Choose The Right Domain Extension
When picking the extension or TLD for your domain name, .com is still the best choice unless you have a reason to choose something else.
While Google confirms that your choice of TLD will not impact rankings, it does affect consumer perception. Many people view other TLDs as less trustworthy.
That said, .net or .org extensions are not uncommon, so they can be good secondary options if you find the perfect name and the coveted .com isnt available.
But if you do decide to go with an extension other than a .com, make sure you take a look at what type of website is currently on the .com extension. Someone is bound to go there accidentally while looking for your brand. If the site holds fishy or offensive content, you might want to steer clear of that name altogether.
Use A Domain Name Generator
If youre not the creative type, you can use a domain name generator to help spark some ideas. Simply enter in some words or phrases that describe your brand or website, and these tools will give you a list of ideas that you can then check for availability.
Bring your brand to life with your own website. Design from scratch, connect a domain, analyze traffic, and optimize for SEO.
Stage : Checking Requirements
When youve bought a domain and provided the necessary data, the domain goes to the service specialists. They check that all of the registration requirements have been met. When the information is verified, the domain is forwarded to registry for activation. The domain name registration requires several hours to verify the contact information you provide.
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The Domain Registration Process
Step 1: Registration requirements
Some domains are easier to register than others. While many domains are unrestricted and open to all to register, others are held to a stricter standard. There are verified domains that require documents and go through a verification process to make sure the intention of the domain registration aligns with the domain brands policies. Some Country Code domains require a local presence or proof of business registration in order to register a domain name in that country.
Step 2: Check requirements
When a domain is registered it goes through our team of domain service specialists who make sure all registration requirements are met and all necessary documents submitted. When everything is in order, it is passed along to the Registry for activation and release of the domain name.
Step 3: Get with the Registry for approval
This stage is where the answer to how long does it take to register a domain varies the most. A domain registration can take anywhere from 24 hours to 3 months, however a majority of domains can be registered within a day as you can see in the breakdown below.
For example, .MO domain for Macao in Asia requires: a copy of the organization registration from Macao SAR, business registration, business establishment , or sales tax collection notice with company contact information and copy of trademark if applicable, all of which must be physically mailed to the Registry in Macao. Time-frame for .mo domain registration is 3 months.
Want To Transfer A Domain To 34spcom
If you already own a domain name, you can transfer it to 34SP.com. All domains transferred to 34SP.com get the same benefits as buying a domain directly from us. Better yet, if you want to transfer a UK domain , its absolutely free.
Where can I host my domain name?
You’re free to host with us or any other hosting company you choose. Once you register a domain, we will automatically set the name servers to ours this means if you also buy hosting with us, the domain will work with no extra configuration needed. A quick name server change is all that’s needed to point a domain to a different hosting company.
Does a domain have to be hosted?
Not at all. Domains do not need to be hosted, once the domain is registered and in your name, it will be yours to do as you fit for the period of its paid registration. Whether you’re just looking to secure domains for future use or protect your brand or business name, a domain name can sit happily unused for many years.
How long does it take to register a domain name?
Once you’ve confirmed your domain name is available and paid for it, it usually takes no more than 24 hours for the domain to be formally registered. We don’t recommend you start to use the domain until the domain is confirmed in the WHOIS record. The WHOIS database is a publically available record of all registered domain names, and their owner details.
What details are shown for my domain in the WHOIS database?
I don’t see the extension I want listed
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Good To Know When Registering A Domain Name
A word of warning, especially if youre going to register a domain for a longer period of time. Most Registrars will allow you to auto-renew the registration term. Although this feature is very handy, you should be aware of the payment method you use.
When paying with your credit card, youll need to be aware of your cards valid thru date. If your card expires before the new registration term is due, youll risk losing your domain. Youll have this same issue when using PayPal, as they dont allow these long payment terms.
To circumvent this issue, take the following measures:
- Use your own name and main email address when registering a domain name
- Set up an appointment, 1 month prior to the domains renewal
- Add additional funds to your registrar account, enough for at least another term
Theres an additional benefit of registering a domain name, using your own name. If youve got a business partner and things go south. Your business partner could hold your domain name for ransom. By registering the domain in your name, youll mitigate the risk.
The consequences of losing your domain name, are devastating! All the work you put into creating a beautiful website, gone. The measures to circumvent this from happening will already give you a basic form of protection. But theres still more you can do.
Questions Related To Contractual Compliance Approach And Process
What is ICANN’s Contractual Compliance Approach and Process?
ICANN approach and process can be found at this link: . ICANN, in collaboration with the different ICANN stakeholders, implemented the Informal and Formal Resolution processes. The processes ensure consistency for all parties involved, including ICANN’s global staff, contracted parties and complainants.
ICANN undertakes various activities to ensure compliance with contractual obligations some of the activities are a result of complaints, some are monitoring and others are audit-related.
The complaints are received by ICANN upon submission by complainants using the web forms posted at this link: or via an email to .
The monitoring activities are ICANN-initiated, based in part on industry articles, social media postings, previous complaints, and trend analysis in an effort to proactively address any alleged failure to comply with contract terms.
Please refer to this link to learn more about ICANN Contractual Compliance Audit program and activities.
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What Is A Domain Transfer
A domain transfer is the process of switching your domain name from one registrar to another. To be eligible for a transfer, you must have been with your current registrar for at least 60 days, since ICANN enforces a 60-day Change of Registrant lock.
You might want to initiate a domain transfer for a number of reasons. Maybe your current registrar has suddenly increased their prices, or your site is taking more time to load. Maybe youve found a better deal somewhere else and prefer to consolidate multiple domains under a single DNS registrar.
Whatever the reason, weve got you covered. Heres a step-by-step guide on how to transfer a domain.
How Dns Keeps You Connected
The routing of all communication between computers on the internet is handled by IP address rather than domain names. The following example should help you to visualize the process.
Similar to our telephone system, every active phone line has a phone number that is used to facilitate the connection of one line to another. In order to make a call, the phone that initiates the connection must have the number of the line to which it wants to connect.
In much the same way, your computer must find the correct IP address on the server before it can send the request to that server for a webpage. The same process applies for all other services on the internet. DNS records function similar to a phone book, relating domain names with IP addresses so that these services can be reached.
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Check For Domain Availability
When users enter a URL in their browser, the browser sends a request to a global network of servers that are able to locate your website using something called the domain name system .
The DNS is a universally recognized, decentralized system for naming websites. This is what allows computers, phones, and any other device that can access the internet to find the webpage a user is looking for.
Checking domain availability only takes a couple of seconds, and nearly every registrar and hosting service has a free domain name search tool that allows you to do this . Here are a few tools for quickly checking the availability of a domain:
Remember that domain names are universal, so if a domain name is unavailable from one provider, its unavailable from all of them. Whats great about these tools is that theyll often suggest similar domains that are available if yours isnt.
If your domain name is unavailable, you might get a message back about brokering the domain. This means that the domain name is taken, but the registrar offers a service wherein they will negotiate with the domain owner on your behalf to try and get them to sell their domain name.
Although snagging your first-choice domain name might sound enticing, its important to understand the risks associated with attempting to broker a domain name.
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.
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Renew Your Domain Name Registration At The End Of Your Term
When you purchase a domain, youre purchasing it for a fixed length of time, usually one year. While some domain providers offer longer terms , domain registration is never permanent.
In order to hold on to your registered domain, youll want to make sure you renew registration when your term is complete. Nearly all domain providers offer an automatic renewal, so its generally a good idea to have this option selected when you purchase.
Keep in mind that if your payment information changes, youll need to update your settings with your domain provider so theyre able to charge for automatic renewal.
Most domain providers will notify you when its time to renew, whether you have automatic renewal enabled or not, but its important to renew your domain. If you dont renew your domain, it will no longer point to your website and may be purchased by someone else. If you dont want to lose your domain, make sure you renew it.
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.
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Whats The Best Option To Build A Website
Watch this video about the best tools to create your website ..
Looking to build a website? See our List of Top UK Web Design Companies
OK, this is a really common question and there is no definitive answer but there are a few things that you need to be aware of that will help you reach the right decision.
First things first, the way your website looks when you first launch it will not be the same as in the future. Over time as you get more confident and start to get more business through it then you can justify more investment in it.
The thing is that people often get hung up about getting it perfect straight away, but there are ways that you can get a really professional looking website up and running really quickly. Here are a few things to consider.
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Choose A Domain Name Registrar
A registrar is a company that reserves and registers domain names on your behalf. When you purchase a domain name, either directly from a registrar or through a web-hosting service, its registered to the DNS for you.
Though there are more than a thousand accredited registrars, its best to stick with more well-known providers. Using a common provider will make it easier to find info on managing your domain and to troubleshoot issues you might have with syncing your domain to other services.
Domains can be purchased from a number of different types of businesses. You might choose to purchase one from a website-building platform , a web-hosting service , or directly from a domain registrar .
Many registrars offer hosting and vice-a-versa. This can be a great way to keep all your website tasks under one roof, but isn’t necessary. You can purchase a domain one place, and use a different company to host if you so choose.
How much does a domain name cost?
Domain names arent sold for a flat-rate. Instead, theyre paid for on a recurring basis . When considering the costs of your domain, be mindful of the difference between the starting price and the renewal price. Typically, basic .com domain names run in the ballpark of about 10-15 USD a year. Premium domains such as 4 letter domains or incredibly common terms can cost significantly higher.
- WHOIS privacy protection: $14.95/year
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Choose A Domain Name Suffix Such As Com Or Net
After settling on the domain name, consider the suffix. The most popular suffix is .com, although .net and .org are also popular. These are considered to be top-level domains, or the highest-level domain suffixes in the domain naming system.
There are also other varieties to consider, such as country code top-level domains. These domain names end in a suffix that is particular to a specific country. A website in Germany might end in .de, for example.
Finally, there is another class of domain name suffixes called “sponsored, top-level domains,” which are sponsored by a specific community related to the domain name. For example, .gov is for the U.S. government and .edu is for education organizations.
For most websites, .com is the best suffix for its ease of use, but if you have a specialized website, you might consider a country code or sponsored top-level domain.
What If The Domain Name I Want Is Unavailable For Registration
If the domain name you want to buy is unavailable for registration because someone else already owns it, you can try a domain backorder. With a domain backorder, an attempt is made to get the domain for you. Essentially, you purchase a credit to have a better chance at securing the domain name you want when it becomes available for registration again. Its sort of like calling dibs on the name you want.
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Does A Domain Name Registration Expire And What Happens If It Does Before I Renew It
When you register a domain name, youll see the registration date as well as the expiration date. Every domain name expires at some point, whether thats in a year, a couple of years, or a decade. You can save time by buying a domain with a longer expiration date. In any case, youll need to manually renew your domain when that expiration date is approaching.
The good news is that you can renew your domain name registration before it expires, which allows you to keep your domain name. This is especially important if you have a very simple domain name thats highly sought after. Typically, youll receive your first reminder to renew your domain about a month before it expires. If you still dont renew your domain name after receiving this message, youll get another reminder about a week before your domain expires.
So, what happens if you forget to renew your domain name before it expires? As long as the domain name hasnt been registered by somebody else, you can reactivate your domain name after the expiration date. Keep in mind that some domains are in much higher demand than others, and there are even some bots out there that automatically register high-profile domains when they become available.
Bring your brand to life with your own website. Design from scratch, connect a domain, analyze traffic, and optimize for SEO.