
          4. If you\u2019re planning to grow big or take your business international, grab the top-level domains (.com, .net, etc.) early before someone else does.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

            That\u2019s usually plenty. You don\u2019t need to register 20 different keyword-based domains and hope they bring in traffic. They won\u2019t. It\u2019s a waste of your time and money<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

            What Should You Do With the Extra Domains?<\/h2>\n

            So let\u2019s say you\u2019ve got your hands on a few extra domains. What do you actually do with them?<\/p>\n

            The easiest and most common option is to set up a \u201c301 redirect\u201d from the extra domains to your main one. That just means when someone types in yourbusiness.uk<\/strong>, it automatically takes them to yourbusiness.co.uk<\/strong>. Nice and simple.<\/p>\n

            Your web host or domain registrar will usually have tools to help you set this up. It only takes a few minutes and means all your traffic is pointed to the same place.<\/p>\n

            Can You Use Extra Domains for Campaigns?<\/h2>\n

            Here\u2019s a cheeky little idea that can actually work well. If you\u2019re running a special promotion or product launch, you can buy a domain just for that and point it to a landing page on your main site.<\/p>\n

            For example, let\u2019s say you\u2019re a florist doing a Valentine\u2019s Day special. You could buy:<\/p>\n

              \n
            • valentinesflowerslondon.co.uk<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Then point it to yourmainfloristwebsite.co.uk\/valentines<\/strong>. This can work nicely on flyers or social media ads, because it\u2019s short, memorable, and very targeted. You don\u2019t have to do this often, but it\u2019s a handy trick for big seasonal events or product pushes.<\/p>\n

              How Much Will All This Cost?<\/h2>\n

              Domains aren\u2019t super expensive, but it can add up. Most .co.uk or .uk domains cost around \u00a35\u2013\u00a310 per year. .com domains are usually about \u00a310\u2013\u00a315. If you buy five or six of them, that\u2019s maybe \u00a350\u2013\u00a370 a year \u2013 not too bad if you\u2019ve got the budget.<\/p>\n

              But if you go mad and buy 30 domains, you could be spending hundreds a year on names you don\u2019t actually need. So be strategic. Think about what genuinely protects your business and what\u2019s just clutter.<\/p>\n

              Summary: The Good, the Bad, and the Silly<\/h2>\n

              The Good:<\/h3>\n
                \n
              • Buying the .com and .co.uk of your name protects your brand.<\/li>\n
              • Typos or misspellings can help catch lost traffic.<\/li>\n
              • Campaign-specific domains can work well for marketing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                The Bad:<\/h3>\n
                  \n
                • Buying loads of keyword domains doesn\u2019t help SEO anymore.<\/li>\n
                • Too many domains get confusing and expensive to manage.<\/li>\n
                • Redirecting 10+ domains can make your setup messy if not done properly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  The Silly:<\/h3>\n
                    \n
                  • Thinking domain names alone will get you to the top of Google.<\/li>\n
                  • Buying every new trendy TLD just because it exists (.ninja, .pizza\u2026)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                    Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n

                    If you\u2019ve got a great business name, buy the main domain and a couple of backups. That\u2019s smart. But don\u2019t fall into the trap of thinking more domains = more traffic or better rankings. It just doesn\u2019t work like that anymore.<\/p>\n

                    Focus your time and money on building a brilliant website, creating helpful content, and offering great service. That\u2019s what really brings in visitors \u2013 not a cupboard full of unused domain names.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                    Reading Time: <\/span> 6<\/span> minutes : <\/span><\/span>Should I Buy Lots of Domain Names for My Small Business? If you\u2019ve got a small business and a website (or you\u2019re about to make one), you might be wondering whether it\u2019s worth snapping up a load of different domain names and pointing them all at your main site. You\u2019re not the only one. Loads […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,10,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2587","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-business-advice","category-marketing-2","category-seo"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2587","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2587"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2587\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2587"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2587"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.forestsoftware.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2587"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}