How To Register A Domain Name For Your Website
If you want to build a website, you need to buy a domain name. Registering one can be a daunting task for newcomers, but our helpful guide walks you through the process.
Since 2004, I’ve penned gadget- and video game-related nerd-copy for a variety of publications, including the late, great 1UP Laptop Parenting Sync Wise Bread and WWE. I now apply that knowledge and skillset as the Managing Editor of PCMag‘s Apps & Gaming team.
My career has taken me through an eclectic assortment of fields, and connected me with people from all walks of life. This experience includes construction, professional cooking, podcasting, and, of course, writing. Ive been typing up geeky takes since 2009, ultimately landing a freelancing position at PCMag. This blossomed into a full-time tech analyst position in 2021, where I lend my personal insight on the matters of web hosting, streaming music, mobile apps, and video games.
How Can Hostinger Offer Domains At No Cost
Hostinger has been recognized as an ICANN-accredited domain registrar for years. We partner with well-known registrars and have a huge user base.
At Hostinger, we believe that everyone globally should be able to access the power of the internet. So, we offer affordable hosting options and a domain at zero cost for any type of website.
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.
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Why A Good Domain Name Is Important
A domain name is your unique identifier among billions of other websites on the web. Thats why having a memorable and easy-to-type name is essential for having an online presence.
Your domain name serves as an extension of your personal or business name. In that sense it:
- Improves recognition and awareness.
- Adds extra credibility to your venture.
- Eventually boosts visitors recall.
Also, choosing a good domain name is important for SEO. Several years ago exact match domains were all the rage, but today most people choose brandable domain names.
Memorable domain names get typed to Google more frequently. Algorithms keep track of that and assign more authority to your website. As the branded search volume grows, your domain name earns extra authority points, so that it gets easier to rank for related keywords.
With that being said, lets move on to the how-to part.
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Build Your Business By Registering Your Domain
After weighing the benefits and drawbacks of free or paid domains, you should get started on your search for the perfect domain name. Domain names can go quickly and there’s a little more competition than Symbolics had in 1985 so it is important to register the one you want before it is too late.
Registering a domain name is quick and easy, but it does take some time to brainstorm the right name, select the optimal suffix, and find the right domain registrar for you. As such, there’s no better time than now to get started on registering your domain name.
Editor’s note: This post was originally published in February 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.
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How To Buy A Domain Name
While you can buy a domain name for your website, here are a couple of ways to get it for free:
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Register a free subdomain. A subdomain is a prefix on a domain name that connects independently functioning sites. Certain hosting platforms and site builders offer users a fully-functioning website for free with a customized subdomain. For example, when youcreate a Wix website you can publish it for free under the following URL structure: username.wixsite.com/siteaddress.
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Take advantage offree web hosting. Several hosting sites offer a free customized domain registration with purchase, enabling you to professional online presence without the domain name costs.
What To Do When Your Domain Name Is Taken
If your ideal domain is taken, you have two options. The first, and easiest, is to choose an entirely different domain name, especially if the domain is in active use.
If youre really set on a specific domain name, then the second option is to attempt to contact the owner and buy it from them directly. There are four steps to this process:
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Choose A Domain Name Registrar
Namecheap
Although cost is definitely a consideration, choosing a domain name registrar is a bit more complicated than looking for the cheapest option. Some low-cost domain name registrars may lack adequate privacy protections and, depending on your needs, you may want to consider using the same company to register your domain name and host your website. For instance, A2 Hosting and GoDaddy are also web hosting services, which means you have a one-stop shop for purchasing and registering your domain name and hosting your website.
On the flip side, you may be able to sign up for a web hosting service that also offers domain registration, such as DreamHost or HostGator. But it is important to read the fine print in these situations as the domain name registration may only be included for a year or two, after which point there may be additional fees involved. Not all web hosting companies give you the option of registering a domain name, however. In this case, youll need to purchase and register your domain name with one company and host your website with another company.
Why Is Whois Data Important
Every time a domain name is registered, registrars need to verify the identity of a domains owner or registrant. This information is important because any domain name disputes and technical issues will need to be resolved by the domain name owner.
Beyond this, WHOIS information is used by different parties in many different ways. In some cases, domain names may be put up for sale and having WHOIS information is a way to determine and generate leads in the sale of a domain name. WHOIS information can also be used by network administrators to combat spam, fraud, identify trademark infringement and track down registrants that may be engaged in damaging or illegal activities.
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How To Register Your Own Domain Name
One of the many reasons the internet is so powerful is because it gives nearly anyone the ability to share their voice and knowledge with the rest of the world. A particularly popular way to make yourself known is to set up a website. You get full control over the platform, unlike with social media.
These days many services, such as WordPress or Blogger, offer websites on commercial domains, but in a lot of cases it makes more sense to have your website on your own domaina personal place on the internet where you are in complete control of whats published and how it looks. Heres how to register your own domain name.
When setting up your personal domain name, you have a lot of options and many vendors to choose from. You can search around to see what works best for you and your needsor look over our suggestions belowbut the following steps outline the gist of what you need to do.
Add The Domain To Your Cart And Complete The Registration Process
If your chosen domain is available, congrats! All you have to do now is add it to your cart and complete the registration process. If you dont yet have an account with the registrar, youll be prompted to sign up.
Be sure to follow the steps we outlined in the How to Register Your Domain Name section to ensure youve successfully registered your domain name.
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Why Would You Want To Look Up The Registrar Of A Domain Name
It can be useful to know who the registrar of a domain name is in order to manage the registration status of that domain name. Domain names typically need to have a renewal fee paid yearly so knowing who the registrar is important to know.
In many cases domain name registrars also manage for a domain name, so in order to make DNS changes you need to know who the registrar is.
Purchase Your Domain Name
If you’ve done the hard work of finding a good domain name that is available then the hard part is over.
You’ll simply purchase your domain name with the domain registrar of your choice and complete the transaction.
Keep in mind most domain name registrars will try to upsell you a lot of additional services that may or my not be necessary for you or your business. Also remember that you don’t have to host your website at the same place you purchase your domain name.
One additional service you may want to opt-in for if you have privacy concerns is “WHOIS privacy” which prevents making your contact information public record.
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Policy For Domain Expiration
Once a domain has expired, anyone else can purchase it and run their own website on that URL, locking out your business in the process. If it happens, youll be forced to buy back the domain name at a higher cost, or you may permanently lose its access.
Before you get a domain name, check the domain expiration policy of your registrar. Though most companies automatically auto-renew your domain, you must confirm it before the purchase.
Post-expiration, reputed registration companies also lock the purchased domain to your account for a grace period, so you can renew it.
Step : Open A Business Bank Account & Credit Card
Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.
When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.
Additionally, learning how to build business credit can help you get and other financing in your business’s name , better interest rates, higher lines of credit, and more.
Open a business bank account
Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:
- Makes accounting and tax filing easier.
Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.
Open net 30 accounts
Net 30 accounts are used to establish and build business credit as well as increase business cash flow. With a net 30 account, businesses buy goods and repay the full balance within a 30-day term.
NetMany net 30 credit vendors report to the major business credit bureaus . This is how businesses build business credit so they can qualify for credit cards and other lines of credit.
Recommended: Read our best net 30 vendors, guide and start building business credit.
Get a business credit card
Getting a business credit card helps you:
- Build your company’s credit history, which can be useful to raise money later on.
Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from Divvy and build your business credit quickly.
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How To Register Your Websites 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 Googles 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 dont confuse it with other domain names or different businesses.
You might be wondering isnt 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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The Importance Of A Good Domain Name
A good domain name will represent your brand online and act as your companys home on the web. Your domain and website will help reach new audiences and convince them to return. There are three main areas in which picking a good domain name immediately affects your business:
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It ensures a good first impression. Your website will often be a potential customers first exposure to your business. A personalized domain name will help your audience perceive you as credible, reliable, and authoritative in your professional field.
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Its a solid foundation for brand building. Your domain name can help enhance your company’s name recognition if it stands out, is memorable and in tune with the rest of your branding assets.
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Itll improve your brands SEO potential. While Google doesnt determine website ranking based on a domain name alone, a good one can positively affect your sitesSEO . A strong domain will invite more people to click on your website from a search engine results page , increasing your authority.
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Automated Renewals And Reminders
Seeing as how you register a domain for one or more years, it stands to reason that at some point youll have to renew your registration.
Luckily, the best domain registrar options offer automated renewal services as long as you put a credit card on file. We also like registrars that give you some grace period after the domain expires.
Now, after a few years you may have new credit cards, so you also want to ensure that the registrar will send out reminders that a domain is about to expire.
Important: If you dont renew a domain name it eventually gets released to the public for purchase . Someone else can then buy the domain and either keep it or try to sell it back to you for a large sum of money. This is not uncommon, so make sure your credit card is up-to-date and you activate auto-renewals.
What Is A Domain Registrar Explained For Beginners
What is a domain registrar? Lets make this easy a domain registrar helps you purchase and manage your own domain name.
A domain name is the address a website uses on the Internet. For example, ours is themeisle.com.
If you want to make a website, you need a domain name, which means that youll need to interact with a domain registrar in some way.
Lets get into more detail
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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 Choose A Domain Registrar
There are four main factors to consider when choosing a domain registrar:
- Privacy: When you register a domain, the WHOIS database records your name and contact information, including your address . By default, this can be looked up easily by anyone with an internet connection. The best domain registrars bundle WHOIS privacy into every domain registration, keeping your personal information safe.
- Domain transfers: There are two instances when you may want to transfer your domain. The most likely is youre buying a website hosting package that includes a free domain. The other scenario is if you become unhappy with your domain registrar. Either way, it should be easy to transfer your domain to a new site.
- Domain expiration policies: The best domain registrars give a grace period ranging from one day to a full week. This means if you have an issue with payment, youll have time to sort it out before your domain becomes available for someone else to buy.
- Cost: This is a little more complicated than understanding the original sale price of your domain. Some domain registrars charge higher fees for renewal than for registration, so you need to consider how the cost will rise over time. You may also be able to mitigate this price increase, or at least delay it, by registering your domain for multiple years at a time. Domains can be registered for up to ten years at a time.
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