Dont Sell Yourself Cheap
Another true story: An entrepreneur went looking for the .com version of a business domain and it was already taken, but for sale on the domain aftermarket for $2,500 a price he considered too high to shell out for the ideal domain name. He decided to go with the .net version because it was available at a normal price.
Within a few years, the business exploded their product was everywhere. This happy entrepreneur then decided to invest in the .com version of the businesss domain name.
Heres the catch: A lot of people had been typing .com instead of .net when searching for the businesss website. The impressive number of hits to the parked web page attached to the premium .com domain had spiked its price to $15,000.
So, if you know you want a domain for your business and its available as a premium domain, save up and invest in the perfect domain at the beginning. You can save yourself money in the long run.
Find A Domain Name Registrar
The non-profit Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers oversees the entire system of domain names, and it allows outside companies, called domain registrars, to sell and manage domain names. You will need to register your domain name through a registrar.
Some of the most popular domain registrars include GoDaddy, Bluehost, and Domain.com, although there are many more to choose from. Be sure to carefully consider pricing and policies for each one before choosing your domain registrar, as it will be managing your domain name.
Follow These Steps To Buy A Domain Name:
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Find Out Who Owns The Domain
There are two ways to complete this step:
- Figure it out on your own
- Hire a domain broker to do it for you
Doing it on your own can be tricky. You could run a quick WHOIS lookup, but most people wont have their personal information listed. Using Google to your advantage can be helpful. Some domains might be linked to another website or social media profile. You could potentially find the owner that way.
Personally, Id recommend using a broker. Sedo is one of my favorite domain marketplaces and brokerage sites.
Brokers can almost always find out who owns the domain because they have such a massive network. Theyll determine if the domain is actually for sale and how much the seller is asking for. Your broker can even handle the negotiations on your behalf.
The downside of using a broker is that youll have to pay a brokerage fee. But in most cases, youll only have to pay if the sale actually goes through.
Other great places to find a premium domain online include:
If a domain is for sale, youll be able to get the ball rolling with Sedo or one of the other options listed above.
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What Is A Web Domain
A web domain is the common name given to your complex, numerical internet address. Every site on the internet has an IP address, which is a string of numbers that serves as the coordinates for your online destinations. A domain name is a text-based name that represents that numerical IP address.
When you type a web domain into your browser, it funnels your request through the Domain Name System server to bring you to the desired site. DNS is a complex directory that converts a text-based domain, which is decipherable by humans, into the corresponding IP address, which is decipherable by computers. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is a global nonprofit organization that helps coordinate the supply of IP addresses through the DNS, along with a variety of other responsibilities such as registrar accreditations and internet policy development.
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Resources To Learn More
There is always a learning curve in buying domains with the purpose of reselling them. Dont hesitate to ask a lot of questions to those who went before you, participate in forums such as namepros.com, keep abreast of industry trends via resources like domaining.com, and reach out to the Afternic and GoDaddy Aftermarket support teams.
What Is An Extension
An extension is the last part or ending of a domain name. They are often referred to as TLDs , the domain root or suffix. Some popular TLDs include .com, .co.uk, .net, .org. There are many categories of extensions such as ccTLDs and new gTLDs..
ccTLDs are country code specific so they represent a particular country e.g. .co.uk for UK and .ie for Ireland. New gTLDs are often more practical and easy to remember e.g. .photography, .guru, .ninja, .london, .legal, .sucks etc. Some businesses and brands register their domain name in a number of extensions to ensure they are fully protected.
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How To Choose A Domain Name
Since your domain name can have a major impact on your online presence, what you choose is a vital first step in building your brand. Finding the perfect domain name, however, can be challenging.
While its true that there are millions of domain names available, many of the popular domain names that are easy to remember are taken. Fortunately, you can still get what you need if you go through a simple process and use a bit of imagination.
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Can You Buy A Domain Name
The short answer is yes, you can outright buy a domain name. If you want to get really technical, you can also skip the whole web host portion of possessing a domain and just buy your own data centre. That would be an extremely complex process, but that is one way to get a domain name.
Buying a domain name from a web host is similar to renting one, though usually more expensive. It is, technically, possible to break down the process even further. The first is registering a domain name. This can be done at a domain name registrar. This will entitle you to the domain name even without server space to host it, or a website that actually proves that it exists.
After that, you can find a web host to host the website with the domain name. This task can be done separately from registering the domain name. And then you can build the website separately too.
How Much Does A Domain Name Cost
The cost of your domain name will depend on a couple of factors:
- The extension you use.
- Where you buy the domain name a reputable registrar, a private seller or an aftermarket service?
- The length of time youre registering the domain for as well as additional options chosen such as domain privacy, etc.
In general, regular domain names range between $10 and $20 per year, depending on the extension and available discounts or special promos that registrars have active.
If youre looking into buying a premium domain, you can expect to pay upwards of hundreds of dollars. However, there is no definitive answer nor a minimum range for premium domains.
The best way to get a feel for the domain cost is to enter the potential domain name in GoDaddys Domain Appraisals tool and to browse sites like Afternic and GoDaddys Domain Name Aftermarket.
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Purchase The Domain Name
When you have settled on the domain name and a suffix, you will pay to register the domain name with the domain registrar. This is not a one-time purchase, however. Typically, you will pay to own the domain name for one year, after which you can renew your registration for a fee. You can expect a registration fee of about $10 to $15.
Web Hosts And Domain Names
You neednt 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 youll find a setup fee over and above the registrars 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.
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Select Your Domain Extension
Also known as top-level domains ,domain extensions quickly identify certain website elements such as purpose, owner or geographic location. There are five official types of TLDs, with generic top-level domains accounting for the majority of the 366 million registered domains worldwide. The most popular gTLD choices are.org, .com and .net, making them the easiest to recall. You can check out ICANNs complete list of domain extensions here.
Another good tip to consider if your domain name is already taken is to try it out with a different extension likelihoods are youll find an available option. However, keep in mind that an extension like .org is better used for nonprofit organizations, while .com usually represents for-profit companies.
Domain Attached To Bloggercom
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Avoid Slang & Pop Culture
Imagine if today you tried appealing to a millennial demographic by using the term xtreme in a domain. You might reel in droves of fortysomethings, but the target audience would likely find that choice of words laughably outdated.
Planning for long-term success means picking a web address with classic appeal, not something that fades from popularity within a few years.
Similarly, avoid slang or use only slang thats universally recognizable. With the global reach of the internet, its not unthinkable that youll attract some folks who speak English as a second language. Make it easy for them.
How To Register A Domain Name With Wix
Wix is one of the most widely-used website builders, having powered over 200 million users worldwide. While it allows creating a website for free, you will need a premium plan to connect a custom domain name.
The price for a .com domain name is $12.95/year. Note that Wixs list of extensions is not as vast as other registrars, as it doesnt support such TLDs as .io, .tech, or .live. However, more generic options are available.
Navigate to Wixs domains page to begin the domain name search. Then, enter a term using a domain extension and press Search. If someone else has taken the name, it will suggest other options with different TLDs.
After finding a domain name you like, click Get It Now. The next step is to choose between getting a premium website builder plan or simply buying a domain name. The first option will make the domain registration fee free of charge.
For illustration purposes, we will go with the latter route by clicking Get It Now. At this stage, you will have to sign up for a Wix account.
Now, pick whether to register the domain name for one, two, or three years. Wix offers a discount for longer registration periods.
Then fill in the contact information, including your name, phone number, email, address, and postal code.
If youre going to manage the domain and handle any tech-related issues it encounters, check the Tech Contact Info and Admin Contact Info boxes below. Otherwise, fill in the fields with the relevant contact details.
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How To Set Up A Free Domain
Site builders offer a much easier way to build a business website. For example, with Weebly, all you need to do is create an account, select a template, and customize your site based on the elements of your choice. When youre ready to go live, click the prompt from your user dashboard to connect a domain or click the orange Upgrade button in the upper right-hand corner of the site editor to upgrade to a paid plan that includes a free domain.
Here are the best site builders that provide domains for free for the first year with paid plans:
- Squarespace: Best for small businesses overall and solid search engine optimization tools to grow your online presence
- Wix: Best for those wanting a flexible drag-and-drop site builder for maximum design freedom
- Weebly: Best website builder with built-in ecommerce tools with any plan
- IONOS: Cheapest site builder with first year pricing at $1 per month plus domain and email address
Want more help deciding which is right for you? Get the complete breakdown of the best website builders for small businesses to see which include a free domain.
How Do I Transfer Domains To Godaddy
Transferring domains to GoDaddy is simple.
You can transfer up to 500 of your domains to GoDaddy at once in our bulk domain transfer tool. If the extension youd like to transfer isnt listed, you cant transfer that domain name to us.
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Is It Better To Buy A Domain Through Wix Or Godaddy
Wix provides you greater creative power, more tools, and more methods to get support, all while being more user-friendly. GoDaddy, on the other hand, is a lot faster and more cost-effective option than Wix. If youre on a limited budget and need a basic website up and running fast, we suggest GoDaddy.
Who Can Register A Domain Name
Anyone… but some extensions have registration rules or restrictions. For example, you can only register a .ltd.uk if you are a limited company and the domain is an exact match to your company name. Most extensions like .com, .co.uk and many more, are open for everyone to register. If you’re uncertain about the rules, you can check the information icon next to each extension in our search results.
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