How To Register A Domain Name: 4 Options
To get a domain name, youll need to call dibs with ICANN. ICANN is a global non-profit authority that maintains records on which domain and IP address belongs to whom and manages access to them.
But ICANN doesnt provide registration services, it only maintains records. Thats where domain name registrars come into play.
The primary role of a register is to:
- Coordinate claims on different domain names.
- Match specific domain names with Domain Name System nameservers.
- Ensure that there are no duplicate domain names.
Technically speaking, you are not buying a domain name from a registrar company, but reserve its usage for a specified time. You can pay to reserve a domain for 1-10 years at a time, depending on the registrar. After your initial subscription expires, youll need to renew it and pay a fee again. You can re-purchase your domain name over and over again.
When registering a domain name, you sign a long-term lease of your domain . You can read more about the domain costs here.
In practice, all of the above is much simpler than you think as we will show below.
Do Create Something Short And Memorable
Long domains arent only a chore to type in, but they can be hard to remember and come across as spammy. When in doubt, go with a shorter domain.
This doesnt mean you should cut letters out of the words, but instead to use fewer words or come up with a combination of phrases thats much easier to remember.
Web Hosts And Domain Names
You needn’t go to a dedicated registration service to buy a domain name, though. The best web hosting services, such as DreamHost, HostGator, and Hostwinds routinely offer a registration mechanism as part of the sign-up process. Hosting services typically offer a free domain name when you sign up for a web hosting package.
Keep in mind, however, that free domain names are usually free only for one or two years, after which the registrar will bill you for the annual or biennial fee. In other words, the provider of the free domain name pays only for the first billing from the registrar. Also take note of whether or not the provider charges a fee for setting up a domain name. Most services offer to transfer an existing domain name to their servers at no cost, but sometimes you’ll find a setup fee over and above the registrar’s fee.
Please note that not all web hosts give you the option to register a domain name. Cloudways, for example, is a solid web host that requires you to purchase a domain name from elsewhere.
Registrars offer a wide variety of registration durationsone year, three, five, and even ten. Be careful about registering for more than a year, though. First, there might be restrictions on your ability to transfer the domain name should the registrar give poor service. Second, the registrar could go out of business, leaving your domain name without a host. Check the policies closely.
Recommended Reading: How Much Should A Domain Name Cost Per Year
Perfecting A Domain Name
How Much Does A Domain Name Cost
The exact cost of your new domain name will vary based on the registrar, the specific top-level domain you’ve chosen, and the quality of the domain name. Domain.com is proud to offer more than 300 unique TLDs to help your new website stand out. Some domains may be pricier due to their intrinsic benefits, like being short and memorable, or the use of very competitive keywords such as cars.com. Browse our premium domains to jumpstart your website performance.
Recommended Reading: Who Owns Domain Name Checker
Pay For A Premium Site Builder Plan
Keeping in the same vein as above, youll likely notice if you build a site with Wix that you may not have to settle for the free subdomain.
The catch? Youll need to bump up to a paid plan with your website builder.
This may not be a worthwhile solution for some folks. Paying for a premium site builder plan is likely to not only negate the savings of a free domainitll almost certainly cost you more. Plus, whatever savings disappear after one year.
But, if youre setting up an ecommerce site or something else that needs the enhanced features of a premium Wix or Squarespace plan anyway, this can be a way to mitigate some of that first-year expense.
And, fortunately, even the base-level paid plans for Wix and Squarespace come with this bonus. In the case of Zyro, youll need to choose their Unleashed plan or higher. Fortunately, Zyro often slashes prices on their paid plans, too, for the first year.
However, be very careful to research the rates at which these domains will renew. You dont want to get stuck with a bad deal that totally wipes away the savings of the first year for free and is more expensive in the end than just paying for a domain from the get-go.
How To Get A Free Domain Name
Published on – Written By: Lars Lofgren
Ready to launch a new website? Finding and registering a domain name is the first step in this process.
Of course, it can be a bit confusing if youve never done it before. Luckily, you can find a domain name easily and for free.
Thats right. You dont have to pay to register your domain. There are plenty of different ways to get a free domain name for your new website.
Whether youre starting a blog, online portfolio, small personal site, or business website, this guide will show you how to get a free domain.
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Are Domain Names With Com Always The Best
.com is the most common TLD on the planet and unless youre building a non-profit site or one thats for a business that just operates in a country , its generally the preferred choice.
That being said, sometimes you come up with a really awesome website name and the .com is taken, but the .co, .org, or .net is not.
In this case, if theres not a website on the .com you dont want to compete with another website that has it as theyll get people who want to go to your site but forget its not a .com, dont worry too much about it .co is definitely becoming more common and its fine.
Probably best to stay away from some of the more obscure TLDs like .biz and .tv for two reasons, though:
Why Is Websitecom The Best Choice To Make My Website
With Website.com, experience the freedom to create a unique and professional website on your own. You can start with a designer-templateand personalize it, or hire our design experts to make your website for you.
When you choose Website.com, you’re choosing the best tools to create a professional website: a drag and drop website builder, royalty-freeimages and video backgrounds, free secure web hosting, and a committed support team. You can even make an online store entirely for free.
With over 1 million websites built with Website.com, you’ll be in good company.
Read Also: Gg Domains
Make It Easy To Remember
Making it easy to remember how to get to a website is what GOOD domain names are all about.
If you make your domain name easy to remember, youll get more people coming back to your website again and again. And its easier for those people to tell their friends about you!
To help make your domain name easy to remember, try to come up with a catchy name that describes what you do.
Also
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.
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Why Are Real Estate Domain Names Important
A real estate domain name is a calling card.
For people you meet in public, it serves as an access point they have to be able to remember it and find you.
For those who are searching online, your real estate domain name has to be properly search engine optimized . It has to be easily found when people look for your real estate.
You need to find a real estate domain name that is unique. And that can be very hard. There are many people in the real estate business. Even in your local area, its likely that someone has already taken LuxuryHomesArizona.com or WaterfrontPropertiesFlorida.com.
And there are different types of domains for different types of sites. A real estate agent might want a domain that just points to their name and real estate profile. A broker, on the other hand, may need a domain that points to their brokerage and a full-fledged listing site.
Establishing an online presence begins with a domain name. Its worth it to take some time to consider which domain accurately portrays your place within the real estate industry.
And your domain name needs longevity. It will be attached to your business cards and your email addresses. So, if you want to change it later, its going to be a fairly onerous process.
Lets take a look at a few ways to find the perfect real estate domain names.
How To Register A Domain On Godaddycom
GoDaddy is also known as a web hosting provider, but you can also buy a domain name from them.
Step 1: Look up a new domain name first. If you havent come up with a good name yet or are assessing different options, GoDaddy has a nice set of extra features to help you out.
You can use the Bulk Domain search to check a bunch of domain ideas for eligibility in a click. Or you can play around with their free domain name generator to get some alternative suggestions if your primary choice is already taken:
Also, if you are feeling very determined to get your desired domain for branding purposes, GoDaddy can try to broker a deal for you with the owner. But remember, the original owner may name any price they deem appropriate so in that case, youll be paying:
- Domain purchase fee to the seller.
- GoDaddy Domain Brokerage commission.
- The regular yearly subscription price for the selected domain and add-ons.
If you are running a small business, going into a heated negotiation with some cyber squatters may not be the best investment of your time and budgets.
Wait out and see if the other person forgets to renew their domain or abandons it so that you could snatch it then. GoDaddy has a Domain Backordering service where you can reserve your place in line for a specific domain. If theres more than one buyer, the domain goes on auction. If its just you only, you get it immediately.
Again, youd be pitched several upsells in case you change your mind.
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Tip #: Make Your Domain Name A Call To Action
- Just Do It
- Be All You Can Be
- Have It Your Way
- Don’t Leave Home Without It
A strong call-to-action tagline in an ad campaign can inspire people, move them to purchase and build brand affinity. You can achieve the same effect by using a memorable call-to-action as your .com domain name.
Tesla could have considered a call-to-action domain name such as the emotionally-charged DriveTheFuture.com. While TeslaMotors.com limits the company to vehicles, a domain name like ThinkTesla.com could scale into space and beyond. It could also evoke the company’s relentless innovative thinking.
Other call-to-action domain names that caught my attention include:
- EscapeToday.com
- DontCrackUnderPressure.com
- FindYourIndependentAdvisor.com
You can use a call to action as your primary domain name or a secondary one to drive traffic to your site, such as the three listed above. Think about the actions you want your audience to take, say it in an effective way, and turn it into your domain name.
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 it 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.
Also Check: What Is The Io Domain Used For
Find A Custom Domain For Your Site
Whether youre working on a blog, an online portfolio, or an online shop, Mailchimp offers custom domains that can make all the difference to your online presence. And theres no reason to stop there. Use Mailchimp to build your website and connect it to our all-in-one marketing platform to really make your offerings stand out from the rest.
Learn more about how to get a free domain name from Mailchimp and how our offer compares to the competition.