What Is The Cost Of Maintaining A Shopify Store
What is the cost of maintaining a Shopify store?
Whatâs all the hype about Shopify?
Most of you, if not for all, wouldâve heard about Shopify at least for once. What is Shopify all about? Why does it seem to be so popular, especially in recent years? A one-line answer it is a cost-effective e-commerce platform. Some of you would have already got a tinge idea about the reason behind its popularity. In the current technology-driven world, of all the industries, e-commerce is the only growing sector amid the COVID-19 outbreak which in turn opened a massive rise to e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Magento, BigCommerce, WooCommerce, Squarespace, Wix.com and so forth. Are you confused about which one to choose Shopify or other ecommerce platforms? Read our blog posts on Shopify vs Magento and Why should you choose Shopify?
According to the Statista report, âRetail platforms have undergone an unprecedented global traffic increase between January 2019 and June 2020, surpassing even holiday season traffic peaks. Overall, retail websites generated almost 22 billion visits in June 2020, up from 16.07 billion global visits in January 2020â.
Impact of COVID-19 on global e-commerce website traffic 2019-20Source:
Shopifyâs Plans & Pricing:
How Much Is A Domain Name
So, youve decided to venture into online business, yes? Before you get everything in place its important to set first things first.
Come up with a great domain name!
Im just going to come out and say it
Finding and buying the perfect domain name of the struggle of running a business in this digital age. Before registering a domain, you have to come up with a great name if you are serious about having an online presence. Coming up with a great domain is hard work which is why a lot of people rely on domain name generators.
Quite frankly, however, getting your domain name nailed is not exactly the easiest of things to do. In many cases, youre probably going to pick a domain name thats already taken.
So, what gives?
Youll have to buy then register a domain name. But then heres another question: how much is a domain name?
Well, that depends on a bunch of factors. But lets take a step back and get to know a little bit more about what a domain name is before we get into domain registration.
Frequently Asked Questions About Domain Pricing
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What is a reasonable price to pay for a top-level domain ? Where can I find the cheapest domains?
The prices can vary hugely, as the demand for some TLDs is higher. The standard price of traditional top-level domains such as .net and .org can range between $6 and $15, whereas newer TLDs like .site and .club can range between $10 and $25. You can learn more about the average cost of domain names in our blog. To find the cheapest domains, check out our TLD list or take a look at our domain pricing tool! Using our handy filter, you can select ‘Sale’ to find our cheapest domains. You can also select ‘Popular’ to see the most sought-after domains, and ‘New’ to view our recently launched domains.
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What TLDs are both popular and affordable?
While most people look to buy .com first, sometimes your dream domain name isnt available. Plus, its important to choose one that reflects your business or personal brand. There are a huge number of generic TLDs and Country Code TLDs out there, and as we offer affordable, low-cost domains for less than $1, its easy to find the perfect domain name for growing your online presence!
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Do you have any domain promotions/discounts?
Yes, you can benefit from great savings on our range of products, from domains to hosting packages. Check out our current deals for all the latest promotions. Keep an eye out for multi-year offers you may be able to pick up a deal if you register your domain for 2, 3, 5, and 10 years at a time.
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How Domain Names Work
It may also be important to note that domain names are different from websites. This means you can purchase a domain name without having to purchase anything else.
A domain name points to a website, which has the content stored on a server. Theyre connected by a Domain Name System service.
The server the website is stored on has an IP address, which has several sets of two or three numbers separated by full stops such as 12.345.678.90, for example. You can visit a website with its IP address, but IP addresses are difficult to remember.
Also, if a website uses shared hosting, then multiple sites are stored under the same server and IP address. While this isnt always the case, it does prevent access to any of the sites when the IP address is entered. Thats where a DNS service comes in. It connects a website with the corresponding domain name through an IP address or nameservers, although the option thats used depends on the hosting provider and how the server is set up.
Either way, when someone enters the domain name into their browser, the DNS service is called, the corresponding server details are retrieved and a connection can then be established. This is when the website loads for the end user.
: A DNS service connects a domain name to the website.
It may also be important to note that while there are similarities between a DNS service for a web server and the DNS connected with your Internet Service Provider they arent exactly the same.
Hidden Cost For Domain Names
Dont be fooled by the low domain name registration price offered by domain registrars because you might end up paying more down the line. Lets take a look at some of the hidden costs of domain names.
1. Yearly Renewals
Once you purchase a domain name, you have to renew it on a yearly basis. Most registrars only offer a discount for the first year when you register a domain name. Youll have to pay a much higher price when you review your domain names.
2. Domain Privacy
Many domain registrars and hosting providers sell an addon called Domain privacy to secure your contact details. While its not mandatory to purchase the domain privacy addon, it protects your contact details, which in turn reduces the number of spam emails you receive.
3. Business Emails
Domain registrars also sell an addon called Business emails. You can skip this addon because most hosting companies offer at least one free business email address with its hosting plan. For more details, check out the best email hosting providers.
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The Fine Print On Wix Domain Cost
Here are a few additional details that are relevant when considering a Wix domain:
- When getting your free domain from Wix, you can pick from the following specific domain extensions: .com, .net, .org, .co.uk, .biz, .club, .coach, .fit, .art, .be, .live, .nl, .online, .fitness, .info, .pictures, .rocks, .space, .shop, .store, .studio, .training, .xyz, .yoga, .de.
- If youre on a free website plan, you can upgrade to premium website plan and also become eligible for your free domain for one year.
- You cannot renew an existing domain using the free domain voucher. You can use this free voucher only to purchase a new domain from Wix.
- The Wix domain cost remains the same throughout the domains lifespan. It will renew automatically when the initial registration period is up.
Estimating A Domain Name Value
If you want to estimate a domain name value properly, you first need to know about the most important features that determine the value:
- TLD .com is still the most desirable option, as well as being common and recognizable. If your domain includes .com, its value will go up.
- Traffic and popularity the volume of traffic a website drives is a crucial factor in estimating the domains value, as that name already comes with an existing target audience and has a well-established ranking on search engines.
- Keywords since your ranking depends on SEO, keywords in your domain name are vital to achieving the highest ranking on Google. If a domain name includes a popular keyword, this could increase its value.
- Brandability the most popular websites on the web have unique, memorable, and clear domain names that are attention-grabbing, trendy, and catchy. If your domain is like that, it will cost more.
- Spelling believe it or not, but unexpected spelling can help increase your domains value. It could make your name more brandable.
- Length the shorter a name is, the easier it is to remember. Its crucial to making a domain more valuable.
Now that you know what to look for, you can estimate a domain name value by following these steps.
Also Check: What Is Buying And Selling Domains
Where Can I Buy A Domain Name
There are plenty of domain name registrars out there, but only a few are worth your consideration:
- Domain.com offers a huge range of TLDs and ccTLDs
- HostGator is both a domain registrar and a hosting company, and allows you to purchase these services together as a bundle
- GoDaddy one of the best-known domain registrars around, plus its also a hosting provider
You can also buy a domain name through a website builder. Website builders are platforms that help beginners set up professional websites, without having to know any code. When you sign up with a website builder, the domain registration process is integrated as part of that sign up making it a perfect option for beginners!
How Are Domain Names And Search Engine Optimization Related
Its important to start thinking of ways to make your site search engine-ready from the outset. Since keywords are used by search engines for ranking your content, you might want to consider including a relevant keyword in your domain name.
Keep in mind that Googles algorithm is resistant to keyword-stuffing: the practice of cramming your domain name with keywords so as to rank higher than other websites. So dont try to include multiple keywords in your domain as this can have a detrimental effect.
The good news is . The search engines algorithm treats new TLDs and legacy TLDs equally.
Related: The Top 11 SEO Best Practices for Domains
Recommended Reading: How To Buy A Name Domain
How Much Does It Cost To Register A Domain Name
Registering a domain name involves the initial cost to secure your chosen domain name, along with additional charges for privacy protection and renewals so that you can continue to own it.
For example, domain name prices are often in the £7-12 per year price bracket. Renewals can be charged at the same amount as registrations, as is the case with A2 Hosting. Or, they can incur a higher fee, such as Domain.com, which charges $9.99 per year to register a .com domain name and $13.99 per year to renew it.
New Domain Or Resale Domain
If you’re buying a new domain, then we have some good news.
New domain names tend to cost less than resale ones.
The major reason for this is because sometimes people put up domains they own for sale. They purchase domain names they know will be in demand and resell them at a higher price.
Annoying, isn’t it?
If someone owns the domain name you want to purchase, then the price for the domain is determined by the owner and not the registrar. The registrars act as an intermediary.
If you want to avoid the high cost, go for a new domain.
Recommended Reading: How Are Domain Names Registered
When You Need A Domain Name
Now thats all out of the way, do you even need a domain name? The reasons why you would need one are that you:
- want to create a website
- are considering or creating a business
- want it as an investment
- need to reserve the domain for future use
- dont want others using the domain for malicious reasons
- want to prevent competition
- want your site to appear professional
- need to protect your trademark.
While you can sign up for a free website-creating service that will provide you with a subdomain or subdirectory domain for free, it doesnt look as professional as a fully branded domain.
Its the difference between using your-site.not-your-brand.com or not-your-brand.com/your-site versus your-site.com. The latter looks much more professional.
So, if you relate to any of the reasons listed above, youll need your own domain name.
Why Register A Domain Name
Domain names have been around since the advent of the web. The first domain name in history was Symbolics.com, which was registered on March 15, 1985. Today, there are more than 300 million domain names, with millions more added each year.
Your domain name is an important part of establishing your brand. No two domain names can be exactly alike, although they can be similar. Ideally, your custom domain name will be unique and distinctive, so users dont confuse it with other domain names or different businesses.
In addition, domain names allow users to easily connect to other computer IP addresses. For example, you can type in an address like Google.com instead of Googles numerical IP address of 172.217.13.78. In other words, domain names make our lives a lot easier.
You might be wondering isnt a domain name, then, simply a website? Although they are similar, domain names and websites have important differences. Your domain name is the address for your website it is what people use to find your website, which consists of pages, images, and other files.
Choosing a domain name is often the first step when building a website. Read on to learn how to register and buy a domain name.
While a website domain can be an investment, you can also find one for free, especially if you purchase it with hosting.
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How Important Is A Domain Name
tend to put too much time into picking a website domain name. And with a good reason!
The truth is that the right domain name is critical for your branding, credibility, and getting more customers.
This brings us to the point:
There’s a lot of value in investing in a strong, branded domain name.
Let’s see why in more detail
Upsells On Web Hosting Email And Other Software
The last group deals with upsells, these often come after the domain registration. Most people need domains for either of two things: they want to create a custom email address, or they want to build a website. Or both.
Domain name registrars know this, so they will try to help you out and sell you their own services that cover these needs.
Most commonly, you can expect upsells like:
- Email hosting. This gives you server space to handle your email inboxes and allow you to create a custom email under your own domain like john@yoursite.com. This can cost from $1 per inbox a month, all the way to $10 per inbox a month.
- Google Workspace integration. This is also about email hosting, but this time, your emails will be hosted on Googles servers. Starts from $6 per user a month. As an alternative to Google, you can also find offers for Microsoft 365, a similar service.
- Web hosting. Server space for your future website. Starts from $1 a month for basic server space for one site and go up to hundreds of dollars. On a good side, in some cases web hosting providers offer free domains for the first year.
- Website builders. These tools make it easy to build a website on your own by using a simple visual interface no coding required. Your experience with them can vary, so its probably not worth buying a builder bundled with your domain.
Whether you should opt for any of these hosting upgrades is up to you.
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Beware Of Hidden Fees When Buying A Domain Name
While you can find websites advertising domains at low costs, these deals can seem too good to be true. Some registrars will attract first-time domain purchasers with low prices filled with hidden fees down the road, or initial discounts that end up costing you more money later on. When purchasing a domain, either for the first time or hundredth time, you want to be aware of any hidden fees associated with the registrar. These are some ways registrars become more expensive:
Bluehost $999 Free With Hosting Plan
If you are using WordPress as your website platform , Bluehost is far and way the cheapest domain name registrar. Though BH customer support isnt quite up to par with SiteGround , they offer cheap hosting starting from $2.95 per month or as low as $12.99 per year.
On top of that, Bluehost also offers Domain Privacy Protection and a custom email with G suite. Like SiteGround, the most affordable hosting packages all come with a free domain bringing the cost down to effectively nil.
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