Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Where Is My Website Domain Registered

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How To Find Your Registrar

How to Find Out Where Your Domain Name is Registered
  • It’s likely you have received invoices for your domain name by email it is best to search your email history for these emails to find out the registrar/company you are using. Try searching for your full domain name as a starting point. You should have an email from them with the original account creation and billing information which you can use to log in and gain access.
  • Failing this you can do a WHOIS lookup, the easiest way to do this is through the lookup website , enter your top-level domain name, for example, “mydomain.com” and click search. Look for the Registrar information this shows the company that the domain is currently hosted with. If this looks foreign check the Admin, Technical and Billing contacts and email addresses for any company name that looks familiar. You may also find a colleague’s details which you can use to track things down further.
  • Some WHOIS lookups don’t return the results you might be looking for, instead, they return a link to a provider website where you can then search for the specific details. For example, most Australian .au domain names are like this. In the public WHOIS results, you might receive a message like “Visit whois.ausregistry.com.au for Web-based WhoIs” which requires you to go to that website to perform the search and get the full results. It just depends where your domain is registered and how much information they make publicly available.

Choose A Domain Name Suffix Such As Com Or Net

After settling on the domain name, consider the suffix. The most popular suffix is .com, although .net and .org are also popular. These are considered to be top-level domains, or the highest-level domain suffixes in the domain naming system.

There are also other varieties to consider, such as country code top-level domains. These domain names end in a suffix that is particular to a specific country. A website in Germany might end in .de, for example.

Finally, there is another class of domain name suffixes called “sponsored, top-level domains,” which are sponsored by a specific community related to the domain name. For example, .gov is for the U.S. government and .edu is for education organizations.

For most websites, .com is the best suffix for its ease of use, but if you have a specialized website, you might consider a country code or sponsored top-level domain.

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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How Do I Check If A Domain Name Is Available

The Name.com platform lets you perform a thorough domain name search so you can find out if the name you want for your website is available and for sale. There are a couple of ways to see if the website name you want is available. The easiest method is to type the domain name you’re interested in into our search box and well tell you if the domain is available for registration. You can also search for the domain in Whois Lookup.

What Should You Do Next

How to Register a Domain Name for Your Website

Now that you know about domain name registration and why it matters which company you work with, you want to find out which company offers the best services. Take some time to research the different options to find out which company has the best domain name registration services based on your needs.

Once you have made your choice, make sure to take the time to come up with a great domain name that you love today and want to keep for years to come. Remember, picking a great domain is a big decision that has a long-lasting impact on your business, so make sure to take it seriously.

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Uncovering Secrets With Dns

Every domain has DNS info that is public. You can browse this on many sites but I like to use leafdns.com. DNS is what points domain services to different servers like pointing your email to Google and your website to Bluehost. This may not tell you who owns your domain but it can tell you HOW your domain is being used which may be an important step in recovering your website files if youve lost those in addition to the domain. I often use this when Im on a call and a prospect doesnt even know where their site is hosted. It makes me look really smart!

I Already Have A Domain That I Registered With Another Registrar Can I Still Use The Domain

Yes, but you must change your domains Domain Name Servers to indicate where your website will be hosted.

This is necessary so that the domain name system can translate your domain name into a specific IP address that identifies the server that hosts your website. I admit that that sounds a bit technical but its really quite simple.

All youve got to do is change two fields on your domain registrars screen and youre done. But read on to do things in the right sequence.

First, follow the instructions above to open a SiteGround account but instead of choosing a new domain, click that you already have a domain and tell them what it is. They will then create your account under that domain and install WordPress for you.

Second, you will receive a welcome email with all the details you need to get started. This will include details of name servers applicable to your chosen web hosting plan. This will be a pair of codes that look like NS1.xxxxx.com and NS2.xxxxx.com. You usually need to use both codes so make a note of them.

Finally, you will need to log into your account at the registrar you used when you registered the domain. Click through to find your domain properties and there should be somewhere fairly obvious on their screen labeled Nameservers, Set your DNS . Enter the two codes your web host supplied and save the settings.

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Free Products & Services When You Register

Name.com offers more for less, with free perks like URL and email forwarding to sophisticated account features like Two-Step Verification and DNS templates.

Fair, transparent pricing

We clearly display domain discounts and renewal pricing during the domain search process so there are no nasty surprises when your domains renewal comes up.

Everything in one place

Once you have a domain in hand, we make it simple to attach email, hosting, website builders, and more. Its everything you need in one convenient place.

90 Day Free Trial with any domain purchase

What Is A Whois Domain Lookup

Domain Registration. How to register a domain & what is a web domain name anyway?

A Whois domain lookup allows you to trace the ownership and tenure of a domain name. Similar to how all houses are registered with a governing authority, all domain name registries maintain a record of information about every domain name purchased through them, along with who owns it, and the date till which it has been purchased.

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What Is Domain Privacy And Do I Need It

Domain privacy and security is as important to us as it is to you. Without domain privacy, your private and sensitive information may be collected and displayed in ICANN’s WHOIS database when you register your domain. Domain privacy ensures that these details are hidden from the public view. Our Domain Privacy + Protection package will make ICANN display our contact information in lieu of yours.

Select Your Domain Extension

Also known as top-level domains ,domain extensions quickly identify certain website elements such as purpose, owner or geographic location. There are five official types of TLDs, with generic top-level domains accounting for the majority of the 366 million registered domains worldwide. The most popular gTLD choices are.org, .com and .net, making them the easiest to recall. You can check out ICANNs complete list of domain extensions here.

Another good tip to consider if your domain name is already taken is to try it out with a different extension likelihoods are youll find an available option. However, keep in mind that an extension like .org is better used for nonprofit organizations, while .com usually represents for-profit companies.

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Trusted The World Over

  • Namecheap has been a trusted partner for our critical domain names. As we continue to grow, we know we can always count on them.

    Dylan Field, Co-founder and CEO, Figma

  • We’ve been using Namecheap for all our domains for years, and have always been able to count on them. Their technology just works, and their support is phenomenal. Highly recommended!

    Alan Schaaf, founder and CEO, Imgur

  • With a high value domain name like Privacy.com, it’s important to use a registrar that you trust. We can sleep at night knowing that Namecheap is keeping our asset secure.

    Bo Jiang, CEO, Privacy.com

  • Namecheap has quickly become our default registrar for the various domain names we use as part of our Buffer offering. A clear and intuitive dashboard combined with wide support across a number of top-level domains and a responsive team add up to an unbeatable experience.

    Colin Ross, Engineering Manager, Buffer

Frequently asked questions

Above all else, we strive to deliver outstanding customer experiences. When you buy a domain name from Namecheap, we guarantee it will be handed over to you with superior standards of service and support. Our primary goal is to build a customer-focused atmosphere filled with the happiest customers in the galaxy. The Namecheap guarantee is our mark of excellence.

Products might be the same, but every customer is different. Thats why we tailor our deals to suit as many people as possible. So you get exactly what you need, for less.

Still have questions?

Free Domains From Website Builders

How to Register Your Website Domain Name

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.

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What Is A Domain Name Registrar

Domain Registrars are companies that can register and maintain domain name information for customers. That is accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers .

Any place where one can register a domain name must use a domain registrar. Domain registrars make sure that there are no multiple registrations of identical domain names. Domain name registrars are also accountable for keeping the attached contact information current for the domain names registered through them. That protects the person that purchased the domain name from third-party attempts to steal said domain name.

After you purchase a domain name from a registrar, you are capable of the following administrative actions:

  • Manage the contact information on the registration entry.
  • Manage the nameservers that your domain uses.
  • Create a Secure Space by adding an SSL/TLS to it.

Note:

Although we often refer to registering domain names as purchasing and owning them, the fact is that registries own all of their domain names, and registrars only offer the opportunity to reserve domain names for as long as the customer keeps paying for that reservation.

In case you have failed to pay for your domain renewal in time, keep in mind that many registrars honor up to 45 day Auto-Renew Grace period which allows you to redeem an expired domain name.

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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Negotiate A Price That Works For Both Of You

When you get in contact, negotiate a fair price. Look up the domains history on the Wayback Machine and check out the domains Domain Authority to get a sense of its value. You can use tools such as Moz or Ahrefs to get this number.

Once you settle on a price, use Escrow to facilitate payment. Do not use your personal PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle account.

When Should I Buy A Domain Name

How to Register a Domain Name ( simple tip to get it for FREE)

The best time to register a domain depends on your project and urgency. However, its better to purchase it right away before a competitor claims the web address.

According to Verisign, there were over 363 million website domain registrations across all TLDs at the end of the first quarter of 2021. This figure is likely to grow each year as the number of people and businesses that compete to get a great domain name is increasing.

Moreover, many entrepreneurs consider domain names to be digital assets they buy plenty of good URLs as investments and wait for their value to increase before reselling them further down the road.

If you want to start a new online business but have no time to build an eCommerce site, then register a domain now and make a website later to reserve your brand or business name for the future. A domain name will be yours as long as you keep paying for it. And do not worry, it will not break your bank. For instance, popular e-commerce domain .shop will cost you only $0.99/month.

Also, consider purchasing a domain that includes your name even if youre not ready to create a personal website or portfolio yet. Doing this can give you control of what potential clients, employers, and other people see when they search for you on search engines.

All in all, purchasing a domain name should be a priority for those who are serious about building an online presence or starting a new business. It will help protect a brands identity and future business ideas.

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If Its Not A Parked Domain Find The Owners Contact Information

If you find that the domain has a fully built-out site, then its not a parked domain. The domain is being used by a real business. Luckily, you still have recourse if you want to buy the domain.

First, determine how likely it is for the owner to sell the domain to you. Does the website look like its been recently updated? Is it under construction? How many snapshots does it have on the Wayback Machine? If the website looks outdated or has just a few Wayback Machien snapshots, its more likely youll successfully start a conversation with the owner.

For example, the domain mellowbee.com looks like a good candidate because its had only a few Wayback Machine snapshots over the years and the current website is made up of one page.

The owners email is at the bottom, so its easy to reach out.

If you cant find the owners contact information on the site, try searching for the owner through ICANN. Keep in mind that a good portion of domain name owners hide their contact information for privacy reasons.

Renew The Domain Name

Whether you purchased the domain through a registrar or purchased it from another person, you will eventually need to renew your domain. When you renew it will depend on the terms of your subscription: whether its monthly, annual, biannual, or triennial.

Renewing your domain name is critical to ensure 99% uptime and prevent any user experience hiccups. If youre afraid of missing the renewal date, dont fear most registrars will email you to notify you of the upcoming renewal.

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Who The Heck Did I Buy My Domain Name From

Sometimes, youll buy a domain name and youll totally forget what company you bought it from. Or youll purchase it in some roundabout way through another service that just happens to package a domain name with their offer. For whatever reason, busy business owners do lose access to domain names theyve bought.

This is a fairly common problem and it happened to a client of ours. Were going to talk about how to solve this problem and other ways to work around it.

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