When building an independent website (also known as a standalone site), one of the first challenges is choosing the right URL structure in English. A well-structured domain name not only enhances brand recognition but also improves SEO performance. This guide will explain the correct way to write an independent website URL in English, covering best practices, common mistakes, and optimization tips.

What Is an Independent Website URL?

An independent website URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the web address users type into their browsers to access your site. Unlike marketplaces (e.g., Amazon or eBay) or social media pages, an independent site is self-hosted, meaning you have full control over its domain and content.

A typical URL structure includes:

  • Protocol (e.g., https://)
  • Domain name (e.g., yourbrand)
  • Top-Level Domain (TLD) (e.g., .com, .shop, .io)
  • Subdirectory or path (optional, e.g., /blog)

Example: ✅ Correct: https://www.yourbrand.com ❌ Incorrect: https://www.your brand.com (contains a space)

Best Practices for Writing an English URL

1. Keep It Short and Memorable

A concise domain name is easier to remember and type. Avoid long, complex phrases.

  • Good: nexuswear.com
  • Bad: bestaffordablefashionclothingstore.com

2. Use Hyphens for Clarity (If Necessary)

If your brand name consists of multiple words, hyphens can improve readability, but don’t overuse them.

  • Acceptable: eco-friendly-bags.com
  • Better (if available): ecofriendlybags.com

3. Stick to .com When Possible

While newer TLDs like .store or .tech are trendy, .com remains the most trusted and recognizable.

  • Preferred: yourbusiness.com
  • Alternative: yourbusiness.shop (if .com is unavailable)

4. Avoid Numbers and Special Characters

Numbers (1, 2, 3) and symbols (!, @, #) can cause confusion when spoken aloud.

  • Avoid: shoes4less.com (Is it “4” or “for”?)
  • Better: shoesforless.com

5. Make It Brandable

Your domain should reflect your brand identity. Invented words (e.g., Google, Zappos) often work well.

  • Strong Branding: zylara.com (unique and trademark-friendly)
  • Weak Branding: cheapshoesonline.com (generic and hard to distinguish)

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  1. Using Underscores (_) Instead of Hyphens (-)
  • ❌ your_brand.com → ✅ your-brand.com
  1. Including Trademarked Names
  • ❌ nikeoutletstore.com (risks legal issues)
  1. Choosing Hard-to-Spell Words
  • ❌ luxxuryboutique.com (double “x” may confuse users)
  1. Ignoring SEO Keywords (But Not Overdoing It)
  • ❌ best-cheap-fast-delivery-electronics-store.com (spammy)
  • ✅ gadgethub.com (clean and keyword-optimized)

How to Check Domain Availability

Before finalizing your URL, verify its availability using:

  • Domain registrars (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap)
  • WHOIS lookup tools (to see if a domain is taken)

Final Tips for SEO Optimization

  • Use HTTPS for security (Google ranks secure sites higher).
  • Avoid subdomains unless necessary (e.g., blog.yoursite.com can dilute SEO value).
  • Keep URLs lowercase to prevent case-sensitivity issues.

By following these guidelines, your independent website URL will be professional, SEO-friendly, and easy for customers to remember. Whether you’re launching an e-commerce store or a personal blog, a well-structured domain sets the foundation for online success.