Choose A Domain Name Registrar
A registrar is a company that reserves and registers domain names on your behalf. When you purchase a domain name, either directly from a registrar or through a web-hosting service, its registered to the DNS for you.
Though there are more than a thousand accredited registrars, its best to stick with more well-known providers. Using a common provider will make it easier to find info on managing your domain and to troubleshoot issues you might have with syncing your domain to other services.
Domains can be purchased from a number of different types of businesses. You might choose to purchase one from a website-building platform , a web-hosting service , or directly from a domain registrar .
Many registrars offer hosting and vice-a-versa. This can be a great way to keep all your website tasks under one roof, but isn’t necessary. You can purchase a domain one place, and use a different company to host if you so choose.
How much does a domain name cost?
Domain names arent sold for a flat-rate. Instead, theyre paid for on a recurring basis . When considering the costs of your domain, be mindful of the difference between the starting price and the renewal price. Typically, basic .com domain names run in the ballpark of about 10-15 USD a year. Premium domains such as 4 letter domains or incredibly common terms can cost significantly higher.
- WHOIS privacy protection: $14.95/year
How Dns Privacy And Domains Work Together
Heres how all this works out in a real-life example.
Thats how a domain name, DNS, and WHOIS privacy all work together.
But there are still quite a few questions that come up. Heres how I answer them.
How Does Dns Increase Web Performance
Servers can cache the A records, or IP addresses, they receive from DNS queries for a set amount of time. Caching promotes efficiency, enabling servers to respond quickly the next time a request for the same IP address comes in.
For example, if everyone in an office needs to access the same training video on a particular website on the same day, the local DNS server would only have to resolve the name once, and then it can serve all the other requests out of its cache. The length of time the record is held — also known as the time to live — is set by administrators and depends on various factors. Longer time periods decrease the load on servers, and shorter ones ensure the most accurate responses.
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Where Do You Buy A Domain Name
You can buy a domain name from any domain registrar. As we mentioned earlier, many web hosts double as registrars, but you can also choose to source your hosting and domain from different companies.
Namecheap and GoDaddy are two popular registrars you might consider. However, purchasing your domain from your hosting provider usually makes it easier to set up your first website. Many hosts will also throw in your first years registration for free when you purchase a plan .
Intellectual Property And Domain Names
Intellectual property is a term that encompasses several legal issues like trademark dilution, copyright claims and patent infringement, among other things. With regards to your domain and website, there are intellectual property considerations to understand before moving forward with your site.
The last thing you want to do is invest time, money and other resources into registering a domain and building a website that infringes on anothers legal rights.
Moreover, when building out your business, you must be diligent about protecting your own assets including your domain and website.
Editors note:This content should not be construed as legal advice. Always consult an attorney regarding your specific legal situation.
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Once Your Domain Is Moved Over You Can Map It To Your Siteto Do This
1. Open Account > Custom Domain2. Copy the IP address outlined. Ours is: 104.197.175.186
In Google How to set A record
In the Weeknight Website:
1. Enter your Domain and click âSet Custom Domainâ
Normally you see the changes within minutes, but it may take up to a few hours for your new records to take effect.
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Different Types Of Domain Names
Every address ends in the street, drive, avenue, etc. Every domain name has a certain extension that it ends with, and you can probably guess the most popular, which is .com.
Sometimes people dont even know there are other options like .org, .net, .info, and more. Its recommended, though, always to try to use the .com extension.
A top-level domain is the generic domain extension that most of us see. There are hundreds of different types of top-level domains, but we really only see .com, .org, and .net.
There are others like .club, .agency, and .biz. Though, wed only suggest you to go for these when the above TLDs like .com, .org and .net arent available.
A country code top-level domain is a specific domain name that is associated with certain countries. A website in the United Kingdom ends with .uk or a website in India ends with .in.
Sponsored top-level domains cater to the certain communities. Good examples are when you see an educational institution site end with .edu or a government site end with .gov.
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Differences Between Domain Names And Urls
While a domain name and a Universal Resource Locator share some similarities, they are different. It acts as a complete web address that can direct visitors to a specific page on a site. A domain name is just a part of it.
Also, it consists of a protocol, domain, and path. The protocol shows whether a site has an SSL certificate. Note that URLs have a path only when they direct visitors to a specific page on a site.
Theres also the fully qualified domain name . This refers to the complete version of a domain name that also consists of the hostname.
What To Do Before Transferring Your Domain
There are several blocks in place to protect your domain name ownership that can cause difficulty in transferring your domain to a new registrar. Before you transfer your domain to HostGator, it is essential that you ensure that the domain is ready to be transferred. Please refer to the instructions below for preparing a domain for transfer:
Pre Transfer Checklist
The very first thing to check is if your domain is eligible for transfer to HostGator and whether it may be done through , or if you need to contact us via phone or Live Chat to have it transferred.
Once you have identified your eligibility, the following will need to be done at your current registrar:
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Where Do Domain Names Come From
The domain name system is overseen by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers or ICANN. This organisation was formed in 1998 and has been coordinating the maintenance and management of the DNS ever since.
While ICANN doesnt rule supreme over the entire Internet, it does have the power to approve new extensions, to manage their function, and to shut them down if they dont work according to the rules created by ICANN. So they basically ensure that the DNS and IP spaces that make up the Internets infrastructure are all running smoothly.
But ICANN doesnt do all the hard work by itself. They delegate control over the various Top Level Domains like .com, .net, .org etc., to various entities known as Registries. These companies then become directly responsible for managing specific extensions. So, a registry controls and maintains the database of domains within their extension and makes it accessible through WHOIS tool.
Now, the registry may designate entities called Registrars. A registrar is a company that sells domain names to the end customer. So, if you want to register a web address for your new site, youll go to a registrar like 123 Reg that provides domain names from different registries, all in one place. If the domain you want is available, itll be registered in your name with 123 Reg.
This infographic from ICANN should help you to better understand the registry process:
Domains And Domain Names: What They Are And 10+ Examples
Securing a domain or domain name is the first step in creating an online presence that will help you get found by prospects on Google and other search engines.
In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about these terms so you can continue the process of setting up a website for your business. You can skip ahead to any of the sections below:
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Use A Domain Name Generator
Due to the sheer number of domain names that have already been registered, it is often the case that your ideal name has been long taken. Instead of spending days and days brainstorming new names, you should consider using a domain name generator.
There are numerous domain name generators available. They work by taking a keyword from you, and then turning it into thousands of relevant suggestions. Lets have a look at a few domain name generators to help you get started
- Lean Domain Search Brought to you by Automatic, Lean Domain Search will help you find domain names by pairing your search phrase with other common and relevant keywords. It also shows you which ones are available to register.
- Domain Hole This domain name generator allows you to search, find, and buy new and expired domains. It comes jam-packed with an array of domain name tools including a name spinner, a brainstormer, and a complete availability checker.
- Name Mesh With over six million words in the Name Mesh library, this name generator will be able to find the right domain name for you. Simply enter your keyword, and Name Mesh will provide a range of suggestions, as well as check the availability for most common TLDs.
For more information on domain name generators, check out our article 9 Best Blog and Domain Name Generators.
Once you have decided on an appropriate domain name for your website, you will now need to buy it. But how much will it cost and where should you buy it from? Lets find out more
How To Transfer A Domain Name
Domain transfer is the process of changing a domains registrar. As domain registrars offer different support and maintenance, some users transfer their domain for better service.
With Hostinger, users can perform a domain transfer from any registrar.
All you have to do is enter the domain authorization code or EPP from your current provider and confirm the transfer. The process can take from 4 to 7 days.
Unfortunately, some extensions are not transferable. However, there is an option to point the nameservers to a particular hosting company if a registrar doesnt accept certain TLDs. You will need to change your nameservers for this.
Note that changing the web server information can only be done from where you purchased the domain. However, if your registrar does not allow changing nameservers, it is still possible to point a domain to a different registrar using an A record.
Pro Tip
Looking for a more detailed guide? Check out our How to transfer a domain to Hostinger? support page.
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Tips On Choosing A Domain Name
As a final tip, consider registering variants for your domain name if you feel people may accidentally misspell your original domain or turn a singular noun plural and vice versa. You should then set up that variant to redirect to your actual domain.
For example, if you enter googl.com in your browser, it redirects to the proper google.com.
You can also register variants that use different TLDs. If you use .com, register variants of your domain that use .net, .org., .io, .biz and any other TLD you feel is popular in your industry. This prevents competitors from registering them in the future.
Free Domains From Hosting Services
Hosting providers like BlueHost and GoDaddy offer a year of free domain registration with the purchase of their other hosting services. If youre looking to use one of these hosting services to build your website, then its definitely a good idea to take advantage of this option.
That being said, if youre planning on using a website builder like Shopify, the cost of unneeded hosting services will be more expensive than purchasing a custom domain. On top of this, domain registration is only free for the first year. Renewing the domain in the years following will still come with the same costs.
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Domain Names Can Communicate Expectations
Sometimes you cant find a great branded domain name or your market is too competitive to earn business through brand recognition. In these cases, you can strategically use your domain name to set consumer expectations and increase click-through rates.
For instance, if you operate a lawn care service in a large city like Tampa, you might find it difficult to grow a brand identity due to the amount of competition. Rather than choosing a branded domain name that few people would recognize, you might get more value by picking a domain name like TampaLawnCare.com.
While you cant trademark the name because it is a general term, it does help you clearly set expectations to your website visitors. Moreover, choosing targeted keywords in your market or industry can help you improve your local SEO.
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Final Thoughts On Domain Names
As you can see, setting up your new domain name is actually a relatively quick and easy process. The hardest part is deciding on the actual name, especially as so many domain names have already been taken. So your first step is to get brainstorming type some keywords into a domain generator, share your ideas with friends and family, and make a firm decision on your new domain name.
Once youve registered your domain name, you are ready to start creating your website. For more information on how to do this, check out our guide on setting up your first blog. Good Luck!
More questions on domain names? Feel free to ask away in the comments below
Featured image credit: Photo by Patrick Forepatrickforephotography.com
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What Happens When You Register A Domain Name
When you signup for a Doteasy web hosting package, you will be given the option to register a new domain name for that hosting package. You can select your domain name and the domain extension.
Once you submit your domain registration request, Doteasy will register your domain name with a DNS . A DNS is a database that matches IP addresses with their corresponding domain name. We will create all the configuration settings and records so that your domain name is connected to your assigned web server.
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Domain Names
Million Dollar Plus Domain Names
GoDaddy recently published a list of the most expensive domain names that have been publicly reported. Here are just a few
- CarInsurance.com $49.7 million
Ive also published a list of the oldest .com domains here.
As you can see, these popular domain names sell for big money. But lets also check out the other end of the spectrum how do you get a free domain name?
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How Should You Choose A Domain Name
Generally speaking, your domain name should correspond with your website, brand, or business name. This minimizes confusion among visitors and provides a much-needed measure of consistency.
However, if youre just starting out or your ideal domain name is taken, there are several places you can turn for inspiration, such as automated domain name generators. Remember to keep it unique, concise, and memorable.
You can check to see what domains are available by heading to any registrars site and using its search functionality:
If your first choice is unavailable, the registrar might even suggest similar alternatives to help you find another that will meet your needs.