The Low Down On Uptimes
If youre looking into web hosting, youll hear the term uptime guarantee a lot. Uptime, which is the percentage of time that a hosting service is up and running, will be guaranteed by various companies with a certain percentage of time to be up. That doesn’t mean they will definitely go down for the other percentage of the time, but they can say without fail that they will be up for at least that amount of time.
This is important is because you dont want your site constantly being unavailable or unreachable to your customers. Otherwise, why have a website at all? Quality brands like HostGator and Bluehost offer a more than 99% uptime guarantee, and thats really good for your business.
What Are Website Hosting Services And Which Is Right For You
Website hosting services are basically the plot of internet land that your website storefront sits on. If you have a website, it needs to be on the web, and these hosting services are the landlords that put up your site and keep it running so your customers can access and see it when they type in your URL.
There are different types of web hosting services that cater to the varying types of businesses. Some web hosting companies will build your entire website, while others will just give you the plot of land and the shovel and leave you to it. Depending on your business model and size, youll choose a hosting company based on the factors explained below.
Prepare And Send The Authorization Letter
In order to request a domain name, we request an authorization letter from your . Who this is depends on your organization type , but it is generally the highest ranking or highest elected official in your organization.
Use the appropriate template to prepare an authorization letter:
- Copy the template text into a document editor, then add the names and contact info for the people who will be your domain contacts. We require an administrative and a technical contact, and we recommend adding a security contact.
- Security contact details are made public, which allows people to report observed or potential security issues at your domain.
Once we receive your authorization letter, we will work to verify the authenticity of the request and will create .gov registrar accounts for each domain contact.
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Check For Trademark Infringement
Both major and minor brands alike take issue with others using their trademarked names. Even if youve just made an innocent mistake, the legal hassle involved in a lawsuit and having to rearrange your web presence could be costly.
You can avoid these situations by using a trademark lookup tool before you finalize your choice.
How To Set Up A Free Domain With Web Hosting Plans
DreamHosts shared hosting plans are an affordable way to get your site hosted .
Top WordPress web hosting companies like DreamHost and Bluehost include free domain registration in affordable shared hosting plans with other extras. For example, your SSL certificate that encrypts site visitor data is free, as are email addresses on your domain. Both providers also include a no-code WordPress page builder to make it easier for you to build your website.
To get your domain for free, simply choose which web host you want to use and select a plan. Both include domains in hosting plans starting at $2.95 a month the first year . During account setup, youll be prompted to enter the domain name you want to see if its available, and if it is, complete the checkout process to complete the domain registration process.
Here are the best overall web hosting providers for WordPress that come with a free domain, free email addresses, and a WordPress website builder:
Not sure which web host is right for you? Get the complete breakdown of the best web hosting companies for small businesses.
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How To Get A Domain Name For Free
To get a free domain name, you just need to purchase one of our Premium or Business shared hosting, WordPress hosting, or Cloud hosting plans. Free domain registration is available for the first year. The free domains include .com and other professional extensions to help establish your sites credibility.
What Are The Best Domain Name Registrars
There are a number of great ways to register a domain, including web hosting providers, such as DreamHost or GoDaddy and all-in-one website builders, such as Squarespace or Wix. However, if youre looking to solely register a new domain, the best domain name registrars include Namecheap, Domain.com and Google Domains. Learn more about the best domain name registrars.
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Why A Domain Name Matters
A good domain name will represent your brand online and act as your companys home on the web. A good domain name affects your business in three main areas:
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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. It helps users add value to your brand or business, by creating associations to your name and website.
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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 sites SEO . Visitors unaware of your brand could click on your website from a search engine results page if it matches their intent. For example, someone searching for backpacks will likely click on qualitypacks.com over an unfamiliar brand name.
When Does A Domain Expire What Happens When The Registration Of My Domain Name Expires
If you do not renew your domain registration before the end of the subscription, it will automatically expire. A domain can fall into a protected quarantine after its expiration and remain there for a limited period of time while only you, as its former owner, can renew it. The length of this quarantine depends on the type of the TLD and is not available for all domains. Renewing a domain from a quarantine requires an extra fee. Once the quarantine is over, anyone can register the expired domain.
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Claim Your Free Domain
Once your payment goes through, youll have the option to claim your free domain name.
Select this option unless you want to buy additional domains or connect other domains you own.
From there, Hostinger will walk you through the process of selecting a domain name thats available. You can search right on their site.
Hostinger offers domains with different extensions, including:
In most instances, a .com domain will be the only one I recommend. But there are two reasons why you might get an alternative domain extension: price and availability.
Getting a .site or .tech domain is cheaper than a .com extension. But in this case, youre getting a year for free anyways.
Price aside, .com domains will be better for the long-term success of your website.
I recommend getting your domain name set up right away for a few reasons.
- Sure, the chances are small, but someone else could grab your preferred domain name while you are hesitating.
- Youd be surprised how many people hesitate in picking a domain name and never come back to it. You already paid for the service, so force yourself to take this step to keep your project moving forward.
- Dont second-guess yourself about your name choice! If you made it this far, Im confident that you already gave quite a bit of thought about the domain name you want, so just pull the trigger and register your domain.
Option 2 Registering A Domain Through Godaddycom
GoDaddy is also known as a web hosting provider, but you can also buy a domain name from them.
Step 1: Look up a new domain name first. If you havent come up with a good name yet or are assessing different options, GoDaddy has a nice set of extra features to help you out.
You can use the Bulk Domain search to check a bunch of domain ideas for eligibility in a click. Or you can play around with their free domain name generator to get some alternative suggestions if your primary choice is already taken:
Also, if you are feeling very determined to get your desired domain for branding purposes, GoDaddy can try to broker a deal for you with the owner. But remember, the original owner may name any price they deem appropriate so in that case, youll be paying:
- Domain purchase fee to the seller.
- GoDaddy Domain Brokerage commission.
- The regular yearly subscription price for the selected domain and add-ons.
If you are running a small business, going into a heated negotiation with some cyber squatters may not be the best investment of your time and budgets.
Wait out and see if the other person forgets to renew their domain or abandons it so that you could snatch it then. GoDaddy has a Domain Backordering service where you can reserve your place in line for a specific domain. If theres more than one buyer, the domain goes on auction. If its just you only, you get it immediately.
Again, youd be pitched several upsells in case you change your mind.
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Four Ways To Get Your Own Tld Without Paying For It
- Shoreline Community College
When you build a website, your domain name is your identity. That’s why you want a website that uses a top-level domain like lifewire.com and not a subdomain of a provider’s domain like yourwebsite.yourhost.com. Having your own domain name looks more professional, and it makes your site easier to remember. You normally have to pay for that privilege, but we’ll show you four different ways to get a free domain name.
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
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Top Faqs From Our Readers
We come across a lot of the same questions from our readers. Here are some of the most commonly asked questions along with quick answers for your reference:
About how much does web hosting cost?
The package and type of service you get will determine how much you pay. Prices range anywhere from $2.99/month to around $10/month. For a more in-depth answer, check out the pricing and value section below.
Does The Country I Live In Effect My Domain Name
While there are country domain names you can use to tell people where your business is based, your location has no real effect on your domain name. When youre buying a domain name, you can choose country-specific domain names such as .it for Italy and .ir for Iran. However, you dont need to know your countrys domain extension or use it to create a website. No matter which country youre from, you can create a website using one of the standard domain extensions, including .com, .net, and .org.
One thing to remember is that certain country-specific domain extensions are only available to residents of that country. For example, you can only register a .it domain if youre a natural or legal citizen of the European Union, so you cant have an Italian domain for an American business. When it comes to .us domains, things are a bit different. Any company or individual thats licensed in or a citizen of the United States can register a .us domain, but these domains can also be registered by certain foreign organizations that have an interest in the United States.
In addition to country-specific domain extensions, there are also domain extensions that are designed for specific types of websites. Schools and other educational organizations often use .edu domains, while official government organizations use .gov domains. While these domains arent all restricted from being used by other organizations, its best to stick to a simple .com domain, so you dont confuse your audience.
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How To Register Your Website’s Domain Name
When you register a domain name for your site, you make it a lot easier for people to find you, ensuring that you reap the branding and marketing benefits of having an online presence.
A domain name is the address that visitors type into their browser address bar to arrive at your website. It replaces an IP address: a random, unique string of numbers that specifies where your sites files are located. While a website domain can be an investment, you can also find one for free, especially if you purchase it with hosting.
In this post, youll learn everything you need to know about registering your websites domain name either for free or for a low cost.
What Is The Renewal Cost Of My Domain
Although your domain name is free, it will have various renewal costs depending on which TLD you have chosen. Different domains all have different standard prices and they will not renew at the same rate. When it comes time to renew your domain, choosing a longer registration period will help save your money. You can find information on domain renewals here.
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What Is The Best Option To Get A Free Domain For My Business Website
While companies, such as Freenom and Dot TK, offer free domains, they are not secure nor do they look professional. For a free business website, your best bet is to sign up with a hosting provider or website builder that offers a free domain to new users. Keep in mind that the free domain is usually just for the first year or the length of the initial contract.
Whats The Best Way To Get A Free Domain Name
The best way to get domain names for free is through other services your business needs, such as web hosting. For example, Squarespace and Wix both include a domain for the first year in the all-in-one website builder and hosting plans, and DreamHost includes a free domain and unlimited free email addresses with purchase of its $2.95 per month Unlimited hosting plan.
Simply select a hosting plan, follow the prompts to search for a domain, select an available domain, and buy web hosting. Learn more about the process with our step-by-step instructions for business domain name registration.
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Free Domains From Website Builders
Website builders typically offer a free domain name when you sign up to their services, however the website domain usually includes their brand name in the URL and, unlike paid domains, they are not transferable to other service providers.
For example, when you start a Shopify store, youll be provided a free .myshopify.com domain that can be used as your stores primary domain. WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, and Weebly offer free domains that contain their own business name as well.
These default domains provide the same basic function as a custom domain, but come with a lot of downsides theyre harder for users to remember, they look less professional, and they dont come with features like email forwarding or the option to create subdomains.
You also wont be able to use these domains outside the platform theyre affiliated with. That means that even if you wanted to use a third-party service provider to add features like email hosting, you wouldnt be able to.
Generally speaking, its a good idea to purchase a custom domain. Domain registration isnt too expensive, and the charge is worth it for the advantage of being able to customize, transfer, and manage your own domain.