Why Is A Good Domain Name Important
Your domain is important for several reasons. However, the two biggest reasons you want a good name are for brand recognition and local area searches.
Having someone quickly identify your branding is critical in 2021. People are quick to recognize names like Apple, Amazon, or Google. However, try making TechCompanyTwenty a household name and youll see that its futile.
Its a bit on the long side, extremely generic, and just not that catchy.
You should also try to include keywords in your domain name. For instance, if your website is about life in New York, but your domain name contains North Carolina, youre going to have credibility issues.
If your domain name doesnt match your brand name, customers are going to feel a disconnect.
When you build your website the right way, the site content and domain name work together to amplify your message and get your name and brand out to the masses.
Add Your Domain To Hosting
Now after you have purchased domain and hosting, then you need to add your domain name to your hosting provider.
NOTE
The following process of connecting the domain to the hosting account is in the case of Hostinger Hosting.
For adding your domain name to your hosting, you first need to log in to your cPanel or hPanel.
After logging in, you need to click on Add website, as you can see in the image, given below.
After this, you have to write your domain name and also need to set your password and then click on Add website, as you can see in the image, given below.
Once you do this, Hostinger will say that your domain name is not pointing to our nameservers and it will also display its nameservers, just copy those 2 nameservers in your notepad.
Now you need to point or connect your domain to your hosting
How To Buy A Website Domain Name
Luckily, if you sign up for a hosting account with GreenGeeks, you get a free domain name. We also offer website domain purchasing within your account.
This means that buying domain names is possible anytime you want, right from your GreenGeeks account. Prices vary depending on the extension you choose and the number of years you register the domain.
Since GreenGeeks acts as a domain registrar, it is simple and easy to get your free domain name or to buy a domain name from us. Of course, this is only one way to go about a domain name, its also possible to purchase one directly from another person.
Read Also: Is Art A Good Domain
Building A Website Once You Register A Domain Name
Once you register your domain name for your website, the next step is choosing what type of website you will build, and how you will build it.
There are many ways to build a website, some of them take a lot of specialized knowledge or coding expertise. Other methods are simple enough for anyone to do themselves.
If you are looking to build a website for your own local business, or perhaps a club or organization you belong to, then WordPress is a great way for people without any experience to get a website up and running in no time.
Likewise, if you want to build an affiliate website, or a content-based website, perhaps on a topic you enjoy or a hobby you have, then again using WordPress is probably the best way to get started.
eCommerce or sites with shopping cart capabilities are probably best built using a shopping cart script such as WooCcommerce, which we have other tutorials that you can follow.
Building a basic website is a lot easier than more people realize, as long as you are willing to learn some new skills along the way.
We have a ton of tutorials and help available to get you started. All you need is the willingness to do it. A few hours later, you could have something amazing up and running.
Create Your Own Website Or Blog Using The Domain
The best use of a domain after you register it is to start a blog or website on it. A blog is, in case you dont know, is a place or website that appears when someone types your domain name on the browsers address bar.
90% of the domain registrations online lead to a blog of the owner. This can be:
Recommended Reading: 21+ Lucrative Benefits Of Blogging Non-Bloggers Are Missing Out In Life
If youve already got the domain name, I suggest you to create a blog around it. Blogging is the best form of online business and you can quickly make a good income out of your skills and knowledge.
This is a great way to pay off your debts and start a life independently. I say this, because I have done this. Not only did I payoff my loans, I helped my father renovate his offline business all through my blogging income.
There are tons of ways to make money blogging like monetization through ads, affiliate marketing , selling services and even creating your own products . You only need traffic from search engines.
Also read:
So here is what you need to do to build a blog using your domain name. I have divided the whole process into 3 easy steps.
Read Also: How To Decide Domain Name
Do It Yourself With A Content Management System
If youve got some skill, you can build a site using a popular CMS like WordPress.
Want to build a WordPress site but dont feel like handling all the technical stuff on your own? You might want to check out our easier way to get started with WordPress.
GoDaddys Managed WordPress Hosting features a Quick Start Wizard to get your new WordPress website up and running in a snap. Featuring eight pre-built customizable pages, easy drag-and-drop page building, and quick access to thousands of WordPress plugins, theres virtually no limit to what you can create.
Youll also get 24/7 support, core software updates and patches, free daily backups and one-click restore, a free domain with an annual plan and more.
Now How To Build A Website After Buying Domain In Readymade Platforms
In Weebly or WIX. You have to create a website on your own.
Here is the catch, Although you will be creating your website on your own but you dont require coding knowledge while working with Weebly or WIX.
You only have to drag and drop. Website creation is so simple with Wix. WIX is the premium service whereas Weebly is free.
But on top of all WordPress and Joomla are the best online CMS.
Read Also: How Expensive Is A Domain Name
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.
Add Domain Id Protection
When you register a domain name with ICANN, you must provide your contact information including your name, phone number, physical address, and email address.
As soon as your domain name is registered, this contact information becomes available to the public unless you pay for domain privacy through your domain registrar. This domain privacy will shield your information from view, keeping your personal information safe from spammers or worse, identity thieves.
Once you’ve got the domain name in hand, you’re ready to find hosting and build your website. Consider a free CMS, like HubSpot, to design your website, strategize for SEO, and create a blog.
Recommended Reading: How To Find Domain Registrar
Youve Bought A Domain Name Now Do This
So, these were the 10 fun ways for everyone wondering what to do with their purchased domain names.
The possibilities are endless, you just have to decide what you have your passion in and what can be profitable for you on the long run.
The best option to use your purchased domain is to make a website/blog around it. Eventually, this can become your own online business and you could add more elements to it in the future.
So, what have you thought about using your domain?
Are you still worried about what to do with your domain? Got any idea that I didnt cover?
P.S.If you liked this article, you would also like the article 10 mistakes to avoid when building a successful blog from scratch.
How To Register A Domain Name For Free
Looking for a free domain name? There are several domain registrars, website hosting providers, and website builders offering free domain names, typically with the purchase of another service or with no cost but some customization limitations.
Wix is a popular drag-and-drop website builder that allows you to register a free domain name with the stipulation that it includes Wix’s name as well. This means that although you get your domain name for free, it will read yourdomainname.wix.com. This is a trade-off to consider when registering a domain name for free.
Best For
Wix is a great choice for first-time website owners who are looking to start a small personal brand under the Wix subdomain. You can eventually upgrade to a custom domain if you end up enjoying Wixs platform. We dont recommend it if youre planning to blog regularly, as there are better choices out there, such as WordPress.com.
Like Wix, Weebly offers a simple website builder with a free domain name that will appear as yourwebsite.weebly.com. You will have limited access to the site-building features, but you will save annual fees for domain names. This is a great option for temporary or basic websites.
Best For
Best For
Bluehost is an excellent option for small-to-medium business owners who want to choose a custom domain and choose their own CMS. With Bluehost, you can opt for any CMS platform, including CMS Hub, WordPress , or even Joomla.
Best For
Also Check: Can I Buy Domain From Godaddy And Host Elsewhere
If The Domain Is Taken Input The Url In Your Browser And Access The Website
What do you do if the domain isnt available? We have good news. You still have a chance at buying it.
First up, access the URL on your browser. Its possible its a parked domain, which means that someone bought it for the purpose of reselling it. Usually, in these cases, you can easily submit a request for purchase. Heres one example of a parked domain at greatstore.com:
When you click on the top banner, youll be taken to a form where you can reach out to a sales team to buy the domain.
Once there, it may or may not be easy to tell who the domain parking authority is. In this case, its GoDaddy. If you head to the GoDaddy website and search for the domain, you can easily find pricing information and then immediately add it to your cart if its within your budget.
Complete the domain buying process just as you would for any other domain.
How To Choose A Domain Name
Since your domain name can have a major impact on your online presence, what you choose is a vital first step in building your brand. Finding the perfect domain name, however, can be challenging.
While its true that there are millions of domain names available, many of the popular domain names that are easy to remember are taken. Fortunately, you can still get what you need if you go through a simple process and use a bit of imagination.
Also Check: What To Do If Your Domain Name Is Taken
Find Your Domain Name On Your Chosen Domain Registrar Website
Weve already covered choosing your domain registrar. Once you do, look up your chosen domain name to see if its already taken. If it is, the domain registrar will present alternatives either for the domain itself or for the TLD.
It may offer choices such as .net, .org, and .info. Generally, we recommend sticking with a .com TLD because its highly recognizable.
Redirect Your Domain To Your Social Media Profiles
If you just dont want to invest in anything yet want to effectively use your parked domain, you can simply login to your domain registrars dashboard and redirect the domain to your social profiles like Twitter profile or Facebook page.
This can be done free of charge.
For example, https://www.facebook.com/swadhinagrawalofficial can become https://swadh.in
Also Check: How Much Should A Domain Name Cost
Choose A Website Archetype
There are many types of websites that you can build and this is the part where you need to select which one to build. For instance, you can build a blog, an eCommerce site, a social network, or something else.
Regardless, you need to figure out which features you need , and what your website will focus on as a topic. Then design a website around that topic.
At this point all, thats left is to start creating content or adding products to your storefront.
How Much Does A Domain Name Cost
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.
Don’t Miss: Is WordPress A Domain Host
Dont Let Your Domain Expire
While this might seem like an obvious one, youd be surprised by the amount of people who let their domains expire without even realising it has happened and we dont just mean hobbyists and small business owners either.
Back in 2003 software giant Microsoft forgot to renew its Hotmail.co.uk domain name. Luckily for Microsoft the guy that re-registered it after expiry was kind enough hand it back. Disaster averted just.
The chances are, whatever happened, a huge company like Microsoft would have got their domain name back eventually anyway, but for hobbyists and small business owners this could prove a lot more difficult and stressful especially if you havent gone through the proper copyright and trademark procedures.
The easy way to avoid all this is to just remember you need to renew your domain, and do it nice and early. Most domain registrars, like us at LCN, give you 90 days notice prior to expiry.
Not only that, but in most cases you can register or renew your domain name for up to 10 years, usually whilst making some big savings for renewing over a longer period.
As well as setting up auto-renewal, you can make sure your contact details are always up to date, this way we can always reach you to notify you of any services close to expiry.
What To Do After Buying A Domain Name: 6 Key Actions
Moving is so relaxing said no one ever. On top of having to physically move all your stuff, theres a ton of admin tasks to handle like changing your address, forwarding your mail, setting up your home phone, letting your friends and family know your new address, changing your address on all of your essential documentsthe list goes on.
Buying and setting up a domain can feel eerily similar to buying a house and moving all your stuff. Once youve finally chosen your domain name and purchased it, it may feel like the hard part is over, but theres still a lot of setup and admin that needs to be done.
If youre feeling overwhelmed, dont worry. This post will cover the six key actions you need to focus on once youve bought your domain. This list will guide you through the most important steps, like figuring out a domain-specific email address and setting up a dedicated business phone system.
Lets get started!
Also Check: How To Buy Domain Names And Sell For A Profit