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.
Why Would You Need To Find The Domain Name Server Details
You may be looking up domain name server records for many reasons such as setting up other servers and services. These may include your email servers and other application servers.
There is one other important use for these commands. They will be useful to verify that your servers are not under attack by hackers. Malicious attackers will change your domain name records so that users are redirected to another site instead of your own. This can allow hackers to do many things such as create a similar site and perform identity theft or other kinds of cybercrime.
Regularly verifying that your domain name servers are in order should be part of your routine security verifications.
Check The Domains History
Whether you purchase a domain as new or second hand.
Its critical you check the domains history.
Why check new domains, you ask?
Because, some new domains have been registered before.
And, if you pick a domain thats been penalized, your ranking chances are screwed before you start.
Since the early days of SEO, theres been an issue with penalties sticking to domains even when their owners change.
Heres how it occurs:
A spammer uses a domain and it gets penalized.
The domain no longer ranks.
Because the domain is now un-rankable the spammer lets the domain registration drop and the domain becomes available to new purchasers.
A new owner registers the domain and discovers its impossible to rank due the penalty imposed.
This is a situation you should avoid at all costs.
Before registering any domain, its smart to visit Archive.org and learn if the domain has been used before.
Archive.org will show you snapshots of the domain in the past:
You want to ensure the domain has a kosher past .
Because, once a domain is banned its very difficult to recover.
Aside from checking Archive.org you should also check if the domain has pages indexed within SERPs.
For that, simply do a site-colon search in Google:
Again, you are looking to see if any of the pages indexed point to a shady past.
If you find anything dodgy, you are best advised to pick another domain name.
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How To Register A Domain Name With Hostgator
Next, well explain how to get a domain name on HostGator. Part of the same group as Bluehost, it offers a user-friendly drag-and-drop website builder and feature-rich web hosting services.
The first step to buying a domain name on HostGator is to open the Domains page on their website. Insert a domain name and on the search field and press the Enter key.
If the domain is unavailable, pick a recommended alternative with a different domain extension or name variation.
The cost for a .com domain at HostGator is similar to Bluehost, starting from $12.95/year. Bundling the item with a privacy and protection feature is also possible, costing $14.95/year. Pick between one, two, or a three-year registration period, then click Continue To Checkout.
Now, create a HostGator account and fill in your billing information. HostGator has two payment options credit card and PayPal.
Before finalizing the purchase, HostGator will preview the order. Here, you can set custom nameservers to point the domain name to a third-party hosting account if desired. Click Place Your Order once everything looks right.
Finally, HostGator will send a domain ownership validation request to your registered email address. Remember to click on the link within 15 days to prevent the domain from temporary suspension.
Besides the steps above, HostGator also offers a domain name registration service via their support team. However, this alternative method is only applicable to certain TLDs.
Dont Get Analysis Paralysis
Chances are that if you want a domain name, someone else probably wants it too. If youre sure about your choice, go ahead and buy the domain.
This is especially recommended if its reasonably inexpensive. Plus, if you come up with something better later on, you can always let the registration lapse. You dont want to end up in a dispute because you didnt act fast.
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Contact The Domain Name Owner
If one of the steps above leads you to the website owner, its time to reach out! Craft an email letting them know that youre interested in purchasing the domain.
To avoid looking like spam, make sure your email conveys seriousness and professionalism. If you have a professional email address at a domain name you own, that will look more legitimate than one from a yahoo or aol account. If not, consider at least setting up a gmail address, which looks a bit more respectable.
Make sure your email includes:
- Your contact information both email and phone, so its easy for them to choose the method they prefer.
- Language that makes it clear youre willing to pay you may not want to include a specific offer yet , but theyre more likely to respond if they know this is a genuine business offer
- Something that shows your legitimacy how can you show youre a real person with serious intent? Maybe thats a link to a website you already run or a LinkedIn profile.
People get a lot of spam emails, so you want to clarify that youre a real person with real interest. If you can pull that off, the chances of getting a response are much higher.
Domain Owner Lookuphow To Find An Owner
Securing your own domain online is as simple as choosing a domain name and paying the appropriate fees to register it. But, in some cases, the way to get the perfect domain for your brand or business is to buy one that already exists. Expired domain names are available for anyone to buy, but if your sights are set on one thats currently in use, youll need to find out who owns that domain in order to contact them about buying it. With the help of online domain owner lookup tools and some research, you can find out the legal ownership of a domainincluding your own.
Domain.com has the tools you need to continue building your business into a success.
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What Is A Domain Name
A domain name is a bit like your physical address in that its how people find you out there on the World Wide Web. Thats why we call the bar at the top of a web browser the address bar – its where you enter a domain name to find a website.
If a domain name is like your address then the server your website is hosted on is like the physical building. When you create a website, you set your domain name to point to your server so that if people want to find your website, they can enter your domain name and itll take them straight there. Without a domain name, visitors would have to enter the IP address of your server.
Pretty much every website that you visit uses a domain name. Google.com is a domain name, for example. Facebook is the name of the website and Facebook.com is their domain name.
Domain names come in all shapes and sizes, but the one thing that they all have in common is that theyre made of two parts – the label and the top-level domain . A huge variety of top-level domain extensions are available, from country codes to specific codes for sectors like .gov for government organisations and .edu for educational institutions.
Protect Your Brand With Multiple Domains
Have you ever heard: If the shoe fits, buy it in every color? Well, if the domain name fits, buy it in every TLD.
Even if you manage to snag a coveted .com address, you might consider purchasing other options and setting up redirects. You can even go a step further and buy common misspellings of your domain name.
This is a smart strategy to apply to social media as well. Even if you dont think youll use Twitter, you might want to grab a decent handle if one is available. Youll be ready if you ever decide to tweet, and youll prevent anyone else from taking that username.
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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 Keep A Domain Name Secure
Once a domain name has been registered with a registrar, that registrar is in charge of notifying the registrant when their domain is about to expire and giving them the chance to renew, ensuring they dont lose their domain name. In some cases registrars will prey on their users by buying those domains the second they expire and then selling them back to the original registrant at an exorbitant price. Its important to choose an honest and trustworthy registrar to avoid these kinds of predatory practices.
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How To Choose The Right Domain Name
Which is harder: Naming your kid or choosing a domain?
Sure, your bambino is stuck with the moniker you choose until they can get a judge to change it, but you wont need to reinvent the wheel to come up with something to call them. You can look to historical figures, literary characters, or even your favorite TV show for inspiration.
However, when it comes to a domain, youve got to make sure your digital baby is truly unique. No repeats allowed.
So what makes a good domain name?
Generally speaking, youll want something memorable, brandable, and easy for people to type and pronounce. Its also smart to avoid anything too long or overly specific. By following a few simple guidelines, you can pick out a name that helps to drive more traffic your way.
In this guide, Ill explain why your domain name matters and share 11 factors to consider when making this decision. Ill also discuss the best places to register a domain and how you can get a free one along with your web hosting. Lets get started!
Finding The Domain Name Servers With The Dig Command
The dig command is similar to the host command and has to be executed as follows:
dig ns domain-name
Lets execute the dig command in a terminal of your choice:
dig ns google.com
The default output will be as follows:
If you just want to see the nameservers, use the +short option as follows:
dig +short ns google.com
The output will be as follows:
If you just want to see the nameservers, use the +short option as follows:
dig +short ns google.com
The output will be as follows:
The dig command can be further improved as follows to view the respective IP addresses particular name server records:
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How Do I Check If The Domain I Want Is Available
There are few different ways to verify if the domain you want is available.
While all processes are kept secure and confidential, the most straightforward is the domain name search tool. Simply type your desired website domain name in the search bar, and youll be presented with a list of results.
The search results will show the domain you want along with its availability, as well as options in other extensions and related suggestions. If the domain is taken, youll be able to review the WHOIS record to see information on the current owner and when it is set to expire, along with a link to our domain brokering services in case youre interested in acquiring that domain.
In addition to Webnames domain search, you can also check out our domain wizard or our domain marketplace to discover more great options.
I Already Have A Domain Name Can I Transfer It To Hostinger
Of course! As we mentioned earlier, when you register a domain name, it belongs to you – and not the company that you registered it with.
However, your domain name must meet some requirements. If youd like to find out more about transferring your domain name then . Its easy to get started and we provide all of the information youll need to walk you through the process.
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Look Up Your Computer’s Domain Name
To find the Domain for your computer:
For Windows machines, click on the Start Menu, go to Control Panel, System and Security, then System.
You’ll see your computer’s domain name at the bottom.
For any additional questions or concerns regarding proximity settings, computer locking, credential management, or compliance, please contact GateKeeper Enterprise support using the Support Ticket form on or email .
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How To Register A Domain Name With Namecheap
As the name suggests, this Namecheap offers great value for money. Its .com domains start from $8.88/year, which is a low price compared to the rest of the market.
To buy a domain name on Namecheap, head over to the homepage and insert a name on the search field. Alternatively, head to the Bulk Domain Name Search tool and enter up to 5,000 keywords and find multiple domains at once.
The site will redirect you to the search results page. Feel free to sort the available domains by cost, extension, or alphabetical order. Click Add to Cart on the name you want to register and the Checkout button on the bottom-right corner to continue with the payment process.
The page will preview the order and suggest several add-ons to add to the cart, including PremiumDNS for a performance and security boost. This domain registrar also provides a free privacy and protection feature.
Confirm the order to move on to the next step creating a Namecheap account. Insert your contact information, including your name, phone number, email, and physical address. Enter a company name and tick the Im registering on behalf of a company box if applicable.
Press Continue to go to the Setup page. Here, specify the contact information for the domains registrant, administrator, technical support, and billings. If youre responsible for all these things, select User default account contact. Otherwise, choose to Add new contact where appropriate.
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