Which Option Is Best For Me
For most people, buying a new domain is going to be the preferred route to take. Youll not only get the best deal, but the registration and purchase process will be the simplest.
In time, as your experience and online assets grow it might make sense to negotiate for a domain or purchase an expired domain.
But, when youre just starting out make it easy on yourself and find a solid new domain.
HostGators domain registration is easy, the prices are fair, and you can take care of your domain management and renewals in the same place you manage your web hosting services and website updates.
Domain registration doesnt have to be expensive or difficult. Simply use our domain search tool to find the domain you want, and it can be yours within minutes. Still looking for a hosting provider to help you build your online presence? HostGator is a leading hosting provider that offers a number of different hosting packages so you can build your perfect website.
Considerations For Purchasing A Domain Name
A domain name is a unique website identifier on the internet. Launching a website is impossible without choosing a domain name first and claiming it. A domain name is mapped to an IP address with the help of the Domain Name System , which allows internet users to find a certain website easily without having to remember the actual IP address of the server that hosts it.
Hidden Costs Of Domain Names
Domain name registrars are similar to all other companies out there. They all rely on the fine print to get more money for their services, just like any other IT company. In other words, buying a domain name isnt without its downsides, and in this case, its the hidden costs that you should be worrying about.
Before you make a purchase, it is recommended to inspect the fine print. Companies selling domains create their prices with the main goal to lure in customers. While different domain name providers have different prices, there are always hidden fees and additional costs that they somehow forget to mention.
You can avoid these by carefully going through the terms of service or the fine print. The prices you see are usually for a year only. After that, the pricing changes. Some providers will try to sell you additional features or services or even charge you for additional TLDs that you never requested.
Keep an eye on domain name registrars that offer their services at the lowest prices, as these usually involve hidden fees, as well as extra charges for renewals.
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Things To Check Before Buying A Domain Name
Before you decide to buy a domain, there are 4 things to consider to make the process as straightforward as possible:
- Hidden fees and pricing we already mentioned that the prices you see on a domain name registrars website are introductory and could change after one year of service. We also reflected on hidden fees that you should be aware of before you make a purchase. Pay special attention to the fine print before you agree to anything.
- Data and privacy protection certain domain companies charge additional fees for hiding your personal and company information. Since this is vital to keeping your data away from spammers, check the privacy policy before you make a purchase.
- Auto-renewal and cancellation policies auto-renewal is one of the hidden charges that most domain name registrars wont tell you about. If you plan on using a domain for more than one year, its fine, but if you dont need it for more than a year, look for a provider that allows you to choose if you want a renewal. You should also check the cancellation policy if you decide to transfer your domain to another provider.
- Subdomains pay special attention to subdomains as they are treated as separate names by search engines and have separate rankings. Since they are viewed as separate websites, this could be a disadvantage if you plan on using them in the long run.
How To Use Gmail With Your Own Domain Name
So can you use Gmail with your own domain name? And if so, can you do it for free? The answers to those questions are yes and yes. And in this post, youll learn how to do it.
Specifically, Im going to show you two ways to use Gmail with your own custom domain name:
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Considerations Before You Buy A Domain Through Shopify
Before you buy a domain through Shopify, review the following considerations:
- Email hosting services aren’t provided on Shopify. Instead, you can connect your Shopify-managed domain to a third-party email hosting service.
- Some domain extensions include WHOIS privacy, which is a service that keeps your personal contact information hidden from public domain registration records. If you want WHOIS privacy, then make sure that your domain extension isn’t on the WHOIS exceptions list.
- Some domain extensions have specific residency or business registration requirements. Make sure that you can meet these requirements, because you might need to verify your registration information. If you can’t meet these requirements, then your domain might be suspended.
- A new SSL certificate is created automatically when you buy a domain through Shopify. You dont need to buy SSL encryption for your domain.
- You need to pay the registration fee every year to renew your domain subscription. Domain renewals are charged separately from your monthly subscription charges. The exact pricing depends on which domain extension you choose.
- Domain hosting services are only available with a paid Shopify plan. If you want to close your store or your Shopify account, and you want to keep using your domain, then you need to transfer your domain before you close your store. You can transfer your domain to one of the following:
- another domain registrar
How To Choose A Good Domain Name
Now that the crucial concepts have been explained, its time to get into what makes a good domain name. In order for your domain to be successful, it needs to be:
Simple: It should be simple enough for people to pronounce, spell and therefore remember. Saying that, avoid using peculiar spellings or arbitrary symbols.
Short: Because the longer it gets, the harder it is for visitors to remember.
Branded: Your domain should incorporate your business name, or at least a variation of it. This will make your website immediately recognizable and consistent with your other branding elements.
SEO friendly: Your domain name is one of the first things Google looks for when ranking your site. Consider incorporating relevant keywords that describe your biz. Examples include your type of business or your location if youre looking into acquiring customers through local SEO.
Extra reading: Whats in a name? Many factors need to be taken into consideration when choosing your address on the Internet. To help you out, you can consult this very helpful guide on how to choose the best domain name for your website.
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Purchase Your Domain Name And Complete Its Registration
Once you settle on a domain name, its time to purchase it. When you buy through Mailchimp, well let you know the annual cost of the domain name as well as any available discounts.
During the checkout process, youll be required to enter your contact information, including an email address, to register the domain.
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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Can I Get A Domain For Free
If youre just testing out an idea and messing around with building a website, most of the big DIY website builders offer free plans. You can even get a domain name, but it will look something like this:
- username.wix.com/yourwebsite
- yourwebsite.weebly.com
- yourwebsite.wordpress.com
If you want to share your website, blog, or ecommerce store with the world, the risk of relying on these free subdomains could mean losing creditably from your website visitors and potential customers. Compare that to the more professional and simple like, yourwebsite.ca.
What Tld Should I Use
Despite the number of TLDs to choose from, it is recommended that you use .com when possible. Other than the list above, other TLDs havent become popular or widely used, so users may not remember that your website is not a .com and could give up on trying to find your site. The entire list of TLDs is maintained by the Internet Assigned Number Authority . To see a complete list of TLDs, click here.
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Namecheap $399 699 + Free Lifetime Privacy Protection
You all know how complicated some of these domain registrars can be. And no one really wants to have to deal with that! Luckily, Namecheap has made a name for itself for its simple services and pocket-friendly prices.
The hosts rates range from $0.88 per year for domains such as .us, .men, .faith, and .cricket to $8.88 per year or domains such as .com. However, there are more costly domains that cost up to $2,488 per year for domains such as .security. In addition, the company also offers additional features like free domain parking, free email forwarding, and free web redirection.
Beware Of Hidden Fees
Price plays a huge role while deciding to purchase the domain name. The market is full of domain registrars who will try to lure you into buying from them. But the key is to be vigilant and not get fooled into buying one that appears cheap but has tons of hidden fees and expensive upsells .
Some registrars may sell you a domain name at a cheap price in the name of promotional offers. However, there will be a lot of add on costs in the name of renewal fees, contract fees, expensive rebills and more. So, before you take any decision do your research well.
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What If Someone Already Has The Domain Name I Want
This is a valid concern, given that over 1.7 billion websites are live on the Internet right now. Chances are a lot of great domain names are taken, and when this happens, the cheapest option by far is to brainstorm a different name. But if youre dead set on a domain thats taken, and dont want to compromise, you still have some options.
You can use resources like snapnames.com to see domains that have recently become available . Otherwise, youll have to pay much more for an aftermarket domain, usually by dealing with online auctions in which youd bid on an already-registered domain to be transferred to you.
Aftermarket domain prices are so expensive because the value that a short, relevant domain name can bring to a brand is, well, invaluable . For example, if you were looking for car insurance and werent sure where to start, you might head to CarInsurance.com a domain which sold for $49.7 million in 2010.
Of course, not all aftermarket domains will go for millions, but as a rule, any useful one will still be pretty expensive. Since most of us wont be dropping our lifes savings on a domain name, were going to have to come up with our own. So you might be wondering
What Are Domain Name Extensions
Domain name extensions help categorize different domain names. Its a special hierarchy, invented for the Internet.
You can choose among popular top-level domain extensions such as:
- .com
- .org
- .net
Or go with a local domain extension such as if you want to focus on building a presence in a specific country:
- .co.uk
- .fr
- .au
Also, theres a bunch of creative domain extensions, launched recently. You can try playing around with them to create a shorter, brandable name. For example:
- Alchemi.st
- Handma.de
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Why Do They Cost Money
Purchasing domain names helps to regulate them.
It means that only one person at a time can own a domain name. And we can trace the ownership of a domain name through the purchase history.
This helps to resolve any disputes over ownership of domain names.
When you pay for a domain name subscription through a web hosting site you might also pay a premium to use the site. Their servers will store your website and domain name.
For small businesses using a web hosting site makes financial sense. You pay a monthly or annual subscription to the website for your domain name.
In exchange, they register the domain name as yours. The subscription also covers the cost of website support and basic software use.
What Factors Impact The Cost Of A Domain Name
As I have mentioned, the cost of a domain name does differ depending on a number of different factors, including the registrar you choose. Below, I am going to talk you through some of the factors and the role they play on domain name cost so you can get a better understanding of why quotes differ for domain names across the web.
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Buying A New Domain Name
For most people, they go with the option of purchasing a new domain name. Its the quickest and cheapest option, and with a little creativity, you can find a solid domain.
First, youll need to choose a domain registrar. For the sake of example, lets say youre going to register your domain with HostGator.
Cost Of Registering The Domain Name Itself
There are countless companies that can register a domain name for you. Those companies are usually referred to as domain name registrars.
The main product that every registrar sells is the same a domain name. Domain bought from one registrar is no different than the same domain bought from another registrar.
Despite that, even though they all sell the same thing, the prices between registrars can vary. This is why its important to do your research and not overpay when it comes to the main domain name cost.
Apart from the price differences between registrars, different domain extensions come with different price tags too even from the same registrar. For example, a .shoes domain is going to be more expensive than the traditional TLDs such as .com or .org domain.
On top of that, youll also find that each domain extension has a different price tag with each registrar, which adds a whole new level of complexity to this pricing puzzle.
To make this more approachable, weve done the research for you. Heres a comparison of the registration prices for the most popular domain extensions with the most popular registrars:
| Domain |
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