How To Get My Domain Name

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How To Choose A Domain Name For Your Website

There is one simple rule when it comes to choosing a domain name.

You have to love it.

Thats it.

Thats the rule that is written in stone. The rest of what you read below will simply be guidelines on what you should consider.

You never want to choose a domain name that you regret using 3 months later.

It sucks.

Its happened to me before and while you can change your domain name later, its a pain to make sure that all of your content redirects to the right site and that you grab all new social media handles.

So your best bet is to pick a name that you love right now.

Got it?

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.

Also Check: How To Transfer Domain From Vistaprint

Key Things To Consider When Considering A New Registrar

1. FeaturesEvery registrar offers a suite of features and services, such as privacy protection, web hosting and email. If you dont have all the features you want with your current registrar, you may wish to take advantage of a better package offered by a different registrar.

In addition to comparing features, its also important to look at how the features and services are priced and implemented:

• Price: Do the features you need cost extra or are they included as part of the package?
• Ease of use: Are the features you need easy to implement? Will they require manual effort on your part, or does the registrar offer some simple tools to make things like domain management easier for you?
• Support: Will customer support be available when you need it?
• Provider: Who provides the features theyre selling? Some registrars offer all their own services for email and web hosting, while others partner with third-party providers.

2. PriceLook critically at the price structure of your domain registrar, because each one is different. Some registrars might charge extra fees for services you consider critical, while others may offer the same services at no additional charge. Some may offer a low price for the first year, but then have much higher renewal rates. If your domain registrar is charging you more than you would be charged elsewhere, you may want to look for a less expensive registrar.

Read Also: Can I Buy A Domain Through Shopify

How To Get A Domain Name From Domaincom

Domain.com is a reputable domain registrar, launched in 1998. Over 1.2 million websites are registered with them.

Domain.com features the most popular top level domains such as .com, .net, .org, .co, along with over 25 county-specific domain extensions .

They are mostly selling affordable domain names with most names priced in the $9.99-$12.99/year range. If you are lucky, you can also steal a deal and buy your domain name for as low as $2.99/year.

For that price you get:

• 1-year domain ownership.
• Free SSL certificate for extra security.
• Automatic email forwarding to your domain.
• DNS registration and management tools.

Also, you can purchase extra Domain Privacy+Protection for your domain . In this case, your personal details will not be displayed publicly in the WHOIS/ICANN directories. Plus, the registrar will also run extra security checks.

Sounds sweet? Heres how to register a domain name on Domain.com.

Step 1: Run a quick search to verify that the domain name you are eying is available.

Step 2: Pick your domain extension. Go for .com since its the most familiar option among users and thus, people, tend to type .com before trying anything else.

Your choice gets automatically added to your cart with a 2-year privacy protection subscription. This ones optional, so you can remove it during the next step. Also, you can change your domain renewal period from one year to five years.

Moreover, you can pick some add-on services such as:

Read Also: What Is Active Directory Domain Services

Choose The Right Domain Extension

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.

What Is Whois Domain Privacy

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers is the organization that governs the rules and regulations for domain name registrations. ICANN requires, for various reasons including to determine ownership of a domain should a dispute transpire, that a publicly accessible database be maintained that contains the contact information of all domain registrants. In layman’s terms this means your domain name will be searchable by anyone and those search results will include your full name, physical address and other contact information. In order to protect your privacy in this regard, MyDomain offers WHOIS Domain Privacy which then masks your information using our own and implements a procedure for you to control who is able to then gain access to your contact information via a WHOIS search. Whenever you buy a domain name, no matter what domain name registration service you use, you are subject to the same ICANN rules, for this reason it is important to use a reputable service who cares about your privacy. MyDomain always recommends enabling WHOIS Domain Privacy.

Also Check: How Much Does A Custom Domain Cost

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.

How To Get A Free Domain Name: 4 Legit Ways In 2022

Elizabeth Kraus has more than a decade of first-hand experience building and growing a boutique digital marketing agency and double that in small and mid-size business marketing management. She provides expert answers to questions related to branding, content marketing, web development, email, social media, and SEO.

This article is part of a larger series on Small Business Websites.

Buying a domain name outright for your website or professional email address only costs about $12 per year. However, there are a few ways to get one at no cost. For example, domains often come included when bundled with other services. Well show you how to get a free domain name for your business and discuss each methods benefits to help you determine which option is best for you.

If you are planning to build a WordPress website, one of the easiest ways to get a free domain for the first year is with a web hosting service like Bluehost. They offer low-cost yet feature-rich plans packed with free extras, including a domain, from five to unlimited email addresses and a WordPress website builder, starting from $2.95 per month.

The other legitimate ways to get a domain name for free include:

Recommended Reading: How To Change Your Domain On Shopify

Should I Register More Than One Domain

Yes! Registering multiple domain names protects your brand from domain squatters or copycats who may try to register alternative versions of your domain. For example, if you own coffeelovers.com, you may want to consider registering coffeelovers.net and coffeelovers.org as well. You may want to consider misspelled versions of your domain name too.

Want to learn more?

Weâve got you covered. Here’s a few articles about searching for a domain we think you’ll find pretty helpful:

Option D: How To Get A Domain Free Through A Domain Name Registrar

If youre only interested in a domain name registrar that offers a 100% free domain, you can opt for a free domain name registrar. However, it can result in untrustworthy-looking domain extensions, such as .tk, as opposed to a standard .com. Before using one of these alternative domain extensions for your business, consider whether saving $12 a year is worth the risk of not presenting your brand in the best way to prospects and customers.

• Dot TK

If you need a domain for your business website or professional email, dont use a free one. Its not credible for businesses and may even pose security issues to your online operations. Instead, get a free domain with other services you need, such as WordPress web hosting through Bluehost, a site builder plan like Squarespace or Weebly, or dedicated email hosting through IONOS. Alternatively, purchase your domain from any of the best domain registrars.

If youre running on a truly tight budget, we suggest that you build your business website on a subdomain through a free website builder, such as yourbusiness.weebly.com. It looks more credible as people are far more familiar with Weebly, and its 100% free to use. As you grow, you can get a free domain through a Weebly paid plan, which is the cheapest on the market with ad-free plans starting at $12 per month.

Read Also: How Much Does It Cost To Renew A Domain Name

How To Find Where Your Domain Is Registered

Your first step is to locate your domain by finding out where its registered. The fastest and easiest way to do this is through an awesome and free tool called WHOIS.While the term is capitalized, WHOIS is not an acronym but rather shorthand for the question, Who is responsible for this domain name? Since there is no global database for all domain registrations, WHOIS search engines can look up data across multiple registrars.Who.is is a popular WHOIS search engine that will give you plenty of helpful information in regard to your domain: registrar information, expiration date, and nameservers.

Free Privacy Protection Forever

GoDaddy domains include free privacy protection** to guard your personal info by replacing it with proxy info in the public WHOIS directory. We also prevent spam with private email for domain inquiries. Plus, our Full and Ultimate Domain Protection plans include protection against domain hijackers and prevention of honest mistakes like accidental expirations and transfers. They also guard against unauthorized access.

Recommended Reading: Can I Transfer My Godaddy Domain To Another Host

How To Buy A Domain Name: Domain Registration Guide

What you need to know about domain names, how to choose the right one, and the steps to take to check if a domain name is available and to register your domain.

If you want to start a blog or a new online business, youll need to register a domain name, the name for your website. Getting the right domain for your needs might sound technical at first, but the process is pretty simple.

This domain registration guide will tell you what you need to know about domain name extensions, how to choose the right one for your needs, and the steps youll need to take to check if a domain name is available and to register your domain.

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.

Also Check: Where Do I Register A Domain Name

Components Of A Domain Name: Top Level Domain Vs Second

Every domain name comprises of two different levels: top-level domain and a second-level domain .

The top-level domain is the last part of the domain name. Also known as domain suffixes or domain extensions, the TLD is meant to communicate the location or purpose of your small business website.

TLDs are made available by ICANN, which controls the registries as mentioned above.

Second-level domain , also known as 2LD, refers to the section before the TLD.

The SLD is the heart of a domain names identity, hence making it the most valuable portion of the domain name.

For example, for our domain www.godaddy.com, GoDaddy is the SLD. And in this case, GoDaddy is also the most valuable part of the entire domain name. SLD usually reinforces the identity of your brand or business website. While the maximum length of an SLD is 63 characters, most people would go for a domain name that can be easily remembered.

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.

Read Also: How Much Wix Domain Cost

Check The Domain History

You might have your sights set on a completely fresh domain name. However, theres also a possibility that the domain youd like to purchase had a previous owner.

Its best to investigate the domains history as this could affect your sites search engine rankings. There are a few tools you can use to check on past owners, including Wayback Machine and Whoxy:

This is useful information to know. For instance, you wouldnt want to buy a domain name that was previously running an unethical business, as it might hurt your reputation.

How To Set Up Your Free Domain Name

You can get a free domain through a variety of ways, either by getting a web hosting plan, a site builder, an email hosting plan, or through a free domain registrar. Here are some of the options available and the pros and cons of each to help identify the perfect way to set up your website with a free domain name available.

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