Everything You Need To Know About Custom Domains
Imagine that every time you wanted to visit Google, you had to type its IP address into your browser instead of its domain name. It would be a lot more difficult to remember and type out 209.85.231.104 than Google.com. Same with 128.242.245.116 for Twitter.com and 208.80.152.2 for Wikipedia.com.
Seriously, if I asked you to close your eyes and repeat back one of those IP addresses, you probably couldnt but I bet you could repeat back every domain name.
Thats the beauty of domain names they’re a simpler alternative for remembering and identifying websites, acting like a home address for websites on the internet. They tell visitors where different sites live so they can easily find and return to them.
To get visitors on your site and keep them coming back, you need a domain name thats unique, short, and easy to memorize and spell. Thankfully, you dont have to leave this up to chance. Instead, you can purchase and register a custom domain for your site.
In this post, well discuss what a custom domain is, how to get one, and how much they cost. Lets get started.
Got Any Tips On Finding A Good Domain Name
You bet. While it’s really easy to register a domain, having a good domain strategy helps you register the best domain name possible. Here are some hints:Make it easy to remember. This is why many businesses get domains with their business names in them. Some people even choose their business name only after they have a domain they like.Don’t register one that’s trademarked, copyrighted, or being used by another company. This can lead to losing the domain and legal problems.Shorter is usually better because they’re easier for customers to remember. It’s also easier to get matching usernames for Facebook, Twitter and any other social media accounts you have.Got a local business? Include your neighborhood, city or country in your domain so local customers can quickly see where you are. Check the list of geographic domain extensions .berlin .nyc to see if there’s one for your area.Avoid numbers or hyphens. Anyone who hears your web address won’t know if you’re using a numeral 5 or “five”. If your business name has a number in it, register both versions with the number and with the number spelled out .Get more than one. As traffic to your website increases, you may attract then attention of copycats who’ll snatch up similar domain names in hopes of drawing traffic away from you. Register similar or misspelled domains early so this won’t be an issue later.
Some Important Notes About This Method
While the Gmail part of this method is 100% free, there are some caveats to this method in that youll need to already have email hosting to make it work. Typically, you would get this through your web host if you have a website.
For example, if you host your website with Bluehost, Bluehost also helps you create your own custom email address as part of its service .
If you dont own a domain, heres a quick tool you can use to find out if the domain name youre interested in is available:
Once you set up your email address with Bluehost, the method in this tutorial would let you use Gmail to send/receive those emails at no extra cost. Unfortunately, already having this email hosting is a basic requirement for the free method.
For both creating your website and setting up the custom email account to use with Gmail, we recommend Bluehost. Plans start at just $2.75 per month and that includes hosting your website, hosting your email account, plus a free domain name.
If you dont need a website, another option would be to purchase email hosting through your domain registrar. For example, if you registered your domain through Namecheap, Namecheap sells a cheap email hosting service starting at just $0.79 $0.46 per month.
For the rest of this tutorial, well use Bluehost for our example screenshots. However, the same basic principles will apply to any host the interface will just be a little different.
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Any Additional Tips For Choosing My Domain Name
There are a few things that can help you choose your domain name:
#1 Is it brandable? For example, if you make a site about poetry then best-poetry-website.net is not a good choice: poetryacademy.com or poetryfall.com is much better.
#2 Is it memorable? Short, punchy and clear domain names are much easier to remember. If your domain name is too fuzzy, too long or spelled in a strange way, visitors may forget it.
#3 Is it catchy? You want a domain name that rolls off the tongue, describes what you does and sticks in the head. Coming up with a cool name can be a bit tough since there are more than 200 million active domain names in the world right now but dont give up.
Theres one rule that always applies to domain names: If you like it, go for it.
How Do I Get Custom Domain Emails
Using your custom domain name in your email address can build your brand and create a sense of trustthroughout your customer communications. Website.com Elite plans and above include professional emails at your domain name anda mailbox to store your emails. You can read your emails anywhere, or even set up emails to be accessed on your phone!
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What Does Website Mean
A website is a group of web pages under a website name that is available publicly on the internet. A website typically has a cohesive goal ortype, including ecommerce, portfolio site, informative blog, About Us landing page, etc.
We believe every individual or business deserves to have a website. Our name is Website.com for a reason – we aim to be the ultimate providerof websites for any need. That’s why our tools give you the freedom to make a free website at any skill level.
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.
Read Also: How Much Should A Domain Name Cost Per Year
Can I Create An Online Store For Free
Yes! With a free Website.com plan, you’ll have the ecommerce tools to set up your online store and add products right away.You have the option to add advanced functionality and marketing features as your business expands.
We’re committed to helping you get online and grow your business, which is why Website.com doesn’t take any commissions on your sales.
Search Your Desired Name
Once youve chosen your domain registrar, search to see if your desired domain name is available. If it is, you can add it to your cart and skip to step 4. If its taken, then move on to the next step.
For the sake of this demo, lets say I want to build a lifestyle blog with the domain name afitzgerald.com. After a search, I see its already registered, so Ill have to keep looking.
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How To Program A Website Yourself
This is the supreme discipline: opening the editor and starting to code. Those who need total liberty will have to make the page themselves. You do need patience for this, and for beginners, it is usually overwhelming .
A good place to start are websites like Codecademy, Mozilla, or W2Schools, which have step-by-step tutorials for beginners. But expect a long journey before your website is ready.
In this case, it is not possible to give a price in general, since it depends on the project. Above all, it will be much more expensive if you need to hire a programmer: paying the $8-10 a month for a website builder will always be cheaper than what any designer or agency will charge for an hour of work.
Some favorites are NetBeans, Aptana Studio or Brackets. All allow at least HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, and are free. Another option is Webflow, which is a visual source code editor.
Brackets screenshot
- The learning curve is steep.
- The costs are hard to calculate.
- Requires a lot of study and implementation time.
For All Terminal Equipment
From laptop to smartphone – your new website will always be displayed clearly! The homepage designs have been optimized for all display sizes.
Creating an own home pages too hard for you? Not with Own-Free-Website.com. In just 2 minutes you can create your own free website. Own-Free-Website lets you harness your creativity. Using it is a piece of cake and you don’t need any kind of programming knowledge. Choose a professional design from the templates and you’re ready to go.
With Own-Free-Website you get a guestbook, hit counter, survey function and much more. Your own website is free and you can get started right away. A simple and easy-to-use website sandbox will let you create websites in no time. Sign up for a free account and get up to 1 GB of free web space for your own website.
And should you run out of space for your free website, you have the possibility of extending your site with a premium pack. So what are you waiting for? Creating an own website was never easier. Sign up and start creating your very own website.
Also Check: Average Domain Name Price
Make It Brandable Not Generic
Creative, memorable domain names are always better than generic ones. After all, your domain name is how people will find, remember, and spread the word about your business on the internet. Its much better to have something that aligns with your brand instead of a domain name thats made up of a bunch of general keywords.
For example, can you tell the difference between cheapcarinsurance.com and affordableautoinsurance.com? Which one would you trust when it comes to buying insurance? Probably neither. Both sound a little spammy, and theyre terribly generic.
On the other hand, youll probably know where the domain names progressive.com or geico.com are going to point you to. Those companies have invested in their brands, and theyve used them in their domain names. You can trust that these sites are legitimate.
Even if you havent built up trust and loyalty yet, you can start by choosing a strong domain name that fits your brand.
How To Choose The Right Domain Name
When choosing a domain name, it should be:
- Relevant to your content, service or business
- Easy to remember keep it short and catchy
- Easy to pronounce
- Easy to spell
- Not a violation of someone elses trademark
Shorter names make better domain names they are easier to type and less susceptible to mistakes. Longer domain names, on the other hand, have an advantage when it comes to keywords and search engines give preferences to keywords that are also found in your domain name.
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Search For Your Domain Name’s Availability
Once you have found the right domain registrar for you, you’ll need to search for your domain name using the registrar’s search bar. There are millions of domain names out there, with thousands more added daily.
If you have your heart set on a domain name before doing a search, you might be disappointed to find it is already taken. Keep an open mind and incorporate important keywords into your domain when appropriate.
How To Register Your Website’s Domain Name
The first domain name in history was Symbolics.com, which was registered on March 15, 1985. Today, there are more than 300 million domain names, with millions more added each year. A domain name is essentially the address that visitors will type into their browser address bar to arrive at your website.
Domain names allow users to easily connect to other computer IP addresses by typing in an address like “Google.com” instead of Google’s numerical IP address of “74.125.239.116.” In other words, domain names make our lives a lot easier.
Your domain name is an important part of establishing your brand. No two domain names can be exactly alike, although they can be similar. Ideally, your domain name will be unique and distinctive, so users don’t confuse it with other domain names or different businesses.
You might be wondering isn’t a domain name, then, simply a website? Although they are similar, domain names and websites have important differences. Your domain name is the address for your website it is what people use to find your website, which consists of pages, images, and other files.
Choosing and registering a domain name is often the first step when building a website. Read on to learn how to register a domain name.
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Start Using Gmail With Your Own Domain Today
With the methods in this post, you can get the convenience of Gmail with the professionalism and brandability of your own custom email address.
If you already have a website and email hosting, you can use the first method to use Gmail with your custom domain name for free.
If you dont have email hosting already and/or you want to completely separate your custom email address from your free Gmail address, you might want to pay for Google Workspace instead.
Still have any questions about how to use Gmail with your own domain name? Ask us in the comments!
Free guide
Setting Up The Website Support Channels And Billing System
Once you choose your dedicated service and have it set up, youre ready to go! Well, not just yet, though. You need to create a website that will be the face of your company.
Moreover, youll have to step up other systems before starting to sell. In fact, youll need billing and client management tools.
That means that you should have a system that will handle customer inquiries, such as Zendesk, OTRS, and Kayako.
The majority of new web hosting companies start off by offering only email support. Over time, with their growth, they start adding other services as well.
Also Check: Buy And Sell Domains For Profit
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.