Do I Need A Domain Name
Yes, every website on the internet needs its own domain name for visitors to be able to find it. A custom domain name can make your websitelook professional online. It builds your brand, makes your website more memorable, and helps visitors find you online. With Website.com, youcan start with a free website name, and all premium Website.com plans include a professional custom domain at no additional charge!
Domain names are vital to anyone’s online presence, but its value is also often undervalued. Problems can arise when domain names are leftto expire or become open for anyone to register under their name, from identity theft and impersonation to extortion and malware injection.This is why Website.com offers domain auto renewal when you have an active plan subscription, to help prevent these problems from appearing.
What If The Com Domain Name I Want Is Not Available
When it comes to domain extensions, people tend to prefer the more popular ones such as .com and .net. There is an undeniable familiarity with a .com that you will not find with any other domain extensions. But if your website targets local customers, you might want to consider using a country-specific domain extension.
How To Get A Domain Name From Domaincom
Domain.com is a reputable domain registrar, launched in 1998. Over 1.2 million websites are registered with them.
Domain.com features the most popular top level domains such as .com, .net, .org, .co, along with over 25 county-specific domain extensions .
They are mostly selling affordable domain names with most names priced in the $9.99-$12.99/year range. If you are lucky, you can also steal a deal and buy your domain name for as low as $2.99/year.
For that price you get:
- 1-year domain ownership.
- Free SSL certificate for extra security.
- Automatic email forwarding to your domain.
- DNS registration and management tools.
Also, you can purchase extra Domain Privacy+Protection for your domain . In this case, your personal details will not be displayed publicly in the WHOIS/ICANN directories. Plus, the registrar will also run extra security checks.
Sounds sweet? Heres how to register a domain name on Domain.com.
Step 1: Run a quick search to verify that the domain name you are eying is available.
Step 2: Pick your domain extension. Go for .com since its the most familiar option among users and thus, people, tend to type .com before trying anything else.
Your choice gets automatically added to your cart with a 2-year privacy protection subscription. This ones optional, so you can remove it during the next step. Also, you can change your domain renewal period from one year to five years.
Moreover, you can pick some add-on services such as:
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Can I Create An Online Store For Free
Yes! With a free Website.com plan, you’ll have the ecommerce tools to set up your online store and add products right away.You have the option to add advanced functionality and marketing features as your business expands.
We’re committed to helping you get online and grow your business, which is why Website.com doesn’t take any commissions on your sales.
Choosing A Registrar: 3 Factors To Consider
As we discussed, all registrars are the accredited resellers of ICANN, the organization that manages the Domain Name System. ICANN charges a registrar for a domain name registration, and the annual accreditation fee should be paid to maintain the registrar status. Registrars form their pricing based on that, trying to offer the best possible pricing to beat the competition.
There are several factors to take into account when choosing a registrar. Some of them are the following:
- Pricing and benefits. Some registrars can offer registration discounts or free additional services like SSL certificates, which is an attractive option.
- Hosting services. Most hosting companies provide domain registration services. Some people choose to register their domain name with the same company they will then host it with, so they can have everything in one place. Please note that the majority of web hosting companies act as resellers of other registrars.
- Support and user interface. Since all your domain registration information, including the nameservers used, will be managed from the registrarâs side, you may also want to choose the company that provides the best support and a user-friendly interface for managing your domain.
Please note that you can change your domain name registrar by performing a domain transfer, but the process has its nuances, and there are certain limits and rules.
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When To Choose A Net Domain
The .net domain extension was originally intended for any business or organization in the sector of networking technologies. When the .net extension first started to be used, it was considered secondary to a .com, which was more widely seen and used. However, today, they both can be used pretty interchangeably and the .net extension has much less of a stigma than it once did. While networking or technology organizations still might be the best fit, any website can use a .net domain.
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Get A Free Domain Name With A Web Hosting Plan
Free domain names and professional email addresses are often included in web hosting bundles. If you are planning on using WordPress to build your website, you might consider using Bluehost as your hosting service. Not only does WordPress endorse Bluehost, the hosting service includes a free new domain registration for customers first year.
Other services, such as Hostinger, HostGator and InMotion Hosting, all offer similar first-year free domain registration as part of their hosting packages. Other features typically included in hosting packages are a secure sockets layer , unlimited bandwidth, marketing tools, automatic backups and security features. Hosting prices vary but can start for as little as $2.99 a month for the first year.
Learn more about the best web hosting services, including information on which include a free domain name.
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How We Evaluated The Best Free Email Domain Providers
The best email domain providers include a lot more than just a free domain name for business emails. The best business email services include top-level domains , as well as secure, reliable, ad-free email hosting. We analyzed more than a dozen leading email hosting services and found three top-notch providers for professional business email that are quick, affordable, and legitimate.
Heres how we determined the three best small business options for creating a free email domain:
- Free top-level domain included
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How To Register Your Website’s Domain Name
When you register a domain name for your site, you make it a lot easier for people to find you, ensuring that you reap the branding and marketing benefits of having an online presence.
A domain name is the address that visitors type into their browser address bar to arrive at your website. It replaces an IP address: a random, unique string of numbers that specifies where your sites files are located. While a website domain can be an investment, you can also find one for free, especially if you purchase it with hosting.
In this post, youll learn everything you need to know about registering your websites domain name either for free or for a low cost.
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Can Someone Make A Website For Me
The Website.com website builder is easy to use, and is great for a DIY approach. If you would rather have someone create your websitefor you, we can take care of it! Our Website.com designers offer web design and marketing services so you can focus on your business.Your website will be published on the website builder, allowing you to easily make future tweaks to your design at no additional designcharge. Or, feel free to reach out to our team if you need design services after launch.
Domain Registrar Ad Programs
Domain registrars sometimes offer to give you a free domain in exchange for running ads on your website.
Dont do this.
Theres nothing wrong with ads on your website. However, you wont have any control over the ads and their placement with this method. This will not only hinder the experience for your website visitors but will also damage your SEO ranking.
Plus, what if your website got one million views? You wouldnt see a dime from those ads. All you get is a free domain.
If you want to run ads on your website, do it through a legitimate advertising network, like Google. Dont exchange ads for a free domain.
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How To Register A Domain Name With Hostgator
Next, well explain how to get a domain name on HostGator . Part of the same group as Bluehost, it offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop website builder and feature-rich web hosting services.
The first step to buying a domain name on HostGator is to open the Domains page on their website. Insert a domain name and on the search field and press the Enterkey.
If the domain is unavailable, pick a recommended alternative with a different domain extension or name variation.
The cost for a .com domain at HostGator is similar to Bluehost, starting from $12.95/year. Bundling the item with a privacy and protection feature is also possible, costing $14.95/year. Pick between one, two, or a three-year registration period, then click Continue To Checkout.
Now, create a HostGator account and fill in your billing information. HostGator has two payment options credit card and PayPal.
Before finalizing the purchase, HostGator will preview the order. Here, you can set custom nameservers to point the domain name to a third-party hosting account if desired. Click Place Your Order once everything looks right.
Finally, HostGator will send a domain ownership validation request to your registered email address. Remember to click on the link within 15 days to prevent the domain from temporary suspension.
Besides the steps above, HostGator also offers a domain name registration service via their support team. However, this alternative method is only applicable to certain TLDs .
Top Faqs From Our Readers
We come across a lot of the same questions from our readers. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions along with quick answers for your reference:
About how much does web hosting cost?
The package and type of service you get will determine how much you pay. Prices range anywhere from $2.99/month to around $10/month. For a more in-depth answer, check out the pricing and value section below.
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Bluehost Free Domain Name And Hosting For WordPress
Bluehost is a recognizable leader of the niche and the number one hosting provider officially recommended by WordPress. The platform comes with lots of advantages that distinguish it from the competitors. These include one-click WordPress installation, abundance of integrable scripts and plugins, strong uptime rates, fast page load speed, affordable pricing, eCommerce features, localized SEO and content marketing options, widgets and apps for business websites and many more.
Bluehost provides extensive free domain name connection options included into its subscriptions. The choice of the most suitable plan should depend upon your website type, complexity, structure and some other crucial aspects like storage space, bandwidth, extra SSL connection options, email accounts, security options etc. Whatever plan you decide to pick, you will get a domain name as a bonus without having to pay for it.
Its up to you to choose the most suitable solution that works best for your project and comes up to your individual web design needs. Whatever option you eventually pick, you will get a possibility to get a domain name absolutely for free.
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How To Register A Domain Name With Domaincom
Domain.com is a well-known domain registrar on the market, although its worth mentioning that they also offer low-cost shared web hosting, a website builder, and design services.
The list of TLDs on Domain.com is extensive, from generic extensions to newer niche-related ones like .yoga and .actor. The price for a .com domain name is also quite affordable, costing $9.99/year.
The steps to buying a domain from this registrar are straightforward. Simply insert a keyword with a domain extension on the homepage and the system will reveal its availability.
Feel free to extend the registration period to up to five years. On Domain.com, the privacy and protection feature is $8.99/year. If the order looks right, click Continue.
On the next page, Domain.com presents several extras to choose from, including a professional email plan, a website builder, shared web hosting, premium SSL certificates from Comodo, and malware protection.
Select any of the Domain.com add-ons you want or skip to the next step filling in the billing and payment details.
Similar to previous vendors, Domain.com will send an email asking to validate the domain name ownership through a link.
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Option B: How To Get A Free Domain Name With A Website Builder
Building a professional website no longer requires web developer skills and coding. All-in-one site builders like Squarespace, Weebly, and Wix give you the ability to build your own site quickly, easily, and code-free. Since plans are all-inclusive, youll get a domain for free with your site builder of choice in addition to everything else you need to build and maintain your small business website.
| PROS | |
|---|---|
| Free domain for 12 months with leading site builders | Must purchase a paid plan to get a domain |
| Free .com or other top level domains | More expensive than building a basic WordPress site through a hosting provider |
| Easiest way to build a site no web design experience required | No email accounts included with plans |
| Professional and credible appearance |
How To Get A Free Web Site
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This wikiHow will teach how to go about setting up your very own website for free. After all, not all of us have money to be dropping on a domain name, a hosting platform, and a web designer. Luckily there are a lot of really great free options available online if you know where to find them . We’ll walk you through everything you need to know to get started setting up your website, like how to find a free web host and get a domain name at no charge.
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Go To Hostingers Website
The very first thing you need to do is head over to Hostinger by clicking here.
Click Start Now and youll be taken straight to the checkout page.
Conveniently, that checkout page is all set up with my recommendation. Youll get premium shared hosting, which is the lowest-cost plan that also includes a free domain name.
My tip is to select the longest term for the best rate. If you commit to four years of hosting up front, you can lock in a really attractive rate of $2.59 per month.
Just click on the right-most box at the top to make sure you get the best deal.
Take a look at the add-ons below there to see if any are useful to you. None of them are absolutely necessary, but daily backups and priority support are helpful features, and theyre reasonably priced.
After that, enter your payment information, click Submit Secure Payment, and then youll be onto setup.
How Can Ionos Afford To Offer Free Domains
First of all, IONOS is not a free domain name service provider in general. We usually have very competitive pricing for our domain customers however, you will not be able to enjoy free domains all the time. The reason we can occasionally give away domains at little or no cost is that our large customer base enables us to attract a lot of registries that work with us.
One example of such cooperation might be a registry that launches a new TLD but does not intend to do all of the marketing and sales activities by themselves. Nevertheless they would like to see quick growth in their user base and to reach this goal they give IONOS very attractive offers. Then, for example, we can sometimes offer free domain registration.
On the one hand, this is a great opportunity for our customers to benefit from fantastic offers, on the other hand it can evoke the wrong impression about the hosting industry in general. In the long run, it is impossible to offer free domain name registration and cheap web hosting services at a high quality level.
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Protecting Your Domains Privacy
Domain names are part of the public record. That means anyone can look up who owns a particular domain. This can be problematic, as those records often contain sensitive information. Privacy protection should be included when you buy a domain name.
What you can do to protect your information is sign up for domain privacy while buying your domain. Every reputable registrar will offer this option to protect your information from prying eyes.
If you use Whois privacy, when someone tries to look up your domain theyll just see some proxy information:
Some people try to circumvent this by using fake information when registering domain names. This is against most registrar policies, however, so we dont recommend it. However, it is worth mentioning that most hosts will charge you a small additional fee for Whois protection.