Defensive Domain Registration for Shopify Brands

What is Defensive Domain Registration?

Defensive domain registration means proactively registering domain variations of your brand name before bad actors can claim them. Instead of waiting for someone to register yourbrand.co and use it for phishing, you register it yourself and redirect it to your main store.

Which Domains Should You Register?

Essential TLDs

Every Shopify merchant should secure these extensions of their brand name:

• .com (primary, must-have)
• .net (common alternative)
• .org (if applicable)
• .co (frequently mistyped as .com)

E-commerce Specific TLDs

Consider these commerce-focused extensions:

• .shop
• .store
• .shopping

Common Misspellings

Register the most likely typos:

• Doubled letters (yourrband.com)
• Missing letters (yourbrad.com)
• Adjacent key substitutions (uourbrand.com)

Regional Variations

If you ship internationally:

• .uk / .co.uk
• .ca
• .au
• .eu

Cost vs. Risk Analysis

Domain registration isn’t free, so prioritize based on risk:

High Priority (register immediately):

• Your exact brand in .com, .net, .co
• Obvious misspellings of your primary domain
• Your brand + “shop” or “store”

Medium Priority (register if budget allows):

• Regional TLDs where you do business
• Your brand in new gTLDs (.shop, .store)
• Less obvious misspellings

Low Priority (monitor instead):

• Obscure TLDs
• Every possible misspelling
• Brand + every possible word combination

The 80/20 Rule for Domain Defense

You can’t register every variation—there are too many. Apply the 80/20 rule:

80% of attacks come from:

• Your exact brand in popular alternative TLDs
• The 5-10 most common misspellings
• Your brand + “shop”, “store”, “official”

Focus your budget on these high-value registrations rather than trying to cover every possibility.

Managing a Domain Portfolio

As your portfolio grows:

Centralize Registration

Use one registrar for all domains. This simplifies renewal management and reduces the risk of expired domains.

Enable Auto-Renewal

Domain expiration creates vulnerability. Set all defensive domains to auto-renew.

Configure Redirects

Point all defensive domains to your primary store. This captures mistyped traffic and prevents domain misuse.

Track Expiration Dates

Create calendar reminders for any domains not on auto-renew. Expired domains get snapped up immediately.

When Monitoring Beats Registration

Sometimes monitoring is more practical than registration:

• Infinite variations: You can’t register every combosquatting possibility
• Budget constraints: Limited resources should focus on highest-risk domains
• New TLD explosion: Hundreds of new TLDs make comprehensive registration impossible
• Changing priorities: Your brand focus may shift over time

Effective monitoring with rapid takedown response can protect you without owning every possible domain.

How Recon Helps

Recon supports your domain strategy by:

• Identifying high-priority domains you should register defensively
• Monitoring for registrations of domains you don’t own
• Alerting you when brand-related domains are registered
• Tracking your domain portfolio for expiration risks

FAQ

Q: How much should I budget for defensive domains?

A: A solid defensive portfolio for a Shopify brand might cost $200-500/year. Focus on the essential 10-15 domains rather than trying to register hundreds.

Q: What do I do with defensive domains I register?

A: Set up 301 redirects to your primary domain. This captures mistyped traffic and prevents the domains from being used against you.

Q: Should I register my brand in every new TLD that launches?

A: No. Register in TLDs relevant to your business (e-commerce extensions, regions where you operate) and monitor the rest. New TLDs launch constantly—you can’t keep up with all of them.