Sunday, March 24, 2024

How To Buy And Own A Domain Name

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Complete The Domain Registration

How to BUY & SELL Domain Names! | The Journey

As soon as you have completed the payment, youll be redirected to the control panel. Inside, there will be a setup box that youll need to fill out to complete the domain name registration.

Youll need to fill in all the fields with the correct details, such as your name, address, andcontact information. This data will be stored on WHOIS, the official domain ownership database.

After submitting your details, the domain registration will be processed.

Its possible to modify the domain ownership details using the domain management section within the control panel. Once the changes are made, you will have to confirm them via email.

Find A Domain Name Registrar

The non-profit Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers oversees the entire system of domain names, and it allows outside companies, called domain registrars, to sell and manage domain names. You will need to register your domain name through a registrar.

Some of the most popular domain registrars include GoDaddy, Bluehost, and Domain.com, although there are many more to choose from. Be sure to carefully consider pricing and policies for each one before choosing your domain registrar, as it will be managing your domain name.

How To Register A Domain Name With Bluehost

Bluehost is a web hosting company based in the United States. Like Hostinger, it also offers a domain registration service. It even includes a free domain name for one year in its most affordable subscription, which costs $3.95/month.

Besides the generic TLDs, this hosting company has a wide array of alternative extensions for various niches such as .ink, .photo, and .guru. While theyre not as popular as .com, they can be an excellent touch to make your website stand out.

To get a domain name from Bluehost, open the Domains page on the site. Then insert a keyword paired with your desired domain name extension on the search bar.

The page will reveal if the domain name is available. If not, choose one of the other options below.

A .com extension costs $12.99/year, which is the average price. On the other hand, the privacy and protection service is $11.88/year.

Click Proceed to start the checkout process. Bluehost will offer to bundle the domain name with a 30-day free trial for a shared web hosting service and a free SSL certificate . An email service plan with Microsoft 365 is also available, ranging between $2.99/month and $3.99/month.

Press one of the Proceed buttons to complete the order. Fill in the billing information and choose a method to pay for the domain name registration fee.

Once done, Bluehost will send a verification email to your inbox to validate the domain ownership. Click on the link, and the domain name should now be usable.

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Keep It Short And Simple

Its an obvious strategy, but registering a domain name that is short and memorable isnt as easy as you might think. The fewer words or characters your domain name has, the more likely your customers will spell your domain correctly and find your site. This method might require some creativity, but it will pay off.

On the simple front, make sure your domain name is easy to spell and avoid using numbers and hyphens.

Renew The Domain Name

How to Buy and Set Up your own 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.

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How Should I Choose A Domain Name

Choosing a domain name is a vital step in setting up your web presence because it represents your brand or business online. We recommend choosing a short, easily pronounceable domain name so that visitors can easily access your website. Before picking the domain name, do necessary research on relevant keywords so that you can choose the apt name. While your domain can include letters, numbers, or hyphens, avoid any special characters so that itâs easy to remember and type into a web browser.

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How To Register A Domain Name: 4 Options

To get a domain name, youll need to call dibs with ICANN. ICANN is a global non-profit authority that maintains records on which domain and IP address belongs to whom and manages access to them.

But ICANN doesnt provide registration services, it only maintains records. Thats where domain name registrars come into play.

The primary role of a register is to:

  • Coordinate claims on different domain names.
  • Match specific domain names with Domain Name System nameservers.
  • Ensure that there are no duplicate domain names.

Technically speaking, you are not buying a domain name from a registrar company, but reserve its usage for a specified time. You can pay to reserve a domain for 1-10 years at a time, depending on the registrar. After your initial subscription expires, youll need to renew it and pay a fee again. You can re-purchase your domain name over and over again.

When registering a domain name, you sign a long-term lease of your domain . You can read more about the domain costs here.

In practice, all of the above is much simpler than you think as we will show below.

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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.

How To Register A Domain Name For Free

How to Buy A Website Domain Name From Namecheap (for your Website)

Youve heard the rumor about free domain names. Is it true?

Yes! There are actually ways to get a free domain name for your website.

First, you can get a free domain name for a web hosting provider such as Bluehost.

They offer every new user a 1-year free domain with any of their hosting plans. You can either register a brand new domain name with them or transfer a domain name, registered with another company.

Some other hosting providers who also have a 1-year free domain policy:

  • InMotion Hosting

Note: The downside of getting a domain name from a hosting provider is more expensive renewals. After a free year, most hosting providers will charge a higher renewal fee, compared to domain registrars.

Read Also: How Do I Sell A Domain Name I Own

How To Buy A Pre

If youve ever looked into buying or renting a house, you know that location is often the top priority. You want a place that your friends can find, not one thats in the middle of nowhere.

A website without a domain name is similar to that. Its kind of like having a home in the middle of nowhere. Nobody will be able to find it.

This is why its important to get a domain name for your website, and why a domain name is also commonly called a web address. Its what people use to find your site.

There are two ways to buy a domain name for your website.

  • You can buy it brand new. Buying a new domain name is simple. You just visit a hosting provider like HostPapa, enter the name of the domain you want, and, if its available, buy it.
  • You can buy one thats pre-owned. If the domain name you want is already owned by someone else, that doesnt mean its not available.

In this article, well focus on how to buy a pre-owned domain name. But first, theres a brief discussion about whether a free domain name is a good idea, and, we provide a few domain shopping tips that you may find helpful.

Lets get started!

Complete Control Over Your Domain

There are some registrars that only provide partial control over your domain.

This could include the registrar adding their own contact information to portions of your domain details , or even preventing you from making critical updates to your domain settings .

Your potential domain provider should be able to tell you their policies on this before you register your domain name, so dont be afraid to ask if youre going to have full control of your own domain before you register it.

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How Will Having A Custom Email Address Benefit My Business

Having business email addresses with your domain name attached is important for building your brand. This will establish your identity with customers. The more you communicate with them using your custom email address, it strengthens their trust, and demonstrates your professionalism. Additionally, buying a domain and configuring custom email addresses also increases the reputation of your domain and reduces the risk of your emails getting marked as spam at the recipient’s end.

How Do You Set Up A Professional Email Signature

How to Buy a Domain Name (+ tip to get it for FREE, 2021 Updated)

If youre using Gmail, set up your email signature by clicking the gear icon in the upper right-hand corner. Then select Settings and scroll down to find the Signature box, where you can input your signature.

Alternatively, you can design a professional email signature using a signature generator like WiseStamp. WiseStamp lets you create a customized professional email signature that includes images, links, icons, and morewith no coding knowledge. Learn more about the best email signature generators.

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Find A Custom Domain For Your Site

Whether youre working on a blog, an online portfolio, or an online shop, Mailchimp offers custom domains that can make all the difference to your online presence. And theres no reason to stop there. Use Mailchimp to build your website and connect it to our all-in-one marketing platform to really make your offerings stand out from the rest.

Learn more about how to get a free domain name from Mailchimp and how our offer compares to the competition.

Bring your brand to life with your own website. Design from scratch, connect a domain, analyze traffic, and optimize for SEO.

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:

  • Sign up with a hosting provider that offers a free domain with your website
  • Create your website through a site builder like WordPress, Tumblr, or Squarespace
  • Get a free domain with a TLD that offers free domains
  • 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.

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    Renewing A Domain Lease

    While you cannot buy a domain name, you can maintain your lease as long as your registrar exists. The first step is, of course, making the initial payment to lease your chosen domain name. Registration typically lasts for a year, so you’ll need to keep the date of your initial registration in mind. Before the year ends, find the option on your registrar’s website to renew the lease and pay a new charge.

    You can preempt the expiration of your domain lease in this manner. There are other options to make it easier, however. For instance, most registrars offer an auto-renewal option, but vigilance is still necessary even when you rely on auto-renewal. Many registrants change their credit cards and forget to update the payment information associated with their lease, at which point they lose the domain.

    Long-Term Leases

    Another option is taking out the maximum lease that ICANN allows. ICANN is the international body that governs domains and related considerations, and they typically allow registration from one to 10 years. A term of 10 years may be more cost-effective and reduce any worries of losing the lease. While it’s not a lifetime lease, it is more enduring than a standard one-year lease. However, that raises questions about the registrars that offer leases beyond 10 years.

    Lifetime Leases

    What’s The Best Option?

    Get Started Online With The Right Domain Name

    How to Buy a Domain Name at Hostinger

    Your domain name sets the tone for your online presence, and finding the right one can take time and effort. But, with options ranging from entirely free to five figures or more, anyone on just about any budget can buy a domain name to launch a business or a brand.

    Domain.com has the tools you need to continue building your business into a success.

    Kristin Crabb

    Content Marketing Strategist working in the digital marketing industry. Skilled in SEO-focused content creation, keyword research and competitive analysis, interactive content, web content optimization, and landing page creation.

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    Where To Buy A Domain Name

    When you buy a domain name, you do so through a Domain Registrar that manages the registration of that domain name. For most registrars, youll buy the domain from them and then use a hosting provider to manage the website. Some companies provide both services.

    is a great tool for finding domains and integrates well with Googles mail services. Namecheap and Hover are other great options and offer good DNS support and mail hosting in addition to low prices on domains.

    You can also buy directly from your hosting provider , but if you want to switch providers, its generally more difficult as youll usually have to transfer the domain to another registrar, sometimes even having it locked down to that specific host.

    Choose A Domain Name That Reflects Your Brand

    Before you ever take out your wallet to buy a domain name, you must first create a custom domain name that accurately reflects your brand.

    Avoid dashes and numbers for the purpose of readability. If your domain name is already taken, you can add a service, product, pronoun, location, or action to the domain, such as buy or shop. These additions help you create a custom name without straying too far from your brand name. Examples include:

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    Connect Your Domain To A Cms

    This is an optional step but can help you manage your website with ease. A CMS, or content management system, gives you full mastery over your content. It’s easier now more than ever to connect your CMS to your domain name with HubSpot’s Custom Domain Connection.

    With this tool, you can connect a custom domain, establish your brand, and create a beautiful user-friendly website in minutes.

    Why Should I Own One

    How To Buy A Domain Name In 3 Easy Steps

    As I learned first-hand, having a custom domain gives you an instant credibility boost. It doesnt matter whether youre using a personal site to help you land a job, increase your visibility in your field or industry, find freelance gigs, showcase your work, or promote your brand: The more credibility you have, the better.

    Plus, custom domains are usually far easier to remember than generic ones. Imagine you told someone you met at a networking event to check out your site, janedoeportfolio.squarespace.com. Hell probably forget the link by the time he gets in front of his laptop. However, janedoe.bio will be a cinch to remember. These names also look much more sleek when you put them on business cards, in the header of your resume, or anywhere else you might be directing people to learn more about you.

    A domain that incorporates your name also helps others find you in search results. When someone enters your first and last name into Google, theyre much more likely to see your website if its domain matches their search. When you search Aja Frost, for example, my site is the first thing that comes up:

    This gives you the chance to really own the conversation around your personal brand, making sure people see what you want them to see first.

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    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.

    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, its also possible to activate 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.

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