Domain Names for Side Hustles: How to Make Your Passion Project Shine Online

Domain names for side hustles… It’s what we think about when we start dreaming of turning our passion projects into opportunities.

A few years back, I found myself relentlessly scrolling through domain name suggestions provided by various generators. An activity that kept me up at night. And my first thought in the morning.

Yet, months went by and I hadn’t made a choice. Nothing quite fit well. I ascribed this to my innate indecisiveness, and my reluctance to simply take the plunge. Needless to say, I was frustrated.

Going About It the Right Way

But then, I decided to look at things from a different perspective. Perhaps I’m not dismissing the ideas because of this wavering nature of my mind. Perhaps I’m not hesitating because I’m afraid to just go for it.

It may just be that I didn’t know what the ingredients of a great domain name really are. It may just be that I needed to learn.

So, if you have a passion project you’d like to turn into a side hustle, go about it the right way. Start with a domain name that will work for it. One that will make it shine online.

Don’t just take the plunge and hope for the best. Instead, get prepared. Learn how to do it right.

Domain Names for Side Hustles: Why It Matters

The temptation to throw caution to the wind is often beautiful. It plays on our spontaneity, providing us with a sense of freedom and possibility.

Yet, it is a two-edged sword. And while it is that powerful sense of freedom that’s on one edge, it is failure that’s on the other.

After all, jumping in at the deep end is not the way to go when building any kind of a brand.

And, what you’re essentially doing here is building a brand for your passion project.

So, let’s see why picking the right domain names for side hustles matters so much.

Elevating Your Brand With the Right Domain Name

Perhaps you’re taking up blogging, and you want people to notice the value you have to offer. Or, you may be starting an e-commerce side hustle, selling handmade crafts, possibly testing the entrepreneurial waters along the way. Furthermore, you may wish to jump on board the freelancing train, and build a side hustle that pays the bills. Or takes you on nice vacations.

Whatever the case, here’s a simple truth. Your domain name serves as your digital identity. It shapes the way people perceive your brand. Basically, it reflects the essence of what you have to offer. And you want that essence reflected well.

Most of all, you want people to remember you. Meaning, you need a domain name that strengthens recognition and recall. One that your audience will think back to easily. One that will resonate with your visitors and stay etched in their minds.

In the end, that’s how you begin every great branding journey.

Boosting Your Online Visibility

All great domains for side hustles have that one thing in common – memorability. But, it is not just memorability for the sake of memorability.

Among other things, it is memorability for the sake of online visibility. For starters, people are more likely to share and link back to your site if they can remember it. Consequently, you’ll get more organic traffic.

What’s more, even the algorithms will start favoring you, thus making your website easy to discover. In short, a great domain name can boost your search rankings, having a directly positive impact on SEO.

Clearly, boosting your online visibility starts with the right domain name. So, make that first step count.

Choosing Domain Names for Side Hustles: The Process

You’re brainstorming. You’re Googling, using domain name generators, and perhaps even turning to AI tools for help.

Put simply, you’ve started gliding down the rabbit hole. And you can’t seem to find your way out. Because, well, nothing quite resonates with you.

Been there, done that.

As mentioned, the trick is in being prepared. The trick is in knowing what to focus on when choosing domain names for side hustles.

To get what you need, you first need to know what you want.

Keeping It Relevant

First and foremost, you want to keep the domain name relevant to your side hustle. In other words, you want it to reflect your passion project, clearly stating what it is about and what you have to offer.

So, avoid generic and unrelated names that do nothing but confuse your visitors. Instead, make it more specific.

Example. A lifestyle blogger and a baker could both be drawn in by domains like “sweetlivingwithanna.me” or similar. While vaguely relevant to both, it doesn’t do justice to either.

You want it more specific, more relevant, more to-the-point. The baker, for instance, could add the word “bakery” to the name. A photographer may go for “studio” or “photo”.

Sure, it may seem simple and basic. But, the greatest ideas are often the simplest ones.

Domain Names for Side Hustles: Think Memorability

As mentioned, to strengthen recognition and recall, you’ll have to think memorability.

But, what makes domain names for side hustles memorable?

A few things.

First off, use simple and familiar words that are easy to both pronounce and spell. Thus, refrain from lengthy and overly complex names.

Furthermore, avoid numbers and hyphens, as those are sure to cause some confusion.

Then, think of using rhymes or alliteration to make it catchy. And, of course, leverage the power of the extension to further make it memorable. With .ME, for example, you can create compelling wordplays or even powerful CTAs right there in your domain name.

Reflecting Your Goals

Whether the idea is to share your expertise, or gradually turn this into a full-time business, your domain name should support your vision.

If planning on growing the side hustle in the future, go for a domain name that will allow for flexibility. Perhaps this sounds to be in direct opposition with the relevance advice, but it really isn’t.

Sure, you may want to go for a term encompassing a broader area, to allow for future growth. But, that doesn’t mean you can’t meet the relevance criterion as well.

The trick is in finding a fine balance between the two.

Making It Personal and Approachable

You want your brand to feel more human, to be approachable, and relatable. Clearly, domain names for side hustles have to reflect that.

The right extension can play a huge role here. Going for .ME, for example, emphasizes your uniqueness and individuality. Great for bloggers, freelancers, and personal brands in general, .ME humanizes brands. It draws on your authenticity and helps you stand out. It adds that personal touch and makes you approachable.

In short, it helps strengthen your brand identity.

Wrapping Up

Domain names for side hustles… It’s what we ponder upon when we want our dreams to become reality.

Well, it’s time to do more than pondering. It’s time for you to really dive into it and choose the perfect domain. One that will elevate your brand, reflect your goals, and be memorable. One that will make your passion project shine online.

Don’t just jump in at the deep end and hope for the best. Avoid the two-edged sword that is the temptation to throw caution to the wind. Brainstorm, reflect, strategize… Go about it the right way.