Can You Own A Domain Name

It’s More Expensive To Get It Free

I subtitled this article “The High Price of ‘Free’“because as you can see from above, it’s really more expensive in the long run not to get your own domain name. Domain name prices are cheap,at about $10 a year , so it’s really wiser to justbuy a domain for your site before you start out.Even if you really decide to abandon your website later, you’ll only have lost that $10 . But if your sitereally takes off, that paltry sum will become a worthwhile investment that pays off many times its original amount.

Copyright © 2009-2020 by Christopher Heng. All rights reserved.Get more free tips and articles like this,on web design, promotion, revenue and scripting, from .

Other articles on:Domain Names,Getting Started,Website Design,FAQ

Synching Mail Calendar And Contacts

As mentioned, a big benefit of having an Outlook.com account is that you can sync your Mail, Contacts and Calendar with multiple devices. These devices dont have to be PCs or laptops but can also be tablets or smartphones .

It is recommended to use the Outlook app for iPhone and iPad and Android as it supports the most features for an Outlook.com account and it can configure your account without needing to enter any server information.

However, you are free to use any other mail app as well. Most devices have built-in support for configuring Outlook.com accounts but in case you need to do it manually, you can use the following configuration settings to configure is as an Exchange ActiveSync account which syncs your mail, contacts and calendar.

If you are using Windows 8 or Windows 10, then you can also configure your Outlook.com account in the Mail, Calendar and People apps to get Lock Screen and Start Screen information about upcoming appointments. For details see: Live Tiles for Outlook on Windows 8.

Your Domain Name Shouldnt Break Any Legal Terms

There was a time when the Internet was the Wild West.

Those days are long gone. Now its full of corporations with deep pockets that will sue you into bankruptcy if you even look at them the wrong way. Thats why its important to be careful.

Imagine this. You come up with a great name. You register it. You launch your website. And then, just as your business starts gaining momentum, you are hit with a cease and desist letter.

What the ?? is your first thought.

But then, as you decipher the legalese, you realize that apparently your domain name is trademarked, which means that you are in a world of trouble.

You can avoid this by doing due diligence.

For example, you can check US trademarks on the United States Patent and Trademark Offices website.

Alternatively, you can check for the trademarks for whatever country you want to operate in through the local equivalent of the USPTO.

And, of course, Google can help you as well, because if nothing comes up on it, then you probably dont need to worry.

Now, unfortunately, if you came up with a cool name, the chances are that you are not the first person to do so, which means that you might end up having to go back to the drawing board.

However, keep in mind that finding yourself back at square one is much better than getting hit with a lawsuit, so dont cut corners here.

Also Check: How To See Who Owns A Domain Name

What Do We Need To Do To Maintain Our Domain Name

As part of the registration process, you provide administrative details such as a contact name and address, and technical information such as the web hosting service to which you want to point your domain name,

Make sure you keep this information up to date. You will also need to renew your registration periodically. A .uk domain name registration is valid for up to ten years, and the current holder is always given the first option to renew.

Most domain name companies will send renewal notices by email. Many allow you to set up an auto-renewal system, so the domain gets renewed automatically. It’s a good idea to use this facility, as even big brands like Microsoft occasionally forget to renew their domains.

Once a domain name expires, you have a grace period period during which you can renew. Once that has passed, the domain will be released onto the open market.

If you receive a renewal notice, check it carefully. Some unscrupulous businesses send letters prompting you to authorise renewal . This allows them to take control of your domain name until you pay them a substantial fee.

Connecting Your Domain Name To Mailchimp

Whether youve bought your domain through Mailchimp or a third party, you can transfer your domain name and connect it to your Mailchimp account. Once connected, you can use that domain with a custom landing page or Mailchimp-hosted website. If you dont already have a website, Mailchimp offers a free website builder that you can use to make your brand stand out with no coding skills required.

Recommended Reading: How To Connect Godaddy Domain To Squarespace

Why Every Small Business Should Own A Domain Name

Starting a business? You should buy a domain name.

A domain name is the address for a websiteyou’re reading this article on zapier.com, for example. Registering a domain name isn’t expensive, typically costing around $15 a year.

Some businesses use the free subdomains offered by web hosts like Wix or WordPress.com. If Zapier went this route, for example, you could be reading this article on zapier.wordpress.com, and we’d have an extra $15 a year to spend on snacks.

Obviously, it would be silly for a tech company like Zapier not to have a dedicated domain name. We’d look amateurish. Here’s the thing, though: this is true for every business. You should buy a domain, even if you don’t plan on having much of a websiteor any website at all. Here’s why.

Speaking of WordPress: here’s the , just in case you’re thinking about choosing one or the other. And here are .

Purchase Your Domain Name And Complete Its Registration

Once you settle on a domain name, its time to purchase it. When you buy through Mailchimp, well let you know the annual cost of the domain name as well as any available discounts.

During the checkout process, youll be required to enter your contact information, including an email address, to register the domain.

Recommended Reading: Io Domain Cost

Using Outlookcom With Your Own Domain Or Current Email Address

This allows you to both send and receive emails with an address which you already own, even if it is from another provider such as Gmail.

Using an Outlook.com account is a great alternative for your current POP3 or IMAP account if you want to sync your emails, contacts and calendar items with multiple devices such as your desktop, laptop, netbook, tablet or smartphone. It behaves a lot like a personal Exchange or Office 365 for Business account but for free.

Setting this up is relatively quick and easy but there are some pitfalls to notice. This guide walks you through the entire process of setting up an Outlook.com account with your own current email address and how to transfer all your current data.

What Can We Do If Someone Else Has Already Registered The Domain Name We Want

If the domain name is registered to another business which has a good claim to use it, your best option may be to choose another domain name.

If you are starting a new business and your trading names are not yet established, you could also consider changing your trading names to match a domain name that is available.

If, however, you still want a domain name that someone else has registered, you have three main options:

• Wait for the domain to expire, then register it for yourself.
• Try and buy the domain name from the organisation that has registered it.
• If you have a stronger claim to the domain, you may be able to use a dispute resolution procedure or take court action, to have it transferred to you.

Read Also: Domain Registration Cost Per Year

Assert Your Rights If You Already Own The Trademark

If you are already in business and want to use your existing business name as your domain name, then you may have the upper hand in a dispute with someone who’s already using the name online.

Under trademark law, the first person to use a trademark in commerce is considered the owner. So if you used the name to market your products or services before the domain name registrant started using its domain name, you may be able to prevent that registrant from continuing to use the name.

If you are a trademark holder and you want to challenge the use of a domain name, you will first need to decide on a strategy for going after the registrant. You currently have three choices:

Use the dispute resolution procedure offered by ICANN. ICANN, the international nonprofit organization now in charge of domain name registrations worldwide, recently implemented a process called the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy . This administrative procedure works only for cybersquatting disputes — that is, when someone has registered your name in a bad-faith attempt to profit from your trademark. Compared with filing a lawsuit, ICANN’s dispute resolution procedure is potentially less expensive and quicker .

File a cybersquatting lawsuit. If you take a cybersquatter to court and win, you may get not only the domain name you want, you could also win money damages from the cybersquatter.

How to Find a Domain Name Registrant

Your Domain Name Should Be Brandable

Your domain name needs to brandable.

Basically, when people hear your domain name, it needs to sound like a legit business in your industry and have a hip vibe.

So, for example, if you were starting a remote jobs board, you could name it www.remotejobsboard.com But doesnt remoteok.io sound much better?

Remoteok.io

Of course, you need to take industry standards into account, boring names work for businesses that need to appear formal.

Say, if you run a funeral home, then its important to be serious, no one wants to hold a wake in a hip funeral home.

However, you probably dont need to be formal, so get creative!

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Contact The Domain Name Owner

If one of the steps above leads you to the website owner, its time to reach out! Craft an email letting them know that youre interested in purchasing the domain.

To avoid looking like spam, make sure your email conveys seriousness and professionalism. If you have a professional email address at a domain name you own, that will look more legitimate than one from a yahoo or aol account. If not, consider at least setting up a gmail address, which looks a bit more respectable.

Make sure your email includes:

• Your contact information both email and phone, so its easy for them to choose the method they prefer.
• Language that makes it clear youre willing to pay you may not want to include a specific offer yet , but theyre more likely to respond if they know this is a genuine business offer
• Something that shows your legitimacy how can you show youre a real person with serious intent? Maybe thats a link to a website you already run or a LinkedIn profile.

People get a lot of spam emails, so you want to clarify that youre a real person with real interest. If you can pull that off, the chances of getting a response are much higher.

How To Register A Domain Name

+ Ways to Get it for Free

Are you looking to register a domain name, but dont know where to start?

Part of creating a website, is buying a domain name that has to be unique.

In this step-by-step guideline, were going to show you several options on how to register a domain name and also cover some commonly asked questions that might pop up in your mind while registering a domain.

Ready? Lets first start by explaining why is it crucial to choose a good domain name.

Recommended Reading: How To Get Free Net Domain

Avoid Numbers And Hyphens

Imagine asking your 10 friends to spell or pronounce a domain name filled with numbers and dashes. It wont work.

If you choose a domain name with these elements, youre likely going to lose traffic to people who cant remember your domain or effectively tell someone else how to find it. We probably wouldnt have Facebook today if you had to go to Face-Book.com to reach the site.

Domain Ownership Is Serious Business

Domain names have many strict rules to ensure a domains security. Think about it from our point of view: How do we know you are who you say you are? And, more importantly, how do we know that the current domain owner agrees to transfer ownership of the domain?

Think about it like this:

Customer: Hi, this is Patricia from Google. I need to log in and change our DNS settings but cant get the login info. Can you send it to me?

Hover: Sure, here you go!

Doesnt seem right, does it?

To make sure that your domain is in the right hands, be sure to get things right the first time, so you dont have to scramble at the last minute or even worse, be out of luck.

Read Also: Squarespace With Godaddy

The Best Domain Names For A Personal Blog

If you want to create a blog with your own domain name, you may be thinking what should my personal blog domain be? The first option to consider is of course your name, for example, isobelweston.com, or just your initial and surname, like iweston.com.

Ideally, youll land a yourname.com domain name, but if your name is common then unsurprisingly, a personalized URL based on your name can be tricky to get hold of. If this is the case, it might be worth taking a look at alternative top-level domains.

Top domain extensions for a personal blog

When it comes to coming up with top-level domain ideas, take a look at our name checker and see what comes up when you search your name. Some great domain extensions for a personal blog are .me, .site, .website, and .work.

Ultimately the choice is yours, a TLD thats perfect for one person, may not suit another. You might find the .net TLD is available and that you work on computer networks, or the .icu TLD is free and you run a portrait photography business.