Choosing A Registrar: 3 Factors To Consider
As we discussed, all registrars are the accredited resellers of ICANN, the organization that manages the Domain Name System. ICANN charges a registrar for a domain name registration, and the annual accreditation fee should be paid to maintain the registrar status. Registrars form their pricing based on that, trying to offer the best possible pricing to beat the competition.
There are several factors to take into account when choosing a registrar. Some of them are the following:
- Pricing and benefits. Some registrars can offer registration discounts or free additional services like SSL certificates, which is an attractive option.
- Hosting services. Most hosting companies provide domain registration services. Some people choose to register their domain name with the same company they will then host it with, so they can have everything in one place. Please note that the majority of web hosting companies act as resellers of other registrars.
- Support and user interface. Since all your domain registration information, including the nameservers used, will be managed from the registrarâs side, you may also want to choose the company that provides the best support and a user-friendly interface for managing your domain.
Please note that you can change your domain name registrar by performing a domain transfer, but the process has its nuances, and there are certain limits and rules.
How Domain Ownership Works
To buy a domain name, you need to use a service called a domain registrar.
Why do you need to use a special service? Well, it has to do with making sure the internet keeps functioning.
Only one person can own a domain at a time. For example, you cant go out and buy facebook.com because Facebook already owns it. You can check if a domain name is available using a tool like DomainWheel.
To keep track of everything and avoid conflicts , there are centralized services that manage domain names .
To purchase a domain name, you need to use a vendor thats accredited by those centralized domain management services thats what a domain registrar is.
The domain registrar lets you purchase your domain name. Then, once youve purchased it, the registrar also lets you manage your domain name, such as pointing it to your web hosting or email account.
The basic process works like this:
When you buy a domain name, you pay for one year of ownership. After that first year ends, you can either:
- Renew the domain to maintain ownership. You always have the first right to renew no one can take the domain from you as long as you renew it before it expires.
- Let the domain name expire, in which case it goes back into the pool of available domain names and someone else can purchase it in the future.
Find Out If A Domain Is Available
A quick way to find out if a domain name is available is to use a WHOIS service, such as this one provided for free by Afilias:
If your preferred name is available and will not breach any law such as Australias Reserved List Policy, the next step is to register it for your business.
If you engage a third party to register your domain name on your behalf, be sure the domain name is registered in your name or business entity. This can avoid potential issues down the track.
You May Like: How To Get A Domain On Wix
How To Buy A Premium Domain
Premium domains are a great way to stand out online. They are great for branding and marketing purposes as well.
What is a premium domain?
A premium domain is typically short, memorable, and easy to spell. High-quality domains have a high search volume and are closely associated with an industry, service, or topic. They also have TLDs like .com, .org, or .net.
Premium domains are in high demand. So theyll typically cost a bit more to register. The process of buying a premium domain can be different as well since its not always clear if the domain is actually for sale. Heres what I mean.
Lets say you try to register a premium domain from a domain registrar or hosting company. Just because it says unavailable, that doesnt necessarily mean that it cant be acquired. These are the steps for buying a premium domain:
Read Also: Squarespace With Godaddy
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.
Don’t Miss: How To Get Domain On Squarespace
Does The Country I Live In Effect My Domain Name
While there are country domain names you can use to tell people where your business is based, your location has no real effect on your domain name. When youre buying a domain name, you can choose country-specific domain names such as .it for Italy and .ir for Iran. However, you dont need to know your countrys domain extension or use it to create a website. No matter which country youre from, you can create a website using one of the standard domain extensions, including .com, .net, and .org.
One thing to remember is that certain country-specific domain extensions are only available to residents of that country. For example, you can only register a .it domain if youre a natural or legal citizen of the European Union, so you cant have an Italian domain for an American business. When it comes to .us domains, things are a bit different. Any company or individual thats licensed in or a citizen of the United States can register a .us domain, but these domains can also be registered by certain foreign organizations that have an interest in the United States.
In addition to country-specific domain extensions, there are also domain extensions that are designed for specific types of websites. Schools and other educational organizations often use .edu domains, while official government organizations use .gov domains. While these domains arent all restricted from being used by other organizations, its best to stick to a simple .com domain, so you dont confuse your audience.
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.
You May Like: How To Find Out What Domains A Person Owns
What Is A Web Domain
A web domain is the common name given to your complex, numerical internet address. Every site on the internet has an IP address, which is a string of numbers that serves as the coordinates for your online destinations. A domain name is a text-based name that represents that numerical IP address.
When you type a web domain into your browser, it funnels your request through the Domain Name System server to bring you to the desired site. DNS is a complex directory that converts a text-based domain, which is decipherable by humans, into the corresponding IP address, which is decipherable by computers. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is a global nonprofit organization that helps coordinate the supply of IP addresses through the DNS, along with a variety of other responsibilities such as registrar accreditations and internet policy development.
Can You Get A Domain Name For Free
So far, weve covered two ways to buy a domain name. But can you get one for free? The answer is yes. There are three ways to get a free domain:
While you can get a good domain name for free, you should consider how professional your domain makes your website look. Your TLD conveys legitimacy, authority, and trustworthiness to visitors.
People trust familiar TLDs the most, and over 37% of domains currently have the TLD .com. So, while you might be able to get a .ml or .tumblr domain for free, investing in the .com domain may pay off better long term.
Don’t Miss: Should I Transfer My Domain To Shopify
How To Buy A Domain Name: A Simple Guide To Get You Started
A domain name is essentially a digital address its what people will type into their browsers to access your website. You can buy a domain name from a domain name registrar or hosting provider by visiting a domain registrar, finding the domain you want to purchase, and following the instructions to buy it.
Keep in mind that buying a domain name is one of the most critical steps of starting a blog, personal site, or online business. Without one, users would not be able to easily access your website on the internet.
Luckily, the process to register a domain name is quite straightforward even beginners can complete it in a few minutes.
This article will explain each of the simple steps to register a domain name and present some tips and tricks to ease the process.
Check out this video on how to register a domain name:
Verify Ownership Of Your New Domain
Paying for your domain might seem like the last step in the process, but you also need to verify your ownership. This step lets you send email using the domain and keeps other people from using it without your permission.
If you purchase your domain through Mailchimp, this process is simple. Youll receive a verification email after you complete your purchase. Simply click on the Verify Domain button in the email and follow the instructions on the next page, and you can start using your domain to build your brand. Youll only ever have to complete this step once.
Also Check: Who Do I Buy A Domain Name From
Consider These Popular Domain Extensions:
.com
The most popular and professional extension for any kind of website.
Grow your network, and your business, with a .net domain.
Brand your site as an organization for greater good.
Show you’re at the forefront of todayâs tech scene with a highly relevant domain.
Get personal. Show off what you’re all about to your visitors.
Rep your company with a domain that’s globally recognized and memorable.
Difference Between Domain Brokers Vs Domain Auction Sites
Brokers focus specifically on acquiring certain domains and working on behalf of clients to acquire them. In these situations a buyer knows what domain name they want, and havent been able to arrange a sale or even find the contact information of the domain name owner.
With a domain auction the bidding is open, the domain name is clearly for sale, and its open for everyone who can get into the auction. Sometimes there might be a buy now option, but that wont always be the case.
The auction format doesnt allow for one-on-one negotiation, either, since its locked in for the full bidding process.
Hiring a broker will normally require an upfront fee, but it opens up what domains you can go after and gets a professional with better resources on your side to pursue and negotiate a deal.
All without having to stay by the computer hoping to avoid last minute sniping at the domain name auction.
You May Like: How To Purchase Edu Domain
Ask The Current Owner
If the website you want is already taken, you can try negotiating with the current owner to transfer ownership over to you . Try finding their contact information using ICANNs lookup tool, which helps identify domain owners. Note that some domain owners pay to keep their information private, while other domains may have been purchased through an LLC or other business entity.
Brainstorm Concepts And Ideas
If you already have a name you want to buy, awesome! Head on down to the next section.
If you want to see if your domain name is actually good , keep reading.
This is crucial. Its the name youll use for your business, or a campaign, or a blog. You want to try your best to nail this on the first try.
Also Check: What Is My Domain Provider
How Do I Buy Domain Names
Here are the steps to buy domains:
Option D: How To Get A Domain Free Through A Domain Name Registrar
If youre only interested in a domain name registrar that offers a 100% free domain, you can opt for a free domain name registrar. However, it can result in untrustworthy-looking domain extensions, such as .tk, as opposed to a standard .com. Before using one of these alternative domain extensions for your business, consider whether saving $12 a year is worth the risk of not presenting your brand in the best way to prospects and customers.
| PROS |
|---|
If you need a domain for your business website or professional email, dont use a free one. Its not credible for businesses and may even pose security issues to your online operations. Instead, get a free domain with other services you need, such as WordPress web hosting through Bluehost, a site builder plan like Squarespace or Weebly, or dedicated email hosting through IONOS. Alternatively, purchase your domain from any of the best domain registrars.
If youre running on a truly tight budget, we suggest that you build your business website on a subdomain through a free website builder, such as yourbusiness.weebly.com. It looks more credible as people are far more familiar with Weebly, and its 100% free to use. As you grow, you can get a free domain through a Weebly paid plan, which is the cheapest on the market with ad-free plans starting at $12 per month.
You May Like: How To Access Your Domain Name
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.
How To Choose The Best Domain Name
Last updated on June 14th, 2021 by Editorial Staff | Disclosure: Our content is reader-supported. This means if you click on some of our links, then we may earn a commission. See how WPBeginner is funded, why it matters, and how you can support us.
Choosing the right domain name for your website is crucial for your success. If you choose the wrong domain name, then it can be a hassle to switch later on without hurting your brand and search rankings.
Thats why its extremely important that you choose the best domain name from the start.
When first starting out, it can be hard to come up with catchy business name ideas with a perfect domain name.
In this article, well share all the tools and tips you need to get domain name ideas, choose the best domain name, and register your new domain .
14 Tips for Choosing the Best Domain Name
When starting a blog, choosing a domain name can be stressful because you dont want to make a mistake.
To make the process easier, we have a simple 14 step framework that you can use to pick the best domain for your website.
Lets take a look at these tips one by one with more details.
1. Stick with .com
There are plenty of new domain name extensions available today, from the original .com, .net and .org to niche extensions like .pizza, .photography, and even .blog.
We always recommend choosing a .com domain name.
In our opinion, newer domain extensions like .ninja, .photography, and others can make your business appear less trustworthy.
Recommended Reading: Is Io A Good Domain