Purchase A Domain Name For Your Small Business
When youre ready to purchase and register a domain name, we have you covered but we dont stop there. More than just proven domain name registrars, we offer one of the easiest drag-and-drop website builders in the business. Youll also find helpful resources like web hosting, professional email accounts, search engine optimization resources and eCommerce options to help you generate online sales and build brand loyalty.
Why not start by selecting a domain name with Web.com right now? Its fast and easy. After helping over 3 million organizations get up and running online, we are recognized as Americas favorite small business online resource. We understand your challenges and were always ready to turn them into opportunities by working with you to develop specific online solutions. Our expert team is always here for you and your business let us know how we can help.
A Guide To Domain Names For Small Businesses
As a small business owner, a website is no longer just an option its a virtual necessity. More people than ever are looking for businesses in online directories and making purchases using the internet. In fact, shoppers have spent $52 billion more online since the beginning of 2020 as compared to the same timeframe the previous year. While online shopping has been trending upward for years, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused a dramatic increase in internet purchases.
While you may be ready to build a website and establish an online presence for your business, you might not know where to begin. After helping over 3 million small businesses get up and running online, we’re here to offer some friendly guidance. Your online journey begins with a domain name. Lets take a closer look at what a domain name is, how you use it, and why it is an important element of your business and brand.
How To Register A Domain Name
This article was co-authored by Stan Kats. Stan Kats is a Professional Technologist and the COO and Chief Technologist for The STG IT Consulting Group in West Hollywood, California. Stan provides comprehensive technology solutions to businesses through managed IT services, and for individuals through his consumer service business, Stan’s Tech Garage. Stan holds a BA in International Relations from The University of Southern California. He began his career working in the Fortune 500 IT world. Stan founded his companies to offer an enterprise-level of expertise for small businesses and individuals.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, several readers have written to tell us that this article was helpful to them, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 557,984 times.
Registering your domain name is the first step in establishing your online presence and reaching visitors. We’ll show you how to create and register your domain, avoid some of the pitfalls that can arise, and choose the best domain name to make sure that your site reaches the most people. Read below if you want to get on your way to a successful website!
Don’t Miss: How To Change My Wix Domain Name
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, it’s 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.
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 web address.
According to Verisign, there were over 363 million website 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. And do not worry, it will not break your bank. For instance, popular e-commerce domain .shop will cost you only $0.99/month.
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.
Recommended Reading: How To Find Out Where A Domain Is Hosted
Pointing Your Domain Name At Your Website
Now that you have your own domain name, the final stage is to point it at your website. This allows people to type your domain name into their browsers address bar to visit your site.
To point your domain at your site you need to use name servers . Every active domain name on the Internet needs at least two name servers to handle it. A name server acts like a phone book for the domains that it handles. The process works something like this:
Usually, your Web hosting company has name servers that you can use for your domain. Youll often find these listed on the companys technical support site. Theyll look something like this:
- ns1.example.com
- ns2.example.com
When you register your domain, your registrar may ask you for the name server hostnames . Enter the hostnames given by your hosting company. The registrar then updates your domain record to point your domain to these name servers.
You can usually change your name servers at any time by logging into your registrars website and editing your domain details. If youre not sure how to do this, ask your registrar or look at their help pages.
Debug Localhost Website With Custom Domain In Visual Studio
Now, let’s see, how to debug a localhost website with the custom domain?
To debug your ASP.NET application in Visual Studio, we must publish it in the debug mode. For this, change your publishing profile and set the debug configuration, as shown below.
After publishing the website in debug mode, access your website e.g., www.mywebsite.com or https://www.mywebsite.com.
Now, to debug in Visual Studio, go to Debug -> Attach to Process.. menu. Select the w3wp.exe process from the popup, as shown below .
Now, you will be able to put a break point and start debugging, as shown below.
This is how you can set custom domain name for the localhost website and also debug it.
Don’t Miss: Is Private Domain Registration Worth It
Prepare And Send The Authorization Letter
In order to request a domain name, we request an authorization letter from your . Who this is depends on your organization type , but it is generally the highest ranking or highest elected official in your organization.
Use the appropriate template to prepare an authorization letter:
- Copy the template text into a document editor, then add the names and contact info for the people who will be your domain contacts. We require an administrative and a technical contact, and we recommend adding a security contact.
- Security contact details are made public, which allows people to report observed or potential security issues at your domain.
Once we receive your authorization letter, we will work to verify the authenticity of the request and will create .gov registrar accounts for each domain contact.
Make Sure Your Domain Is Easy To Pronounce And Spell
You probably want your domain name to be original and memorable. However, novelty isnt always a good thing. If you modify the spelling of a common word to get that .com extension , you might confuse your audience.
While word-of-mouth advertising is powerful, it only works when people can actually pronounce your domain. This also makes the name easier to remember, increasing the odds that people will visit and pass the site along to their networks.
In recent years, more businesses have opted for 4-letter combinations of easily pronounceable domains. In addition to being incredibly memorable, this is also due to the ability for domains to hold aftermarket value. That is, if the business fails, the domain can still be sold. One very popular 4-letter pattern is c-v-c-v , exemplified by Snap and Meta.
Don’t Miss: How To Use My Domain Name
How To Register Your Website’s Domain Name
When you register a domain name for your site, you make it a lot easier for people to find you, ensuring that you reap the branding and marketing benefits of having an online presence.
A domain name is the address that visitors type into their browser address bar to arrive at your website. It replaces an IP address: a random, unique string of numbers that specifies where your sites files are located. While a website domain can be an investment, you can also find one for free, especially if you purchase it with hosting.
In this post, youll learn everything you need to know about registering your websites domain name either for free or for a low cost.
I Have A Domain Name With A Different Registrar Can I Transfer It To Domaincom
Yes. You can transfer either the domain registration or simply update the DNS at your current registrar to point to your Domain.com hosting account, or both. We would recommend both hosting and maintaining the domain registration with us in order to ensure the optimum support experience.Learn more about transferring your domain to Domain.com, or start your transfer now.
You May Like: What Is A Reasonable Price For A Domain Name
How To Buy A Website Domain For Ever
As we explained, domain names are not for complete sale. Essentially, you are reserving domain name usage for a set period . But you can keep renewing your domain name as many times as you want to.
While you cannot buy it out for good from a registrar, you can hold on to your domain name for as long as you are paying your renewal fee.
Enter The Name Servers Into Your Registrar’s Settings For Your Domain
Once you have the list of name servers, go to your domain nameregistrar and log into their system. You will obviously need the login name and password that you created when you first registered your domain.
Once logged in, you will need to look for some option to either set your domain’s name servers or change them. Every registrar has adifferent way of doing this, and there is no standard method, so it’s not possible for me to give you a detailed blow-by-blow account ofhow to get to the appropriate screen. What I’ll do instead is give you some idea of what to look for.
In general, try the following to get to the page on your registrar’s site that lets you modify the name servers:
Find a way to list all your domains in the registrar’s site. Sometimes this can be found in a “My Domains” page, or a “Domain Manager” page,or something similarly named.
Select the domains for which you want to set the name servers. Sometimes this involves putting a tick into a boxbeside your domain name in the list of names. Alternatively, if you only have one domain name, you may even beable to click the domain name to get to the settings screen.
Once you manage to find the correct page to change your name servers, you will probably see a form that lets you enter thingslike your “Primary Name Server”, “Secondary Name Server”, “Tertiary Name Server” and maybe even more . The exact words used may not be the same, but it should mean basically your first name server, second name server, andso on.
Don’t Miss: What Top Level Domains Are Available
Run A Domain Name Search
Now that you have found a registrar through which to register your domain, the next step is to perform a domain name search.
When choosing a domain name, make sure to pick the right domain extension as well its the suffix at the end of a web address. Domain name extensions are also referred to as top-level domains .
There are different types of domain extensions available, such as:
- Country Code Top-Level Domain . This kind of TLD represents a specific country, letting both users and search engines know that a site is designed for visitors from a particular region. An example of this is the .us domain, which is the ccTLD for the United States.
- Sponsored Top-Level Domain . Its a type of TLD restricted to certain types of groups and organizations. Some of sTLD examples include .mil, .gov, and .edu.
- Generic Top-Level Domain . Its the most common type of TLD it doesnt rely on a country code and can be used for general purposes. A few examples of gTLDs include .com, .org, and .net. This category also includes new extensions, such as .xyz, .club, and .online.
When deciding on the extension that is suitable for your domain, look for a TLD that represents the purpose of your website. Choosing the wrong suffix can confuse visitors and make your brand name prone to being misinterpreted.
How To Register A Domain Name For Your Website
If you want to build a website, you need to buy a domain name. Registering one can be a daunting task for newcomers, but our helpful guide walks you through the process.
Since 2004, I’ve penned gadget- and video game-related nerd-copy for a variety of publications, including the late, great 1UP Laptop Parenting Sync Wise Bread and WWE. I now apply that knowledge and skillset as the Managing Editor of PCMag‘s Apps & Gaming team.
My career has taken me through an eclectic assortment of fields, and connected me with people from all walks of life. This experience includes construction, professional cooking, podcasting, and, of course, writing. Ive been typing up geeky takes since 2009, ultimately landing a freelancing position at PCMag. This blossomed into a full-time tech analyst position in 2021, where I lend my personal insight on the matters of web hosting, streaming music, mobile apps, and video games.
You May Like: Where Is The Best Place To Purchase A Domain Name
Protect Your Brand With Multiple Domains
Even if you manage to snag a coveted .com address, you might consider purchasing other TLD variations and setting up redirects. You can even go a step further and buy common misspellings of your domain name that way, youre not missing out on traffic lost due to user error.
You can apply this strategy to social media as well. Even if you dont think youll use Twitter, you might want to grab a decent handle if one is available. That way, youll be ready if you ever decide to tweet, and youll prevent anyone else from taking that username.
Related: 5 Reasons You Need More Than One Domain
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: What Does A Domain Name Cost
Find A Credible Domain Registrar
A domain registrar is a company that is responsible for registering and managing domain names. Its accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers , a non-profit organization that controls the rules and regulations of website domain name registration.
Choosing a reliable domain registrar is crucial because it can impact a project or business for years. Pick the wrong one and you might end up paying hidden fees or even get scammed. For example, there have been cases where a domain registrar pressures users into purchasing domain names similar to the ones they hold under false pretenses.
It can be challenging to pick from hundreds of domain registrars out there as they all offer similar services. Therefore, consider the following when choosing a registrar:
As we mentioned earlier, people can also purchase a custom domain from a hosting company that offers domain registration services, like Hostinger.
In order to make a website, it may be more convenient to buy web hostingand domain name from the same provider.
Here at Hostinger, we offer low upfront and renewal costs for the most popular domain names and a dedicated 24/7 support team ready to assist you.
If you buy a domain name at Hostinger, it comes with free domain privacy protection. This feature can help hide specific details from being discovered through WHOIS domain lookup tools.
Whats more, we have a web domain checker the perfect tool to buy a domain.