Advice on Business Names, Domains & Social Media – From My Experience 🚀
- scopemarketinglabs
- Mar 10
- 5 min read
When starting a new business, one of the first things people think about is the idea itself. But very quickly you realise there are other important decisions to make — especially around your business name, domain name, and social media accounts. These decisions matter more than people realise. Getting them right early can save you a lot of headaches later.
After setting up businesses myself and helping others do the same, I’ve noticed there are a few common traps people fall into. So here is some practical advice based on my own experience. AI can be helpful but you should never trust it completely - do your checks as best you can.
First Step: Check the Australian Business Name Register 🇦🇺
Before you get attached to a name idea, the first thing you should always do is check the Australian Business Name Register. You can do this through the official government site:
This will tell you whether the business name is already registered in Australia. Even if a name exists somewhere else in the world, that usually isn’t a problem. But if someone already owns the business name in Australia, you generally won’t be able to register it. Registering a sole trader business name currently costs about:
$45 for one year
The process itself isn’t too complicated, but there are two traps that catch a lot of new business owners.
Advice on Business Names – Watch Out for These Two Traps ⚠️
When dealing with business name registration, there are two common situations where people get misled.
Trap 1: Websites That Look Like ASIC
If you search online for something like “register a business name”, you’ll see several websites offering to register it for you.
Many of these sites are not ASIC, even though they often look and sound very official.
They may:
use wording that sounds like government services
design their website to look like an official portal
charge much higher fees for something you can do yourself
In reality, you can register your business name directly with ASIC for the normal government fee. So always make sure you are on the official ASIC website before submitting anything.
Trap 2: Reminder Letters and Emails After Registration 📬
The second issue happens after your business name has been registered. Once a name is registered, your details become publicly visible. Some companies actively monitor these new registrations and then send letters or emails that look like official reminders. These messages often arrive shortly after registering your business and say things like:
your domain name must be secured
your business registry listing needs renewal
your registration requires payment
Because the timing lines up with registering your business, many people assume the message is part of the ASIC process, it isn’t. These companies are not affiliated with ASIC.
If you receive a legitimate business name renewal reminder, it will come from:
ASIC Messaging ServiceASIC.Transaction.No-reply@asic.gov.au
Anything else asking for payment should always be checked carefully before responding.
Choosing a Business Name 🌐
Choosing a business name is harder today than it used to be.
Years ago you could simply pick a name and register it.
Now you also need to think about:
domain names
social media handles
search engine visibility
A lot of obvious names are already taken, and many of them are simply parked domains owned by people hoping to sell them later. Short domain names in particular can be very expensive. That’s why sometimes you need to think outside the box when choosing a business name.
Why I Chose the Name “Scope Marketing Lab” 🔬
When I started my own business, I spent quite a bit of time thinking about the name.
Interestingly, I usually advise people not to use a name that already exists elsewhere.
There are actually several companies around the world using the words Scope and Marketing. But in my case:
my focus is a small regional area
the other businesses are far enough away
my logo and branding tell a different story
So the overlap wasn’t really an issue. Each word in the name also represents part of the process.
Scope
Marketing starts by looking at the situation. You need to scope out the business, competition, and opportunity before doing anything.
Marketing
This part is simple — helping businesses reach customers through things like:
websites
social media
search engines
advertising
video content
Lab
This is the part I like most. Marketing is not a guaranteed formula. Even with experience and data, you still need to test things and see what works. Sometimes a simple idea performs better than expected. Other times something you thought would work doesn’t. Even AI tools don’t always get it right.
I recently let an AI generate an entire advertising campaign just to see what would happen. It produced plenty of confident suggestions, but many of them weren’t suited to the type of small local businesses I work with. That’s why I like the word Lab. Marketing is often about testing, learning, and improving.
Domain Name Advice 💻
Your domain name is another important part of setting up a business. Here are a few things I usually recommend. Use .com.au for Australian businesses. If you operate in Australia, a .com.au domain usually builds the most trust. It tells customers and search engines that you are an Australian business.
Protect your brand
If possible, it’s worth securing:
.com
.au
This helps prevent someone else from using the same brand later. Avoid very cheap domain extensions. Things like .online, .xyz, and other novelty domains are often cheap for a reason.
For most Australian businesses, .com.au still carries the most credibility.
Remember that if someone has the same name as you and does something similar or different, somewhere else in the country or world - it can be hard to get enough popularity to rise above them in organic searches (SEO). Like even if your last name was "Bunnings" and you wanted to do "Bunnings Lawn Mowing" - not a good idea...
Don’t Forget Social Media 📱
Before locking in a business name, it’s also worth checking if the name is available on major social platforms.
This includes:
Facebook
Instagram
LinkedIn
Even if you don’t plan to use them immediately, it’s a good idea to secure the accounts early.
Consistency makes it easier for customers to find your business later.
Final Thoughts 💡
Starting a business involves a lot of small decisions that can have long-term effects. Your business name, domain, and social media accounts are some of the most important. Taking the time to check things properly at the start can save you from costly mistakes or rebranding later. And if the process ever feels confusing — that’s normal. It can be a bit tricky the first time you go through it.
If you ever get stuck with any of it, feel free to reach out and ask for help. I'm always happy to help with on advice on business names or any small business problems.
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