Where To Buy A Domain Name
When you buy a domain name, you do so through a Domain Registrar who manages the registration of that domain name. For most registrars, you will buy the domain from them and then use a hosting provider to manage the website. Some companies offer both services.
Google domains is a great tool for finding domains and integrates well with Googles mail services. Namecheap are other great options and offer good DNS support and email hosting, as well as low domain prices.
You can also buy directly from your hosting provider , but if you want to switch providers this is generally more difficult as you will generally have to transfer the domain to another registrar, sometimes even blocking it on that specific host.
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.
Get A Web Hosting Plan
The first thing you need to do after buying a domain name is, buy a web hosting plan to host your site. Its especially important when youve bought the domain name from domain registrars like GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.
Though most of the domain registrars offer cheap web hosting, you should avoid them. Rather you should buy web hosting package from top web hosting providers like HostGator, Bluehost, DreamHost, etc. They will provide the best service. In fact, its a good idea to buy domain and web hosting separately.
There are several types of web hosting plans. is the most popular and affordable plan. If its your first site, you should start with shared hosting. You can change your plan later for free if needed.
Here is a list of top 3 recommended web hosts for shared hosting.
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Hyphens Are A Close Call
If a domain name uses two words, it might be tempting to add a hyphen for readability. The problem is people might not remember the hyphen and wind up at someone elses site.
It used to be a common belief that hyphenated domains were easier for search engines to parse, so they had better SEO value. However, today its understood that search engines actually associate hyphenated domains with spammy behaviour and could penalize them.
Build Your Business By Registering Your Domain
After weighing the benefits and drawbacks of free or paid domains, you should get started on your search for the perfect domain name. Domain names can go quickly and there’s a little more competition than Symbolics had in 1985 so it is important to register the one you want before it is too late.
Registering a domain name is quick and easy, but it does take some time to brainstorm the right name, select the optimal suffix, and find the right domain registrar for you. As such, there’s no better time than now to get started on registering your domain name.
Editor’s note: This post was originally published in February 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.
Originally published Dec 13, 2020 7:00:00 AM, updated July 20 2021
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How Much Does A Domain Name Cost
When you buy a domain name through domain registrars, you register it for one year with the option of a multi-year registration. You will be able to renew your domain name registration when the initial period finishes, and will usually be alerted by the registrar to do so. Domain names are also sometimes included in your web hosting plan and if not, usually offered by your hosting company.
Domains purchased through Mailchimp are priced based on the TLD you choose, such as .com or .net.
A domain name with a common top-level domain, such as .com, can be had for as low as $12.99 per year, and promotions are often available. Internet domains purchased through Mailchimp also come with free WHOIS privacy protection and a Secure Sockets Layer certificate to provide your website with free verification and encryption.
You do need to have a web hosting plan to put your site online, but you dont need to have hosting to purchase a domain. Assuming you have a business or blog name in mind, its possible to reserve your brands name for the future by purchasing and registering your domain name now. Then youll have plenty of time to consider how to build your website.
How Do I Take Ownership Of A Website
In our experience, these four steps will get you through the website transfer process without any hiccups:
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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.
What To Do Once Youve Purchased A Domain
If you go with a website builder that allows you to select a custom domain name as part of the building process, choosing the domain is likely the first step. After youve selected the name you want to use, domain registration takes about 24-72 hours, but you can usually start customizing your website before the domain registration process is complete.
If you opt for a registrar that doesnt offer website building services, or if theres a separate website builder youd prefer to use like WordPress, the next step is to connect these two services. This involves modifying the DNS settings with your domain registrar to point your domain to the website builder of your choice. Non-technical users might have a difficult time completing this step successfully, so using a platform like Squarespace or Shopify might be a better option in this case.
Its worth noting that domain registration and website hosting are separate services, though most domain registrars and website builders offer both. Domain registration only prevents other people from using your domain name it has nothing to do with the storage available for your website content. Most likely, youll have the most success with a solution that allows you to manage your domain registration, website hosting, and content management from one central platform.
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How Much Does A Beginner Website Cost
The average cost of basic website creation by a freelance website designer is $6,760, according to Website Builder Expert. This cost only covers the first year. That said, each cost can vary. Setup can cost as little as $50 and go as high as $200, depending on the website domain cost and other factors.
What Happens After I Buy My Domain
The first thing to know is that your domain is not a website, it is just the name of your website on the Internet. You have reserved the name, but you will still need the actual site. If you bought your domain through your hosting provider, you should already have it set up, but if you just bought the domain, you will need to tell a hosting provider by changing your DNS settings.
If you dont know how to create a site, you can read our guide at the best website builders without code . These services allow you to create your site without coding, often simply by applying a pre-made template.
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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.
How To Create A Mailbox Name
You can create as many mailbox names as youd like with your domain name, whether youre looking for a more professional email address for yourself or email addresses for 10,000 employees.
Mailbox names are typically a persons name or a department , so youll need to think about how you plan to use email and what mailbox names will work for your business or brand.
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Request Authorization Or Epp Code
In the dashboard, you will find the tab to request authorization or EPP code. The code will be sent to your email address associated with the domain. So make sure your email is updated. This code will be required later in the process. when you will link your domain to a new host. It can take a few days to receive the mail so until then take a chill-pill!
How To Register Your Own Domain Name
One of the many reasons the internet is so powerful is because it gives nearly anyone the ability to share their voice and knowledge with the rest of the world. A particularly popular way to make yourself known is to set up a website.
These days many services, such as WordPress or Blogger, offer websites on commercial domains, but in a lot of cases it makes more sense to have your website on your own domaina personal place on the internet where you are in complete control of whats published and how it looks. Heres how to register your own domain name.
When setting up your personal domain name, you have a lot of options and many vendors to choose from. You can search around to see what works best for you and your needsor look over our suggestions belowbut the following steps outline the gist of what you need to do.
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How To Register A Domain Name For Free
Youve heard the rumor about free domain names. Is it true?
Yes! There are actually ways to get a free domain name for your website.
First, you can get a free domain name for a web hosting provider such as Bluehost.
They offer every new user a 1-year free domain with any of their hosting plans. You can either register a brand new domain name with them or transfer a domain name, registered with another company.
Some other hosting providers who also have a 1-year free domain policy:
- HostGator
- Dreamhost
- InMotion Hosting
Note: The downside of getting a domain name from a hosting provider is more expensive renewals. After a free year, most hosting providers will charge a higher renewal fee, compared to domain registrars.
How To Buy A Domain
Follow these instructions to purchase a domain:
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Decide On The Length Of Registration
When you first register your domain, you will be given a choice of a one-year or longer registration period.
Act on renewal notices
You should keep track of the registration renewal date and, if you intend to renew the registration, do so before the due date.
Own your domain name
Always make sure that the domain name is registered in your name or in the name of your business, and not that of the business which developed your website or some other third party.
Transferring your domain
At renewal time, some domain owners decide to transfer their domain name to a different registrar who may offer different terms, conditions and services. You will usually be provided with an authorisation code by your existing registrar to give to your new registrar in order to transfer the domain. Details on how to transfer a .ie domain from one registrar to another are on the IEDR website.