Can You Buy A Domain Name Outright

How Can You Renew Your Domain When It Expires

There are a few options for renewal. The easiest way is to auto-renew your domain with your original registrar. They will send you a reminder before the expiration date and automatically renew it for an additional year.

You can also manually renew your domain by logging in to your account with the registrar this usually happens less than 30 days before registration expiration. This renewal period might also be an excellent time to shop around and see if you can get a better deal.

Keep It Short And Simple

Its an obvious strategy, but registering a domain name that is short and memorable isnt as easy as you might think. The fewer words or characters your domain name has, the more likely your customers will spell your domain correctly and find your site. This method might require some creativity, but it will pay off.

On the simple front, make sure your domain name is easy to spell and avoid using numbers and hyphens.

Search For Your Domain

The first step is conducting a domain name search. Where you look for your domain depends on the extension you want to use.

If youre a UK based business with UK customers, you might want to think about using a domain name ending in .UK, such as .co.uk or just .uk. You can search for available .UK domain names via our handy search box below or using our domain name tool.

If youre choosing a domain for your business, its a good idea to use your business name or something very similar. If youre registering a domain for a personal project, choose something which reflects what youre going to be using your website for. If youre stuck for ideas, have a read of these top tips for choosing a domain name.

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Can I Transfer My Domain Name To Hostinger

Yes, its possible to transfer a domain name from another registrar to Hostinger.

However, there are a few requirements before transferring a domain to your web hosting account:

• More than 60 days must have passed from the registration or last transfer date.
• You must have the domains auth-code from your current registrar.
• The domains WHOIS privacy protection has to be disabled.
• You have to point your domain name to Hostinger.
• The domains status cannot be Pending Delete or Redemption.

To transfer a domain to Hostinger, go to the Hostinger Transfer Domain page and enter your domain name. Then click Transfer.

After finishing the order and entering the domain EPP code, the transfer process will begin and youll receive an email regarding the domain transfer that you will have to confirm.

The domain registration will also be renewed for a year after the transfer, except for ccTLDs like .es, .co.uk, or .com.br.

Keep in mind that your website might be unavailable during the DNS changes, which can take up to 24 hours to propagate fully.

How To Buy A Domain Name In 3 Steps

Buying a domain name may seem like a daunting process. After all, there are so many domain extensions and domain name registrars to choose from, it can be quite difficult to know where to start. However, once you know what is involved in buying a domain name, the process becomes pretty straightforward.

There are three steps that you have to follow to buy a domain name:

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Why Cant You Buy A Domain Name Permanently

In short, the reason you cant buy a domain name forever is that it all comes down to scarcity.

To show an example of this, below is a situation on what it might look if you were able to buy a domain name permanently.

Someone in 1997 decides to make a website that sells Exclopedias online, so they buy the domain name Wikipedia.com, and have ownership of that domain name forever.

Fast forward 2 years. The owner of this website decides his online business idea was a flop. So he closes the website and never thinks of it again.

Since the domain name was allowed to be purchased forever, the ownership never lapsed, which means no one can ever use that domain name ever again. Which could have resulted in Wikipedia not existing

So while it might sound better to be able to buy a domain name permanently, there would be many ramifications in the years to come for future website owners and businesses.

Personally, I much prefer the registration system as it allows the price of owning a domain name to be much cheaper.

I would hate to imagine how much it would cost to buy a domain name forever $100, $1000, $10,000?

As for why this type of system is in place, it was created by ICANN , which is a non-profit organization started in 1998, that is the safe keeper of all TLD domains.

Can A Domain Name Be Free

Domain names, especially those with popular extensions like .com or .net, are never free. In fact, it isnt even possible to completely buy a domain.

Domain names can only be rented and only for a specified period of time. This means, when you buy a pre-owned domain name, you only buy the rights to use that domain name.

Some services claim to offer free domains, but, in reality, theyre offering a subdomain, not an original domain.

For example, www.wordpress.com is a complete domain.

But, something like www.headphonereviews.wordpress.com is a subdomain of wordpress.com.

The difference between a subdomain and a domain is that a domain is a whole house, while a subdomain is a room within that house.

The owner of a domain owns all the subdomains under it. Thats why it isnt a good idea to build your website on a subdomain.

But, what if you find a company that offers you a free, top-level domain? Should you go for that?

Image Credit: Mashable

Here are a few reasons why we dont recommend using free domains and subdomains:

• It doesnt look professional. A website that ends with .blogspot.com or .tk doesnt look very professional or trustworthy to your visitors. If you use a domain like that, chances are, people wont take your site seriously and youll have a hard time generating traffic.
• Your website may be controlled by a shady company. A company that offers you a domain for free may be up to something. As you move forward, you might find theres a catch.

Also Check: What Is A Domain Transfer Lock

The Domain Registration Dilemma

When you set up hosting for a website, you can also register your domain through your host . For a lot of people, keeping all your website stuff in the same place sounds like a good idea. You only have to keep up with one set of login information, and you know that your hosts technical support staff will make sure everything is configured correctly.

However, you also have the option to register your domain elsewhere and simply point it to your host. This is what I strongly recommend for a number of reasons.

Keep your domain in one place. If you ever get mad at your web host and decide to move your site, youll also probably want to transfer your domain if its registered with the old host. Domain transfers can be annoying, time-consuming, and confusing. But if youve registered the domain elsewhere, you dont have to do anything except update your DNS settings to point to the new host.

Register all your domains together. You might be thinking, But I only have one website! That may be true, but for many of us, websites are addicting. For example, I own 45 domains right now. If I need to manage them, like when I transferred all my files to my new servers, I can just go to my registrar and mass update the DNS settings.

Find Out Who Owns The Domain

The first step in trying to get it is to find out who is the current owner. Whois is the best service you can use to find information about the owner, including name and email address.

To run a Whois search, you can either look up the name at the registrar of your choice or go to the who.is for domains like .com, .net, .biz and more. Simply eutype in the full domain name and you will get the domains public information which usually includes contact details for the registrant.

For other extensions like .de, .in and .uk, you can use the following Whois tools to get that public information:

Theres also the possibility that youll be stonewalled by a Whois privacy protection service, in which case you wont have access to the owners information. Instead you will see some generic information belonging to the privacy service provider. In this case, you can try sending an email to the contact address listed there and hope that your message will be forwarded to the owners email address.

Now, before you get in touch with the site owner, its important you check the status of domain first so you get a better understanding of how much its worth. Things like keyword use, search engine ranking, backlinks and traffic can help you measure its value and help you determine just how much you should be paying for it.

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Pricing And Domain Options

Domain names arent generally going to be a huge expense. Most of the common domain extensions are available for in the ballpark of $10 to $20 per year. But something that you might want to consider are additional options for your domain, such as bulk registration, domain privacy, theft protection, etc.

But what do those options mean? Lets take privacy, for example. While privacy isnt required for your domain, it can go a long way in protecting your personal contact information.

Domain registrars are required to provide valid contact information for registered domains on WHOIS searches.

While there is a benefit to having valid contact information available there, the unfortunate downside is that spammers and scammers love to gather email contact information from WHOIS directories. In other words, privacy on your domain is a great way to protect your personal contact information. Make sure its available with your domain registrar before purchasing a domain.

What about additional extensions? While many businesses choose .com domains for their primary web address, there are tons of interest-, industry- and geo-specific domain extensions available that you might find more appealing.

Not all domain providers will have a wide selection of domain extensions, so if this option is important to you, make sure theyre available through your selected registrar.

A Domain Name Has Authority

Hosting your content on a third party blogging or social media platform can seem unprofessional, and undermine your efforts to build a business or professional identity. Since these hosted platforms are often used for personal blogs and other kinds of informal sharing, it can be harder to establish your site as a trustworthy, authoritative source in your niche. Thats where domain name registration comes in. Your own domain name can let potential customers and clients know that youre a legitimate business with long term plans.

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Read Also: How Do I Get My Domain Name Back

Can I Purchase A Domain Name Outright

Yes, you can purchase a domain name outright. However, this is not always the most cost-effective option, and there are a few things to consider before jumping into this type of purchase.

First, youll need to decide what you need the domain name for. If you plan to use the domain name yourself, then purchasing it outright may be the best option.

However, if youre looking to sell the domain name, then its important to consider the cost of advertising and hosting the domain.

Next, consider the length of the domain name. Short domain names are more likely to be bought and sold, while long domain names may be more valuable to a domain owner.

Finally, its important to consider the registrar and hosting company that youll be using. Some registrars and hosting companies offer domain name purchase services, and these can save you money.

Do You Own Your Domain Name Forever

The short answer is no. For brands having a website is a lot like having an online version of a physical business. But unlike a brick and mortar building, you can not opt to own your domain name outright. You have to keep registering it with your registrar.

Typically, it is possible to register your domain for a set period, such as one or two years. Frequently, it is possible to get deals with your registrar to get your first year free or even at a lower cost when you agree to register your domain for two years or more.

If you’re planning to register your domain name for more than one year, it pays to research which registrar will be the best fit for you. Some providers have better prices or offer special deals that can save money over time.

Also Check: How Much Does A Domain Name Cost On Shopify

Can I Transfer My Domain Name To Another Host

The process of transferring a domain is easy, but it takes some time. Firstly, youll have to wait at least 60 days after purchasing a domain before you can transfer it, but youll also have to wait for both your current domain name registrar and the host youre switching to to authorize the domain name transfer.

Other Important Factors To Help You Determine The Value Of The Domain:

• Is it a.com, .co.uk, .ukor any other popular TLD?
• Is it short, catchy and memorable? Shorter names are more convenient for users, as theyre faster to type and less prone to typing errors.
• Is it easy to pronounce?
• Does it include a keyword? Does the domain have the keyword at the beginning? This could make it more pricy.
• How old is it? A long-established domain tends to be more valuable.
• What is the selling price of similar domains?

The price can also vary depending on , for example. If the domain is old, has quality backlinks and a good reputation over time, then expect to pay more. So you need to do your homework and take all these things into consideration when negotiating the price. Of course, you can also use a tool like Estibot to get an idea on how much a domain would cost.

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Three Ways To Buy A Pre

When you shop for a domain, theres no guarantee that the one you want will be available.

Well show you how to find out if a domain is up for grabs and offer some tips on how you can make a purchase.

Keep in mind, in some cases, no matter what you do, a stubborn owner will refuse to sell the domain name you want. In this case, your best option will be to try for another domain name.

This section will cover how you can buy a domain name directly from an owner, from a marketplace, or through a backorder.

Cost To Register A Domain Name

According to HostGator, domain name cost ranges from free to tens of thousands of dollars, with the average domain name settling around $10-$12 annually. These factors will affect what youd pay for a specific domain:

• The demand for the particular name you choose
• The TLD domain extension
• The domain registrar youre purchasing from
• Whether the domain has already been purchased by someone else
• Whether you commit to an annual payment or another payment schedule
• Add-ons such as privacy

Whether you choose a free or paid domain will depend on your budget and your websites purpose. For example, you might need a basic website or something simple and temporary. In that case, a free domain name might be a good option.

However, paid domain names look more professional and are more likely to grow with your brand. You should ultimately decide what will work best for your business and goals.

Also Check: How Much For A Domain Name

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Find A Credible Domain Registrar

A domain registrar is a company that is responsible for registering and managing domain names. Its accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers , a non-profit organization that controls the rules and regulations of website domain name registration.

Choosing a reliable domain registrar is crucial because it can impact a project or business for years. Pick the wrong one and you might end up paying hidden fees or even get scammed. For example, there have been cases where a domain registrar pressures users into purchasing domain names similar to the ones they hold under false pretenses.

It can be challenging to pick from hundreds of domain registrars out there as they all offer similar services. Therefore, consider the following when choosing a registrar:

As we mentioned earlier, people can also purchase a custom domain from a hosting company that offers domain registration services, like Hostinger.

In order to make a website, it may be more convenient to buy web hostingand domain name from the same provider.

Here at Hostinger, we offer low upfront and renewal costs for the most popular domain names and a dedicated 24/7 support team ready to assist you.

If you buy a domain name at Hostinger, it comes with free domain privacy protection. This feature can help hide specific details from being discovered through WHOIS domain lookup tools.

Whats more, we have a web domain checker the perfect tool to buy a domain.