A recent survey conducted by GoDaddy sheds light on the significant impact of domain names on consumer behavior, revealing that misspelled domains deter 80% of consumers from engaging with a website. This survey, known as the GoDaddy Consumer Pulse survey of March 2025, emphasizes the critical role of clear and correctly spelled domain names in establishing trust and driving online shopping activities.

The study highlights a generational trend, showing that younger consumers, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, are more likely to avoid businesses with misspelled domain names compared to older generations like Gen X and Boomers. The research, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the domain name, delves into consumer perceptions regarding online business names, indicating that factors such as spelling accuracy and domain name length significantly influence consumer trust.

Consumers identified specific attributes that make domain names more appealing, including correctly spelled full words, concise domains with two words or less, and easily pronounceable domain names. Additionally, unique domain extensions like .AI or .shop, along with humorous names featuring rhymes or puns, were found to capture consumer attention.

Conversely, consumers raised red flags over misspelled words, domain names that do not align with a business’s name, and the inclusion of hyphens or numbers in domain names. Furthermore, free domains associated with platforms such as Google Sites or Wix were deemed less trustworthy by consumers.

Despite the prevalence of search engines and social media platforms, a significant portion of consumers still manually enter domain names into their browsers while shopping online. The survey revealed that half of respondents regularly type in domain names, while others rely on search engines, bookmarks, emails, or social media links to access websites.

The survey underscores the importance for businesses, especially startups or expanding enterprises, to meticulously select their domain names. Matching a domain name precisely to a brand was found to enhance consumer comfort, with younger demographics placing more emphasis on domain names when making purchasing decisions.

In conclusion, the survey underscores that a well-crafted domain name can play a pivotal role in influencing consumer engagement with a business. It serves as a critical element in establishing trust, attracting customers, and ultimately impacting the success of online ventures.