Types Of Domain Names
A domain name is usually broken up into two or more parts, each of which is separated by a dot, such as techradar.com. The section to the right of the last dot in the domain name is the top-level domain . These are usually one of the generic TLDs such as .com, .net, and .org.
Then there are ccTLDs, which are country code top level domains such as .uk and .in. Theyre meant to be used to identify sites meant for specific regions, such as bbc.co.uk or abc.net.au.
Unlike gTLD, many TLDs are intended for a specific use case. For instance, .edu is meant specifically for educational institutions, while .gov can only be used by Government agencies. You can view a list of all valid TLDs here.
Your Domain Name Should Be Easy To Remember
You want to make sure that your domain name is easy to remember. But what exactly does that mean?
Basically, the more items you ask someone to remember, the harder it is for them to do that.
When it comes to domain names, every word and symbol is a separate item, which is something to keep in mind when you are considering various options.
For example, www.luciddreaming.com is easier to remember than www.world-of-lucid-dreaming.com .
Try to keep your domain short, avoid using symbols, and get a well-known extension.
Which One Should You Go With
Its best to look up your desired domain name on both websites to see which company can offer you a better deal.
Namecheap offers .com domains at a lower price than GoDaddy . Yet its important to remember that money is not the only thing that matters, so you might want to take a closer look at GoDaddys and Namecheaps track record in terms of their views and their behavior to see which companys values resonate with you more.
Not sold on GoDaddy or Namecheap? Make sure to read our blog post.
Read Also: Can I Transfer My Wix Website To Shopify
How To Choose The Best Domain Name
Last updated on June 14th, 2021 by Editorial Staff | Disclosure: Our content is reader-supported. This means if you click on some of our links, then we may earn a commission. See how WPBeginner is funded, why it matters, and how you can support us.
Choosing the right domain name for your website is crucial for your success. If you choose the wrong domain name, then it can be a hassle to switch later on without hurting your brand and search rankings.
Thats why its extremely important that you choose the best domain name from the start.
When first starting out, it can be hard to come up with catchy business name ideas with a perfect domain name.
In this article, well share all the tools and tips you need to get domain name ideas, choose the best domain name, and register your new domain .
14 Tips for Choosing the Best Domain Name
When starting a blog, choosing a domain name can be stressful because you dont want to make a mistake.
To make the process easier, we have a simple 14 step framework that you can use to pick the best domain for your website.
Lets take a look at these tips one by one with more details.
1. Stick with .com
There are plenty of new domain name extensions available today, from the original .com, .net and .org to niche extensions like .pizza, .photography, and even .blog.
We always recommend choosing a .com domain name.
In our opinion, newer domain extensions like .ninja, .photography, and others can make your business appear less trustworthy.
Reasons Domain Names Might Expire
It is all too easy to overlook the fact that a domain name registration is a temporary thing. Even though at the time, the domain name is yours, and could be for years, there is still a chance for that domain to pass out of your control. There are a variety of ways this might occur:
- Renewal reminder notices: If you have switched off renewal reminder notices, you could be setting yourself up for disaster. While auto emails and notifications can clutter your inbox, they can also be lifesaving. Even if you manually switched off renewal reminders , Domain.com will begin sending reminders by email to your listed email address approximately 30 days from the domain expiration date. We guarantee you will receive at least two reminders before the expiration date and one within five days after expiration. So, pay attention to your inbox, or alter your settings to flag the words, expiration, or renewal, to ensure you dont miss these important reminders.
- Auto-renew is not enabled: By going by your account information and switching your domain name to auto-renew, you save yourself from possibly forgetting. When auto-renew is in use, it will automatically renew your domain name prior to the expiration date, generally a day before expiration. This feature will continue to run and auto-renew unless changes are made or if there are issues with your billing information.
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Want To Register Another Domain Name Heres Your Chance
If youve registered a domain name, you probably have some idea of what you want to achieve, but you might not know where to start. Follow along as I break down a few options that might make sense for you and your business.
Ill bet more than one will fit the bill.
Editors note: Ready to get started with a website? Check out GoDaddys Websites + Marketing for free.
How To Get A Domain For Free
If you already have hosting services, you wont be able to use this method unless youre ready to upgrade to a better plan or switch to a new host. As such, timing is an important consideration if youre set on getting a domain name for free for the next year.
But if youre starting a website from scratch, you need web hosting services in addition to a domain name.
So, it makes sense to bundle them together. Its an easy and affordable way to get everything you need in one transaction while saving a bit of money.
The biggest consideration is choosing the right host for your website. So, lets talk about how to do that.
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Cost Of Registering The Domain Name Itself
There are countless companies that can register a domain name for you. Those companies are usually referred to as domain name registrars.
The main product that every registrar sells is the same a domain name. Domain bought from one registrar is no different than the same domain bought from another registrar.
Despite that, even though they all sell the same thing, the prices between registrars can vary. This is why its important to do your research and not overpay when it comes to the main domain name cost.
Apart from the price differences between registrars, different domain extensions come with different price tags too even from the same registrar. For example, a .shoes domain is going to be more expensive than the traditional TLDs such as .com or .org domain.
On top of that, youll also find that each domain extension has a different price tag with each registrar, which adds a whole new level of complexity to this pricing puzzle.
To make this more approachable, weve done the research for you. Heres a comparison of the registration prices for the most popular domain extensions with the most popular registrars:
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Difference Between Domain Name And Url
Usually the two terms, domain name and URL are used interchangeably. Technically speaking however the two arent the same.
As mentioned earlier, a domain name is used for identifying computers on the Internet. These computers though use IP addresses, which are a series of numbers, such as 185.113.25.55. Since humans find it easier to remember a string of characters rather than numbers, the pioneers of the web devised domain names to identify entities on the Internet rather than IP addresses.
On the other hand, a URL or a uniform resource locator is made up of the domain name as well as some other pieces of information, including the protocol and the path. For example, https://techradar.com/pro is a URL in which techradar.com is the domain name, while https is the transfer protocol and /pro is the path to a specific section on the website.
In most modern browsers, you dont need to enter the complete URL to visit a website. Simply enter the domain name and the browser will add the protocol and other pieces of information required to bring up the website.
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Hire A Professional Website Designer
This option will cost you more but require less of your time. In most cases, youll need to supply the content for your website including text and images but a designer can put it all together to give you a beautiful, highly functional website.
Editors note: The experts at GoDaddys Website Design Service can create a mobile-friendly, beautiful site that reflects your industry while following your lead and input.
Use Your Domain For A Custom Email Address
Youre a professional, so why are you still using that personal Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, MSN email address you created 10 or even 20 years ago?
If the email youre using to communicate with customers isnt branding your business, then its time you kick that free email to the curb and set up a custom email using the domain you just purchased.
If you register a domain, you can set up a personalized email address such as . Thats so much better than , right?
You can put that custom email address on your business cards, the side of your car, everywhere you promote your business.
With Professional Business Email from GoDaddy, not only will you get 24/7 customer support, but youll also get as many email aliases as youd like .
Youll look more professional, credible, and with so many email address options, you can guarantee that emails are going to the right people.
Related: How to use a custom domain name for email
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Privacy And Protection Costs
Whenever someone registers a domain, the registrar is required to provide that users contact information to be added to the Whois database, which publicly lists the owners of every domain name online.
While its required that you provide your information, its not required that it be easily accessible to everyone. When you purchase a domain, each registrar provides varying degrees of privacy to ensure that your personal information isnt visible on the Whois database which ultimately protects you from things like spam phone calls.
Some registrars offer full privacy on the Whois database free for the first year. Others offer tiered solutions, with the bottom tier free for the first year, which will still mask most personal details in the Whois directory. Its rare to find a reputable registrar offering free Whois protection after the first year.
TopTip:
Things To Do After Buying A Domain Name
Buying a domain name means youve registered your desired name so that no one can use it.
But its half of the battle. You need to do a few more things to build your site and secure the future of your business.
If you have a domain name but dont know what to do next, read on. In this post, I will be sharing 9 things to do once you have a domain name.
Now follow these simple steps to build your website.
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Connect Your Domain Name To The Web Hosting
The next step is to connect your domain name to the web hosting.
Its very easy to do. Just go to the domain registrar and update the nameservers. . Then add the domain name to your web hosting.
If youve registered a domain name from Namecheap or GoDaddy and bought the hosting plan from HostGator, check the following tutorials.
Trademark Your Business Name
Registering the domain name is not enough to protect your brand name.
If you have just bought a domain name for a new brand, you need to register a trademark for it. This will protect you from infringing domain names and other infringing properties when you need to take legal action against someone trying to cash in on your business name.
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The Cost Of A Domain Depends On What You Need
Is it without a doubt that domain names are important to your businesss success on the internet . In todays digital landscape, unless you are looking for an aftermarket domain and have zero flexibility in your name choice, then there is no reason the cost of your domain should drain your wallet. For a select few customers, the price is going to be high. For most of us, we should not expect to pay more than $20 annually.
With that being said, remember to look for hidden fees, discount scams, and ensure that there is no sneaky language in the terms of the agreement.
Which Tld Should I Use
Technically, it doesnt matter. The TLD will function exactly as it is supposed toso long as it was registered properly. The .com TLD is the most common but if you want to variate, you can. There is no one TLD that is more efficient than the rest, nor is there one that comes more highly recommended than others. With that being said, the .com is what many suggest as your safest bet.
This, of course, depends on the type of business you are putting on the internet.
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Domain Name Expirations: What You Need To Know
Website Domain names are the primary address a person or a business reserves to establish and distinguish themselves on the worldwide web. This name acts as a billboard, alerting potential customers of who you are, where you are, and what goods or services you provide. A website without a domain name cannot be found since it is not only the storefront sign, but also the doorway into the shop.
So, do domain names expire? Selecting the perfect domain name for your business can be a lengthy process that costs a good amount of your time, effort, and money. But once its yours, its yours until it expires. So, imagine this process: you get your domain name and link it to your website. You then spend months, if not years, building your brand around it. If successful, people begin to associate your product or service with the domain name. That domain is now an integral part of your business and the way people find you on the internet. Then, you log in one morning and receive a message that your domain has expired. All the hard work, all the time and money invested in building your brand around your domain name and domain name extension is simply not associated with your brand anymore. At this point, your expired domain name is up for sale and available to the highest bidder.
Domain.com has the tools you need to continue building your business into a success.