Follow These Steps To Buy A Domain Name:
Domain Names Identify Your Business
It sounds simple but its more than just a name for your business on the web, it tells users something about your business. If youre already an established brand, then people will recognize your domain name because it is already associated with your brand.
If not though, your domain name should tell users on the web something relevant about what you do. If you sell candy, for instance, you wouldnt want the domain name sneakers.com, that would only confuse users .
Its not enough to be catchy or unique, your domain name should really mean something to the business youre in so that when users see it they go oh thats what they do. It isnt possible to convey everything in a domain name, but the right name will set you up on the right foot for getting users to click on your site and give you their business and their trust.
Even if you dont have a brand identity yet, having a domain name that is the same as the brand youre trying to establish will help you build user trust and repeat business in the long run.
Look at all your favorite companies and the domain names they own. They are almost instantly recognizable by those domain names alone. This is the type of recognition you want to build for your brand.
If you already have an established brand, then its pretty much imperative that your domain name matches that brand name.
What Exactly Is A Domain Name Of A Website
A domain name is alike to your address on the world wide web. Think of it as if someone wanted to visit your house they would use a map to find your street and house number a domain name is the same type of thing in cyberspace.
See the illustration below which uses the analogy of a house address and land to explain the concept of your domain name as your street address, your digital website as the physical house, and the land it rests upon as your web hosting account.
When someone types in your domain name into their internet browser software or a search engine such as Google your website will appear.
A URL is basically the same as your full domain names home page. An URL example is www.yourcompany.com. However, an URL also can refer pages within your website such as www.yourcompany.com/shop etc.
URLs are used to send people to specific websites via a hyperlink or clickable link. You can include URL in email messages, text messages, web pages, and social media.
NOTE: An IP address not a domain name. It is a set of 32 numbers, written as four numbers separated by periods which indicates is a computers internet address connection point to the worldwide web. An example is 127.0.0.1 Web host servers and some electronic devices use IP numbers for technical network configurations.
Domain Name Extensions Suffixes Explained
Also here are my pro tips on what to do if your desired domain name.COM is not available.
FAQ: What is a TLD domain name and it is necessary?
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Add A Country To The Domain Name
A timeless example of this is nissan.com. No, its not owned by Nissan, the automaker. Registered in 1994, it is owned by Uzi Nissan who ran Nissan Computer Corp. The automaker brought a lawsuit in 2000 to get the domain. It lost!
They, however, got creative and added usa to their name and theyve lived happily ever since. Country names are good but city names are cool too: loudLagos.com can showcase the bustling lifestyle of the city alongside the brand name.
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.
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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.
How Much Does A Domain Name Cost
The cost of your domain name will depend on a couple of factors:
- The extension you use.
- Where you buy the domain name a reputable registrar, a private seller or an aftermarket service?
- The length of time youre registering the domain for as well as additional options chosen such as domain privacy, etc.
In general, regular domain names range between $10 and $20 per year, depending on the extension and available discounts or special promos that registrars have active.
If youre looking into buying a premium domain, you can expect to pay upwards of hundreds of dollars. However, there is no definitive answer nor a minimum range for premium domains.
The best way to get a feel for the domain cost is to enter the potential domain name in GoDaddys Domain Appraisals tool and to browse sites like Afternic and GoDaddys Domain Name Aftermarket.
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I Need To Contact Another Registrant But Their Contact Information Is Unavailable In The Public Whois How Do I Contact Them
Registrars are permitted and sometimes required to mask otherwise publicly available registrant contact information in the Registration Data Directory Service ). The registrar of the domain name related to the registrant you are trying to contact should provide a web form or other type of communication method for you to contact a registrant if their contact information is unavailable publicly. Use to lookup the registrar of the domain name related to the registrant you would like to contact.
Determine What Youre Willing To Pay
Now that you know the domain is available, and before you contact the owner, decide what youre willing to pay for it. This can be tricky since theres no agreed-upon value of a domain, but you can get an idea of what prices are by searching through a domain marketplace like Flippas.
Here are some factors to pay attention to when figuring out how to buy a domain that is taken:
- Keywords Domains with popular keywords in them are worth more because of their ability to rank high on Google and other search engines.
- Generic value A domain that can be used by almost any business within a given industry has generic value.
- Brandability When a domain lacks generic value or a strong keyword, its main value lies in its brandability. Short, memorable names that are easy to spell are easy to build a brand around.
- Age Older domains are generally considered more valuable.
- Length Or rather shortness. The shorter the domain, the more valuable. Usually, landing your hands on a three-letter .com will cost you a lot.
Before you approach the current owner of the domain you want, choose both the base amount youre willing to offer and the maximum amount youre willing to pay they can even be the same number if you want for the domain before you approach the owner.
Look for domains of similar length, similar keyword value, generic value, and similar age, this should help you estimate the price to a degree, and also decide if you can actually afford that domain in the first place.
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How Can You Find Domain Information Using Gandis Whois Lookup Tool
Though there is an abundance of WHOIS lookup tools online, we have decided to create our own free WHOIS domain lookup tool which we have designed to be as simple to use as possible. All you have to do after opening our WHOIS lookup page is to search for the domain you want to know more about. The WHOIS domain lookup tool will output every piece of information you need, presented in a clear and readable way.
WHOIS lookup is the easiest way to check the availability of a domain. If it happens to be taken, you always have the option to contact its owner using their contact information you find using our WHOIS lookup tool, and maybe directly negotiate a purchase. The WHOIS domain lookup might indicate that the domain name youre looking for points to an abandoned website. In that case, it might simply be available for purchase again when it reaches its expiration date. In this case, you will be able to acquire it just like you would any other new domain name.
Should You Add Domain Privacy
Another consideration to keep in mind is to decide whether you want to add domain privacy or not. Domain privacy allows you to hide your private information so nobody can see it when they perform a WHOIS lookup. This is useful as it protects your information from getting scraped and used by online scammers and spammers.
You can easily add domain privacy during the domain registration process.
GoDaddy offers full domain privacy and protection packages for both individuals and businesses. This service protects your private information, prevents domain-related spam, and it can also safeguard your website from accidental loss of domain due to expired credit card, potential hacking attempts, and deter domain hijackers.
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How To Register A Domain Name With Wix
Wix is one of the most widely-used website builders, having powered over 200 million users worldwide. While it allows creating a website for free, you will need a premium plan to connect a custom domain name.
The price for a .com domain name is $12.95/year. Note that Wixs list of extensions is not as vast as other registrars, as it doesnt support such TLDs as .io, .tech, or .live. However, more generic options are available.
Navigate to Wixs domains page to begin the domain name search. Then, enter a term using a domain extension and press Search. If someone else has taken the name, it will suggest other options with different TLDs.
After finding a domain name you like, click Get It Now. The next step is to choose between getting a premium website builder plan or simply buying a domain name. The first option will make the domain registration fee free of charge.
For illustration purposes, we will go with the latter route by clicking Get It Now. At this stage, you will have to sign up for a Wix account.
Now, pick whether to register the domain name for one, two, or three years. Wix offers a discount for longer registration periods.
Then fill in the contact information, including your name, phone number, email, address, and postal code.
If youre going to manage the domain and handle any tech-related issues it encounters, check the Tech Contact Info and Admin Contact Info boxes below. Otherwise, fill in the fields with the relevant contact details.
Negotiating With A Domain Name Owner
If youve consulted WHOIS databases or otherwise discovered the identity of the domain name owner, the next step for those looking to purchase a domain name is to negotiate with the owner.
Its important to remember that as long as an owners domain registration hasnt expired, they retain complete control over the name and can either sell it or keep it, as desired. Sometimes, even if youve discovered the perfect domain name, the owner might be unwilling to put it up for sale. Circumstances like these arise rather frequently for that reason, its important to keep an open mind and be willing to entertain the idea of registering an alternative name.
Send an email or otherwise get in contact with the owner by using the information youve acquired through research. Reach out with a positive attitude. Even if there wont be any face-to-face negotiations, its important to be friendly. Once you agree to the deal, exchange payment for ownership.
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Pay For And Transfer Ownership Of The Domain
Next, youll need to pay for the domain and transfer its ownership. I cannot stress enough the importance of using a third party to facilitate this process. You want to feel protected when you are paying for the domain and actually walk away with the domain you worked so hard to obtain. The seller wants to know they can trust your payment.
GoDaddy offers a trusted aftermarket platform for transacting domain name sales. You can also use alternative services such as Escrow.com, which hold the money until the name is accepted and confirmed to be in the buyers account, and clear the funds for the seller prior to authorizing the movement of the domain to the buyer.
Be Strategic In How You Pick A Domain Name
There are a few important things to consider before buying a domain name. Primarily, it should reflect the name of your business or organization. And whenever possible, buy an available domain name before selecting the name of a business. Its much easier and cheaper to do it this way. The business name you select may already have a claimed domain name, so it could be very expensive to purchase it.
Here are a few more considerations you should make:
Length – Really long domain names are hard to remember. Really short ones probably arent descriptive enough. Try to keep them somewhere in between so theyre easy for your audience to use. A good strategy is to keep your domain name one or two words in length.
Extensions – The most popular domain name extension is .com. If someone knows the name of your organization, they might try typing it with .com expecting to visit your website. So whenever possible, you want to at least own that one. There are many other options to consider, such as .org, .info and .us.
Specificity – Try to think about the keywords that people might use to search for your organization. If you can include them in your domain name, it will help it rank higher in search engines, which means your audience will have an easier time finding you.
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How To Get A Domain Name: Register And Buy Properly
The first step in buying a great website domain name is to determine your desired name which is not always as simple as it sounds then to find out of your desired domain name is available.
Keep reading for my top tips on how to determine your best domain name and how to easily find out if it is available.
How To Backorder A Domain
The process outlined above is the easiest way to buy a domain name that is taken, but sometimes that isnt possible. If you still cant get the domain you want, your other option is to backorder it.
Backordering means that you wait for a domains ownership to expire and purchase it the moment it becomes available.
However, keeping track of a domains expiration date manually can be tricky, so youll want to use a backordering service.
Some of the popular options:
However, even if you use a backordering service, theres no guarantee that youll get the domain you want. The current owner still has to let their ownership of the domain expire, and many hosting services give owners an extra grace period where they can renew after the official expiration date. Typically, thats 75 extra days.
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