Wednesday, March 27, 2024

How To Buy A Domain Name From Google

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Choose The Right Domain Extension

How To Buy A Domain Name From Google Domains

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. Roughly 43% of all domains have a .com extension, making it what people expect to see the most.

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.

Finally, avoid those niche domain name extensions like .space, .club, .pizza, unless you really think theyll enhance your brand.

Google Domains Vs Namecheap

If youre trying to choose between Google Domains vs Namecheap, the picture isnt quite as clear.

Namecheap offers a competitive service with:

  • Regular prices that are still competitive with Google Domains, while also offering generous first-year discounts.
  • Free included domain privacy, just like Google Domains.
  • A complementary hosting service ,
  • A larger selection of domain extensions.

Google Domains still has plenty going for it, like its integration with other Google services and Google DNS. But honestly, you wont go wrong with either Namecheap or Google Domains.

In fact, when we polled our Twitter followers about their favorite registrars, Namecheap actually beat out Google Domains:

Avoid Numbers And Hyphens

Imagine asking your 10 friends to spell or pronounce a domain name filled with numbers and dashes. It wont work.

If you choose a domain name with these elements, youre likely going to lose traffic to people who cant remember your domain or effectively tell someone else how to find it. We probably wouldnt have Facebook today if you had to go to Face-Book.com to reach the site.

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Namecheap: Cheap Prices Decent Service

NameCheap is as cheap as the name suggests. They offer great deals starting at just $8.88 for most .com domains, with some more obscure extensions even being under a dollar. Their DNS isnt bad either, offering free WhoIs protection and a robust DNS provider thats easy to manage and transfer.

They have a bulk search option that lets you search up to 50 domain names at once, so if you have a whole list of ideas, you can enter them all in, see which ones might be taken, and check the prices for different TLDs.

They do offer managed WordPress hosting through EasyWP, though its probably best to go with a better WordPress provider and forward the domain to that site.

Image Credits: Maxx-Studio/Shutterstock

Can I Transfer My Domain Name To Hostinger

Google Domain Zone File

Yes, its possible to transfer domain names from another registrar to Hostinger.

However, there are a few requirements before transferring a domain to your web hosting account:

  • More than 60 days must have passed from the registration or last transfer date.
  • You must have the domains auth-code from your current registrar.
  • The domains WHOIS privacy protection has to be disabled.
  • You have to point your domain name to Hostinger.
  • The domains status cannot be Pending Delete or Redemption.

To transfer a domain to Hostinger, go to the Hostinger Transfer Domain page and enter your domain name. Then click Transfer.

After finishing the order and entering the domain EPP code, the transfer process will begin and youll receive an email regarding the domain transfer that you will have to confirm.

The domain registration will also be renewed for a year after the transfer, except for ccTLDs like .es, .co.uk, or .com.br.

Keep in mind that your website might be unavailable during the DNS changes, which can take up to 24 hours to propagate fully.

Read Also: How To Choose A Domain Name

Godaddy: Domains And Hosting Higher Prices

GoDaddy is a great option if you want web hosting along with your domain, or want it all to be managed under the same umbrella. Generally, its ideal to keep your domain separate from your hosting provider in case youd like to switch to a different provider at some point. But GoDaddy is a domain registrar first and a web hosting company second, so you can always transfer the domain to a different registrar or change the DNS to point to a new host.

GoDaddy offers great hosting services, a custom website builder, and managed WordPress hosting, along with many templates to help you get started. Theyre a little pricey, and their web host can be a bit clunky for anything complex, but if youre building a simple website itll do the job.

GoDaddys prices seem low at first, but they go up after the first year. At full price, their .com domains are $15 per year, but its the price you pay for being on the largest domain registrar.

Getting Your Site On Google Search

  • 1Understand the process. Sites are added to the Google Search index automatically as Google’s bots scour the web for new content. You don’t need to actively do anything to submit your site to Google, but there are several things you can do to increase your chances of being indexed.
  • 2Design your site with a clear organization. The organization and hierarchy of your website has a big impact on whether or not your content will be indexed by Google. This means that your pages should have a manageable number of links, that all of your content is easily reachable with single links,
  • 3Make sure your content is original and helpful. If you have well-written, helpful content on your site, you have a higher chance of being indexed by Google. Avoid copying and pasting content from other sites, and make sure all of your content is clear, concise, and relates to your site’s purpose. Include words and phrases that readers would use to find your site.
  • Make sure that important words and names are written out in text, and not just shown in pictures. Google cannot index words that are embedded in pictures.
  • 4Create a sitemap. A sitemap is a file that contains the layout of your site. This allows the Google bots to quickly see all of your site’s pages, allowing it to index much more effectively. for instructions on creating a sitemap from scratch or by using a tool.
  • You’ll be asked to include all versions of your site, including “www.” versions and non-“www.” versions.
  • Recommended Reading: How To Find Ip Address For A Domain Name

    How Do I Choose The Best Domain Name

    Great question! Here’s a few core things to consider when choosing your new domain name:

  • Choose a name that’s creative and unique. This may be the differentiation needed to stand out amongst competitors. Take a domain name like BeanStreet.coffee, for example.
  • Keep your name easy to remember as well. The sweet spot is ideally one or two words that capture the essence of your website. CoffeeLove.club is easier to remember than CoffeeAndCaffeineAddicts.com, for example.
  • If you’re a local business, consider adding your region to your domain name, such as .nyc or .asia, to help your site’s visibility.
  • Consider buying more than one domain. As your site’s popularity increases, you don’t want copycats to purchase similar domains before you do.
  • And lastly, avoid numbers, hyphens, or symbols of any kind.
  • Cons Of Having A Domain With Google:

    How To Purchase A Domain Name On Google Domains

    So, what are the disadvantages, if any, of registering a domain with Google Domains?

    1. High Cost Compared to Other Registration Services:

    Compared to other domain registrars, Google Domains does not come cheap. A dot-com domain costs $12 per year.

    Moreover, Google Domains does not offer discounts for long-term contracts, e.g. if you register a domain for 5 years, you still pay $12 per year.

    The table below compares the prices of .COM domains at Google Domains and NameCheap. Note the small discount that NameCheap offers if you get a domain for two and three years.

    Company
    $10.88 $10.78

    Other domain registrars that also provide web hosting services offer substantial discounts on your first year of registration. The same can be said for web hosts that offer free domain accounts for a year.

    If you go through our NameCheap Review, youll find out that NameCheap has consistently low renewal rates on multi-year contracts.

    This is not true with Google Domains, though. If you choose to register a domain with the company, youll have to pay separately for hosting on Google App Engine.

    If you get an app running on Google App Engine, and decide to renew your domain with Google Domains, you still have to pay the normal rate for your domain.

    Given that your usage may not exceed Google App Engines free tier, this doesnt seem bad at all, particularly if youre just starting out and dont have that many users just yet.

    2. Limited Coverage:

    Also Check: How To Redirect Domain To Another Domain

    If Its Not A Parked Domain Find The Owners Contact Information

    If you find that the domain has a fully built-out site, then its not a parked domain. The domain is being used by a real business. Luckily, you still have recourse if you want to buy the domain.

    First, determine how likely it is for the owner to sell the domain to you. Does the website look like its been recently updated? Is it under construction? How many snapshots does it have on the Wayback Machine? If the website looks outdated or has just a few Wayback Machien snapshots, its more likely youll successfully start a conversation with the owner.

    For example, the domain mellowbee.com looks like a good candidate because its had only a few Wayback Machine snapshots over the years and the current website is made up of one page.

    The owners email is at the bottom, so its easy to reach out.

    If you cant find the owners contact information on the site, try searching for the owner through ICANN. Keep in mind that a good portion of domain name owners hide their contact information for privacy reasons.

    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.

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    Not As Many Smaller Extensions

    Google Domains supports 100+ domain extensions, including all of the popular options. However, other domain registrars support even more.

    For example, Namecheap offers 400+ extensions.

    Does this difference matter? Not for most people because the majority of people will purchase a mainstream domain extension .

    But if youre in the market for something out there like a .vodka domain name, you might need to go outside Google Domains.

    Use A Domain Name Generator

    Google Domains Go Live in India

    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.

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    How To Verify A Google Domain

    While buying a Google Domain name may seem like the last step, it is not. You must verify your Google Domain registration. You must do so within 15 days, or else your domain would become inactive.

    After you buy a Google domain, you’ll get an email from Google domain to verify your email address. Once you open the email, click Verify Email Now, and you’d be all set.

    Consider What Do You Do And Where You Do It

    Your domain name should be indicative of your venture. To start, list out the following information to get a better idea of what you can possibly incorporate in your domain:

    • Business industry
    • Geographic location
    • Words that describe your business

    Use that list to brainstorm a variety of short, memorable and representative domain names. Be sure to check out industry- and geo-specific domain extensions including .catering and .nyc.

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    Dont Stunt Your Growth

    When choosing a domain name, it pays to think ahead.

    For example, you might want to avoid including the one product you sell now in your domain name if you plan to expand your product line in the future. Likewise, including a location is your domain name is a smart move if youre planning to do business locally but could stunt your online growth if youre planning to expand to new areas.

    Give yourself room to grow.

    How Much Does A Domain Name Cost

    How To Purchase A Domain Name In Google Domains? Tutorial

    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.

    Also Check: How Much Does A Domain Cost On Squarespace

    How To Buy A Domain Name In Google Domains

    Google Domains is one of the most popular domain registrars. If you’re looking to grab a new domain, here’s how to buy one on Google Domains.

    If you’re trying to start a new blog or create a new website, you’ll need to register a domain namethe name of your website. Registering a domain name is easy, and you can do so through web registrars like Google Domains.

    Accredited by ICANN, Google Domains supports domain registration, DNS hosting, domain forwarding, easy integration with top website builders, and more.

    However, why choose Google Domains over other services? Before we discuss the pros and cons of using Google Domains, heres a look at the steps to buy a domain using Google Domains.

    Google Domains Is Strictly A Domain Registration Service

    They allow you to claim, register, transfer & manage domain names plus allow your domain to resolve via their DNS servers.

    Google does not offer complementary services such as web hosting in the traditional sense.

    Google does have a simple website builder with , but for most is too limited. They also have email and business services through . Google Workspace does require a custom domain name to get started.

    Ill explore this point more later below, but its important to understand Googles purpose with Google Domains.

    They want getting online simpler & less daunting for very small and/or less tech-savvy businesses that means getting these businesses a domain name.

    And even further, it means making the process of getting a domain as simple & transparent as possible.

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    Renew The Domain Name

    Whether you purchased the domain through a registrar or purchased it from another person, you will eventually need to renew your domain. When you renew it will depend on the terms of your subscription: whether its monthly, annual, biannual, or triennial.

    Renewing your domain name is critical to ensure 99% uptime and prevent any user experience hiccups. If youre afraid of missing the renewal date, dont fear most registrars will email you to notify you of the upcoming renewal.

    Start Your Business With Shopify

    Google Domains Review: Pros vs Cons (+ How to Register a Domain Name)

    Try Shopify for free, and explore all the tools and services you need to start, run, and grow your business.

    Whether you’re starting a new business, or looking to upgrade your domain name, you’re in luck. Registering a domain name involves just a few short steps. Despite it being a straightforward process, you don’t want to rush it.

    Switching domain names after you launch is something you want to avoid when possible. Doing so can negatively impact your search engine rankings and make it harder for users to find your website.

    Whether youre starting a blog, showcasing your portfolio online, or opening an online store, your domain acts as the primary reference point for users looking to find your website, making it inseparable from your brand.

    Thats why its crucial to consider your domain name carefully, pick one with long-term potential, and make sure that youve registered it correctly. We walk you through the exact process on how to register a domain name in 4 simple steps.

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