How To Register A Domain Name
Start by opening a domain name generator. Use this tool to check if your desired domain name is still available.
To find the right domain, consider branding and cost. Make sure that it is memorable and catchy and its price fits your budget.
Keep note that popular domains are often more expensive and might already be taken. Some generators provide options if your desired domain is unavailable. With Hostinger, users can choose a different TLD with the same name or an alternative.
Once you have found a valid domain name, use a trustworthy registrar to buy the domain. To find the list of legitimate domain name registrars, check the database of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers .
If you chose Hostinger as the registrar, select your desired domain and continue. On the checkout page, there are several elements to consider. First, choose the registration period for your domain. Then, select whether you want to add domain privacy protection.
We recommend giving an additional layer of protection against cyber attacks. By doing so, you are securing your personal information in the WHOIS records against unauthorized usage. This also helps prevent identity theft.
After paying for your new domain, you will have access to your account. There, continue the registration process by clicking on the Setup button next to Domain registration. You will need to enter specific information to finish the process, including your name, postal address, and phone number.
Common Misconceptions Of Personal Domain Names
Many entrepreneurs fear that yourname.com might be limiting from a business perspective. They think theres a ceiling on growth potential if they operate exclusively under our their personal name. Actually, the opposite is completely true.
The second misconception is that it isnt as professional as yourbusiness.com. Some think if we go with our personal name as our domain name, we wont be taken seriously in business if our business is also our name. I would say that very important people like Oprah, for example, would beg to differ.
The third misconception is that yourname.com doesnt resonate. We think we need a catchy and memorable brand name to get people to pay attention to us. This one, honestly for me, is just completely backwards. Memorability comes from the quality of what you do as the brand, not the name itself.
What Is The Best Extension For A Personal Domain Name
The .com domain has been around since 1985 and is also the most common with almost every major website using the .com extension. This means that if someone were searching for your personal domain and didnt know the extension, they are very likely to try with .com first. The .com extension is also one of the most credible domain extensions, so if you opt for it, it will automatically make your personal domain appear more trustworthy.
Another point worth mentioning is that many smartphones have a .com button, making it even easier for someone to type in your personal domain name if it has a .com extension.
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Personal Domain Name Examples
Here are three examples of websites built on Strikingly that are connected to personal domain names.
Image taken fromStrikingly users website
This is a personal website built by one of our users, who has given a professional look to his personal site by using one of our attractive templates. He uses a personal domain that he has registered with us, which has helped him get substantial traction to his site over a short period.
These personal domain name examples show you the impact that using a personal domain has on the overall look and impression.
Now that you understand how personal domains work and how vital they are to your brand, you can start the process of planning to build your website on a personal domain.
If thats the case, the first thing you need to do is list down a few personal domain name ideas. Once you finalize what name you want to put, youll have to check if its available or taken. It is usually quite disappointing if you take days to choose a name, just to find out that its not available. Thats why its always better to keep a few backup names in mind as well. The more unique your brand name is, the easier it is for it to be available.
After purchasing your personal domain, you can select a suitable website builder like Strikingly and start creating your personal website.
Tips For Finding Personal Domain Name Ideas You Can Be Proud Of
Getting a domain name you want is getting difficult. Use these tips to brainstorm a creative domain name that’s available.
Everyone wants a vanity URL. Today, a custom domain name based on your identity can be quite difficult to get hold of. But it’s not all over yet. You just have to bring out a sheet of paper and brainstorm a few creative domain name ideas that might be still available.
Before looking into domain names, you should evaluate web hosting options. We recommend WP Engine for WordPress sites because it’s reliable, secure, and frees you up to focus on your content. For non-managed web hosting, check out InMotion Hosting and Bluehost. Use these links for discounted hosting plans!
Once that’s squared away, use the simple methods below to find a personal domain name that you like .
Also Check: How Much To Purchase A Domain Name
It Makes It Harder To Build A Personal Connection With You
Occasionally, if youre a personal brand using a business name as your domain name, your customers and clients may not feel that strong personal connection with you.
But this is something you can easily fix.
An example of this is Pete Matthew, who runs Meaningful Money. A lot of people know Pete Matthew because of the incredible effort he puts into his podcast and his content marketing. Yes, hes using his business name as his domain name. But he still builds rapport with his audience by being at the forefront of his brand. If you follow his work, youll know his name.
So if you are going to use your business name as your domain name, its important you get yourself, your name, and your face out there!
It Makes It Easier For You To Sell Your Website
Because your business isnt linked to a specific name or person , you might find selling your website easier, if you ever decide to.
A great example of this is , founder of MoneySavingExpert.com. A few years ago, Martin Lewis successfully sold his website. And while were just speculating here, its reasonable to believe that he may have struggled to find a buyer, had he called his website MartinLewis.com.
Of course, this point is only relevant if youre planning to sell your website. But even if youre not setting up with the intention of selling, you never really know, do you?
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How To Choose Your Domain
Now that you have a domain name, the next step is to find out if its been registered or claimed by someone else on the internet. Checking your domain name availability is an important step to creating your website because it can help determine if you need to explore other options for your domain name. If a domain name is already in use by someone else on the internet, you wont be able to use it even if the website is not currently active
While you can do a quick web search for your domain, you can use a domain name generator that can determine whether your domain name is currently in use before you register it. The great aspect of domain name generators is that they can also provide creative alternatives if your domain name is unavailable.A few options to consider if your domain name is already registered to another person is changing the spelling, extension, or using a different word combination.
What Is A Subdomain
Another option to consider when you are selecting a domain is creating a subdomain. A subdomain is an additional part or prefix that is added to your main domain name. Subdomains are used to organize and navigate to different sections of a website which can make it more accessible for users. You can create multiple subdomains for such as: blog.yourwebsite.com, mail.yourwebsite.com, store.yourwebsite.com. Yourwebsite, would be your primary domain name and then the subdomain would be the store, blog, mail, etc.
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Go Ahead And Get Your Domain Name
Whew, okay, that was a lot of reading! Still, I dont want this list to be intimidating. Even reading through it just once and then noting down the most important takeaways will give you more than enough insight to be able to obtain your perfect domain name and do so safely.
Just to help you out, heres a cut-out-and-keep version of everything thats been said above:
- Wondering whether or not to buy a domain from your web hosting company? See: Should I Buy a Domain Name From My Web Hosting Company?
Did we miss anything? Thoughts?
What Is A Windows Domain And How Does It Affect My Pc
Chris Hoffman is Editor-in-Chief of How-To Geek. He’s written about technology for over a decade and was a PCWorld columnist for two years. Chris has written for The New York Times, been interviewed as a technology expert on TV stations like Miami’s NBC 6, and had his work covered by news outlets like the BBC. Since 2011, Chris has written over 2,000 articles that have been read nearly one billion times—and that’s just here at How-To Geek. Read more…
Windows domains are typically used on large networks corporate networks, school networks, and government networks. They arent something youll encounter at home unless you have a laptop provided by your employer or school.
A typical home computer is an isolated entity. You control the settings and user accounts on the computer. A computer joined to a domain is different these settings are controlled on a domain controller.
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How Can You Benefit From Having A Personal E
Having a personal e-mail domain rather than a freemail address can offer many advantages, as outlined in the following six points:
- Professional: a polished image is key in having a successful career, and that applies to your online presence as well. While freemail addresses with provider domains often convey an amateur image, successful businesses and entrepreneurs use e-mail domains. By customizing the e-mail, you can ensure that your contact details are coordinated, creating a sleek and professional image which facilitates customers trust. The most effective domains are either company-oriented or personal, for example:employeename@company.com department@company.com jobs@company.com
- Concise: freemail companies provide e-mail addresses with their domain to their customers, making it difficult to register a name that is unique and concise. Names are usually snapped up very quickly, so users are often forced to come up with long combinations of numbers and letters: john.r.smith1957@freemail-provider.comLong e-mail addresses carry with them the risk of being misspelled or misremembered, whereas custom e-mail addresses can be shorter, making them concise and more memorable.
- Safer: cybercriminals also need a high hit rate if their malware are to have a big effect. Freemail providers are a common target for hacking and phishing, but this risk decreases significantly with a personal e-mail domain.
$1 Domain Names
A Few Things To Keep In Mind:
- Purchase Immediately: If you go to a domain registrar and find the domain you want, purchase it ASAP. For one, it ensures that you have it and prevents someone else from buying it. It also prevents the registrar from purchasing it and tacking on extra fees. Some registrars will purchase a domain if they see someone take interest in it. The total cost of the domain will then be higher for the next person to purchase it. This doesnt apply to every registrar, but its best practice to snag the domain you want right away.
- Register it for as long as possible: While its not as important of a factor as it used to be, registering a domain for a long period of time adds more authority to it. More importantly, it reduces the risk of your domain expiring before you renew. Most registers will also discount the cost per year if you register for several years upfront.
- Purchase as many as you like: Even if you purchase one domain, you might want to apply a second or third to another website or profile. For the purpose of a good online reputation management strategy, keep the domain consistent. For example, if you purchase yourname.com, also purchase yourname.net, yourname.org, etc.
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Powerful Tools To Help You Find The Right Domain Name
There are many domain name checkers online as well as a number of domain name registrars. In fact, most of the hosting companies allow you to register a domain name with them for free when you sign up for one of their hosting plans.
However, before you do that, consider using one of the tools below, as choosing the right host is another important factor to consider, deserving of a topic of its own.
1. Instant Domain Search
Instant Domain Search lets you see the results as you type them out. Aside from letting you know whether your preferred domain name is taken, it will show you other available extensions and offer a number of alternative suggestions. It will also let you see which of the taken domain names are currently for sale.
If you find the domain name you are completely happy with, simply click on the option to buy it and you will be sent to GoDaddys website where you can register it.
2. Panabee
Panabee takes the domain name search a bit further. It lets you not only search for the domain name and offers alternative suggestions if your desired name is taken, but it also allowing you to cross-reference domain names against popular social media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, and others for name availability.
3. Knowem
The best part about this site is that it allows you to easily claim your desired domain name and usernames for your preferred social media profiles. If youre serious about building your personal brand, make this website your first stop.
4. NameCheap