How To Register A Domain Name For Your Website
Your company needs a website, which means it needs a domain name. Your first step is registering a domain name, which can be daunting for first-timers. Don’t worry: Our guide walks you through it.
Once you’ve decided to build a website, you need to make an important decision, even before you consult our best web hosting services roundup: What’s your domain name going to be? You know, it’s the web address by which all your many customers find you. Your domain name is, in effect, the name of your website, so you want to make sure you get a good one. Purchasing a name is a relatively simple process, but finding one that isn’t already taken can be a challenge. In addition, you’ll also want to make sure you understand the contract between you and the domain name registrar. If this is starting to sound a bit complicated, don’t worry: This primer can help you get started.
Use The Domain For Branded Vanity Url
Sometimes the best use of a idle, unused domain can be to simply make it your branded custom link shortener. If youre asking what is a link shortener, it is a small, custom domain that is used to shorten any link for the purpose of making it branded and easy-to-remember.
Link shorteners can also be used to track clicks of that particular URL.
For example, my portfolio URL is http://www.swadhinagrawal.com/ which is great but I make it even more sweeter and easy-to-remember with my vanity domain swdh.in so when I have to share my URL with anyone I just give them http://swdh.in.
You can also use this very domain to share articles on the web with a shortened URL like you liked this very article you could use your domain to make the URL like http://example.com/domain-guide or even shorter like http://example.com/shduHt
Here is a complete guide to using your domain names as URL shorteners.
How Long Does My Domain Name Registration Last How Do I Renew My Domain
How long your domain registration lasts can vary depending on the domain you purchase. Many domain name registrars will allow customers to register domains for 10 years at a time, but typically customers will register domains for one to three years.If you want to extend your registration, its easy to renew your domain with GoDaddy. You can choose to manually renew or set up auto-renewal, so you ensure it stays registered to you.
Don’t Miss: Why Are Some Domains So Expensive
How To Keep A Domain Name Secure
Once a domain name has been registered with a registrar, that registrar is in charge of notifying the registrant when their domain is about to expire and giving them the chance to renew, ensuring they dont lose their domain name. In some cases registrars will prey on their users by buying those domains the second they expire and then selling them back to the original registrant at an exorbitant price. Its important to choose an honest and trustworthy registrar to avoid these kinds of predatory practices.
Sales
Are Custom Domain Names Free How Much Do They Cost
While a domain name itself is not free, you can get one for free from Website.com.
The cost of a domain name depends on where youre buying it from, as well as the domain extension youre buying. For example, country-specific domain names such as .ca and .co.uk are generally more expensive than the generic .com or .net. A .com domain name typically costs around $10 to $15 per year.
Many other website builders tag on a free 1-year domain registration when you sign up for an annual service plan. But, the free domain offered by Website.com is different in two ways:
But with Website.com, you get to choose from 13 different domain extensions. And while a country-specific domain extension typically costs more than a generic domain extension, if you want to use a .ca domain name instead of a .com, go ahead and be reassured that you wont be charged the difference or extra costs.
You May Like: What To Do After Buying A Domain Name From Godaddy
How To Choose The Right Domain Name
When choosing a domain name, it should be:
- Relevant to your content, service or business
- Easy to remember keep it short and catchy
- Easy to pronounce
- Easy to spell
- Not a violation of someone elses trademark
Shorter names make better domain names they are easier to type and less susceptible to mistakes. Longer domain names, on the other hand, have an advantage when it comes to keywords and search engines give preferences to keywords that are also found in your domain name.
Free Tk Ml Cf Gq Domains
Moving onto my next method is to register a free .tk, .ml, .cf, or .gq domain name.
And when I say free, I really mean it. These domains cost nothing! Zero. Zilch. Nill!
The only catch is You will have to use a domain that nobody has heard of.
Seriously, when was that last time you clicked on a website that ended in .tk?
As for the .tk, .ml, .cf, and .gq domain extensions, they are associated with various South Pacific nations such as Tokelau, Samoa, and New Guinea.
Since these domain suffixes are lesser-known, many of these nations and registrars are offering them for free to incentivize the use of them.
For more information, also see my video where I cover each of the tips on this list in more detail!
While this is a plus, there have been several reports that note these domain extensions should NOT be used for any serious businesses or websites.
This is due to the fact that many spammers are using these free domains for malware websites.
So if you do decide to use a .tk or similar domain extension, you may run the risk of having your website de-indexed by Google or banned by other webmasters.
However, if you only want to use these free domains for playing around with and making a test website, then they still are a great free option!
Also Check: How To Transfer Godaddy Domain To Shopify
Choose A Domain Registrar
Once you know you want to build a website, one of your first steps will be to secure a domain name. That means either signing up with a domain registrar or looking into your free options.
If you want to get a free domain, your services will be pretty limited. Most free website builders wont provide you with your own unique domain, but a sub-domain that includes their own branding. For example, if you opt for a free website building platform like WordPress.com, your URL would look like this: mysite.wordpress.com.
This isnt the best choice for anything beyond a personal website since you wont be able to fully brand your site. Plus, website builders are often limited in how much theyll let you customize your site. If you want something more professional, youll likely want to opt for an actual domain registrar.
There are two main places you can purchase domain names. There are some standalone domain name registrars companies that simply sell domains. However, you can also buy a domain through any web hosting provider. This is often the best option since it means your hosting and domain will live in the same place .
Finding a web host that fits your needs means looking for a few telltale features. Usually, a solid hosting packagewill give you some bonuses beyond just storing your sites data, as we mentioned earlier.
Getting A Free Custom Domain For Your Website
A domain name is the address that you type into a web browser address bar to get a website. An example of a domain name is . A domain name is unique to a website and cannot be shared between different websites, and a custom domain name is one that is specifically for your website.
There are many reasons why you should get a custom domain name for your website, even if your website is just for fun. In this article, we will look at some of these reasons, as well as show you where and how to get a free custom domain name for your Website.com website.
Read Also: Io Domain Name Meaning
Connecting Your Domain Name To Mailchimp
Whether youve bought your domain through Mailchimp or a third party, you can transfer your domain name and connect it to your Mailchimp account. Once connected, you can use that domain with a custom landing page or Mailchimp-hosted website. If you dont already have a website, Mailchimp offers a free website builder that you can use to make your brand stand out with no coding skills required.
Check For Trademark Infringement
Both major and minor brands alike take issue with others using their trademarked names. Even if youve just made an innocent mistake, the legal hassle involved in a lawsuit and having to rearrange your web presence could be costly.
You can avoid these situations by using a trademark lookup tool before you finalize your choice.
Don’t Miss: Gulftel Webmail
How Do I Find A Good Domain Name
How much thought do you need to give to a domain name when you want to create a website? In theory, with a good website, users should visit your pages whatever the domain name…but it is a little more complicated than that. If you are part of a business, it is crucial to choose a domain name that is right for your business or brand.
When Should I Buy A Domain Name
The best time to register a domain depends on your project and urgency. However, its better to purchase it right away before a competitor claims the address.
According to Verisign, there were over 363 million domain registrations across all TLDs at the end of the first quarter of 2021. This figure is likely to grow each year as the number of people and businesses that compete to get a great domain name is increasing.
Moreover, many entrepreneurs consider domain names to be digital assets they buy plenty of good URLs as investments and wait for their value to increase before reselling them further down the road.
If you want to start a new online business but have no time to build an eCommerce site, then register a domain now and make a website later to reserve your brand or business name for the future. A domain name will be yours as long as you keep paying for it.
Also, consider purchasing a domain that includes your name even if youre not ready to create a personal website or portfolio yet. Doing this can give you control of what potential clients, employers, and other people see when they search for you on search engines.
All in all, purchasing a domain name should be a priority for those who are serious about building an online presence or starting a new business. It will help protect a brands identity and future business ideas.
Don’t Miss: How Much Does It Cost To Buy A Website Domain
Free Me Domain Name With Namecheap
Much like the GitHub and Name.com partnership, Namecheap has also created its own educational program that allows students to get a ton of freebies, including a .me domain name!
For students that are interested, all you need is a valid .edu email address to be eligible for your free domain name.
As an added bonus, if you are a tutor, teacher, or educator, you too will also be eligible for this program as long as you have a valid .edu email address.
Currently, Namecheap University has given away over 200,000 free domain names to students and educators and doesnt look to be slowing down!
While this is no doubt an awesome offering, I would say the main downside is there is only one domain name available when compared to Name.com.
But in saying that, this is a completely free domain name, so I cant complain! ð
So if you are a student or teacher who wants to play around with making websites, or even make a personal portfolio, dont miss out on your free .me domain name!
Get Domain Distinguished Name In Powershell
You can get domain distinguished name for current logged in user in active directory using PowerShell as below
Get-ADDomain -Current LoggedOnUser
PowerShell Get-ADDomain cmdlet find domain name in active directory for current logged on user.
Output of above command to get domain distinguished name as below
PS C:\Windows\system32> Get-ADDomain -Current LoggedOnUserAllowedDNSSuffixes : ChildDomains : ComputersContainer : CN=Computers,DC=SHELLPRO,DC=LOCALDeletedObjectsContainer : CN=Deleted Objects,DC=SHELLPRO,DC=LOCALDistinguishedName : DC=SHELLPRO,DC=LOCALDNSRoot : SHELLPRO.LOCAL
You May Like: Transfer Domain From Shopify To Wix
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.
How To Buy A Domain Name In 5 Steps
Before we go any further, its worth noting that its only possible to register an existing domain name with a valid domain extension that other people or businesses dont already own.
Were going to dive deeper into the steps to register a domain name from finding a trusted registrar through which to buy a websites address to finally getting into the registration process.
Here are the five steps to buy a domain:
Read Also: Googlemail.com Domain
Can I Cancel My Domain Name Registration
The answer to this question depends on where you registered your domain and the TLD itself. Some hosts and providers will let you cancel and provide a refund, while others may permit the cancellation without a refund, or simply encourage you to let the domain name expire. Therefore, its a good idea to check out prospective domain name registrars policies before making a purchase.
Tips For Choosing A Registrar
Determine which services you require
You may want services like email hosting or support offered in French, so find out what each registrar offers. Remember, if you registered your .CA domain name as an individual you have free WHOIS privacy protection already included.
Check references
Seek out customer reviews and testimonials, and ask friends or colleagues for a recommendation. You may find that some registrars come highly recommended by your peers. If you make a mistake, you can always transfer your .CA domain to another registrar.
Shop around
Shop around to get a good understanding of how much your domain name, and additional services, will cost. Registrars may offer bundles, packages, or special promotions. Keep in mind that cheapest isnt always necessarily best.
Recommended Reading: How Much To Purchase A Domain Name