Tips For Choosing A Registrar
Determine which services you require
You may want services like email hosting or support offered in French, so find out what each registrar offers. Remember, if you registered your .CA domain name as an individual you have free WHOIS privacy protection already included.
Check references
Seek out customer reviews and testimonials, and ask friends or colleagues for a recommendation. You may find that some registrars come highly recommended by your peers. If you make a mistake, you can always transfer your .CA domain to another registrar.
Shop around
Shop around to get a good understanding of how much your domain name, and additional services, will cost. Registrars may offer bundles, packages, or special promotions. Keep in mind that cheapest isnt always necessarily best.
Why A Good Domain Name Is Important
A domain name is your unique identifier among billions of other websites on the web. Thats why having a memorable and easy-to-type name is essential for having an online presence.
Your domain name serves as an extension of your personal or business name. In that sense it:
- Improves recognition and awareness.
- Adds extra credibility to your venture.
- Eventually boosts visitors recall.
Also, choosing a good domain name is important for SEO. Several years ago exact match domains were all the rage, but today most people choose brandable domain names.
Memorable domain names get typed to Google more frequently. Algorithms keep track of that and assign more authority to your website. As the branded search volume grows, your domain name earns extra authority points, so that it gets easier to rank for related keywords.
With that being said, lets move on to the how-to part.
Good to know:how to make a website with WordPress
Google Domains Review The Best Free Security And Privacy Features
is as powerful and easy to use as you would expect from one of the worlds most recognizable companies.
The prices for domains are very competitive, starting at $9/year, but its everything that comes with that low price that sets Google apart.
You get privacy protection for free, for all your domains, forever. Instead of putting contact information for your or your company on the WHOIS database , Google Domains will let you keep that information masked.
You also get a comprehensive selection of tools for DNS management, and you can enable DNSSEC with a single click. DNSSEC protects your domain from spoofing, cache poison attacks, and other common threats.
Google 2-Step Verification is also included with every purchase, which adds an additional layer of protection to your accounts. Even if an attacker got a hold of your password, theyd still be locked out of your account unless they got a hold of your mobile device or security key.
None of these features would be worth much if they were too hard to enable or maintain. Google Domains makes it as simple as possible.
If you have experience with Chrome, Gmail, or any Google product youre going to be fine.
The interface and navigation scheme will be very familiar. Its really easy to find your way around, even if domain management is not your forte.
Google Domains has a good selection of TLDs, more than 300 in fact. Virtually any popular TLD is available and quite a few of the newer ones as well.
Recommended Reading: How Much Does It Cost For A Domain Name
What I Looked At To Find The Best Domain Registrar
Finding a good domain registrar is a task Im very familiar with.
I dont always pick the same one, because certain domain registrars are better to use in different situations.
Lets go through your options.
There are basically three ways to get a domain name:
Domain registrars handle the tech side of assigning IP addresses to domain names and reserving domain names as well.
Popular domain registrars include Domain.com and Namecheap. Both of these sites make it incredibly easy to find and purchase an available domain name.
In order to get your site online, however, you need to get web hosting in addition to a domain name.
Some great web hosting providers, like Hostinger, offer domain names bundled with hosting.
If you already have a web host you like, I recommend using a domain registrar.
But if you dont currently have web hosting for your site or you arent thrilled by the quality of your current hosting situation, Id go with Hostinger.
The third option, domain resellers, are exactly what they sound like. They resell domain names in partnership with domain registrars, but resellers typically charge extra so they can make money, too. Also, they usually dont have dedicated support.
For these reasons, I dont recommend buying through a reseller.
All of the recommendations on my list are domain registrars, with the exception of Hostinger.
The Top Domain Registrars In Summary
Bluehost and Domain.com are the best domain registrars on the market. If youre starting a new site from scratch, Bluehostss free domain name with web hosting is the best option for beginners. Domain.com is an affordable way to purchase multiple domains.
Buying a domain name can be intimidating if youve never done it before. Finding a reliable domain registrar will make your life much easier.
Recommended Reading: Why Are Some Domains So Expensive
Find A Domain Name Registrar
The non-profit Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers oversees the entire system of domain names, and it allows outside companies, called domain registrars, to sell and manage domain names. You will need to register your domain name through a registrar.
Some of the most popular domain registrars include GoDaddy, Bluehost, and Domain.com, although there are many more to choose from. Be sure to carefully consider pricing and policies for each one before choosing your domain registrar, as it will be managing your domain name.
Search For Your Domain Name’s Availability
Once you have found the right domain registrar for you, you’ll need to search for your domain name using the registrar’s search bar. There are millions of domain names out there, with thousands more added daily.
If you have your heart set on a domain name before doing a search, you might be disappointed to find it is already taken. Keep an open mind and incorporate important keywords into your domain when appropriate.
Also Check: What To Do After Buying A Domain Name From Godaddy
The Best Places To Buy A Domain Name
Anthony Heddings is the resident cloud engineer for LifeSavvy Media, a technical writer, programmer, and an expert at Amazon’s AWS platform. He’s written hundreds of articles for How-To Geek and CloudSavvy IT that have been read millions of times. Read more…
Unless youve got a connection at ICANN, the organization responsible for managing the creation of domain names, youll be buying your domain name from a Domain Name Registrar, a company accredited by ICANN to sell domain names.
You can buy your domain name from any one of these registrars, and it will work the same. The only thing separating these companies from each other is their services ease of use and the other features they include with the domain, such as email service, WhoIs protection, as well as the quality of their nameservers.
What Should You Look For In Registrar When Buying Domain Names
Even if you only have plans to register a single domain for the time being, choosing a quality registrar can still pay off. After all, you will have to renew that domain at some point, and you may wish to register others down the line. Plus, transferring a domain from one registrar to another can be a pain, so youll want to avoid going down that road if possible.
With that in mind, heres what you should be on the lookout for when choosing where to register your domain:
- An easy-to-use interface. This is vital for any online service youre going to use regularly.
- Low prices for domain registrations and renewals. Shop around before you settle on a registrar, and see how much it costs to get the same domain from multiple places. Chances are the difference wont be that much, but saving a few dollars never hurt anyone.
- Advanced domain management features. At the very least, any registrar you choose should provide you with the option to hide your information from people who want to peek at your domains records.
- Web hosting plans. This one isnt a deal breaker, since a lot of people prefer to keep their hosting and domains separate. However, if youd rather have everything under one roof, you should opt for a provider that offers both services.
Also Check: How Much For A Domain Name
Domain Names Are Cheap But Losing Them Is Costly
We all know that registering a domain name costs almost nothing, and there is no shortage of companies offering registrar services . Its no harder to register a domain for 10 years than for 1, so why wouldnt you save some time? Lets look at the downside.
Losing control of a domain name can mean:
- wasted time retrieving login information for your registrar account
- losing access to your website
- damage to your brand
- losing search engine placement
- losing access to email messages
- instant obsolescence of anything tied to your domain name .
The question, then, is why would registering a domain for 10 years mean losing control of it? The answer?
Things You Absolutely Must Know Before You Register A Domain With Anyone
The following article was a piece we originally wrote for a marketing page we put up at DomainWarning.com but we found that a lot of our customers wanted us to keep a copy right here on the website because they were constantly referring their friends and colleagues to it.
Suffice it to say, easyDNS does not engage in any of the tactics described below, but they are widely used across the industry.
General Practice Tricks
1. “Transfer-out” fees
Buried in the fine print of a registrars Terms of Service will be a hidden fee authorizing them to charge your credit card a transfer-out fee if you move your domain to another registrar. Often times, this transfer-out fee is 2 or 3 times the cost of the original registration.
This practice violates the ICANN policy on domain transfers. In most cases if this happens to you a simple call to your credit card company will have the charge reversed, if you notice. Registrars who use this practice play the numbers game as many will not.
2. The fine print from hell
Most people actually reads the long, odious Terms of Service for anything they buy online. Some registrars bury truly chilling things in these terms like the aforementioned transfer-out fees and in one mind-boggling case a power-of-attorney.
At easyDNS, our Terms of Service are always in Plain English, and you don’t assign us the right to commit you to a mental institution by agreeing to them.
3. Pay-as-you-go
Whois Database Gotchas
5. Who owns your domain?
Read Also: Squarespace To Godaddy
Your Web Host May Own Your Domain
This is something I heard a couple of times in my research, but I dont actually know of web hosts who do this. Still, its good to watch out for.
The problem here is that when you buy a web hosting package, some hosts will register the domain name in their name.
Essentially, your package includes rental of the server space and domain name but not the ownership rights to the domain to do with it as you please.
This is not something Id worry about too much if youre using a reputable company. For instance, Bluehost says, Subject to the terms of your domain registration agreement, you will retain ownership of your domain until the end of its registration period.
With them, you can also transfer your domain away from Bluehost or to another person.
Just be sure to check the terms and conditions of any web host youre registering through so you dont run into this issue.
Choose The Best Domain Name Option
When youre checking for available domain names, youll often find that your first, second, and tenth choices are already taken. Some of the different approaches you can take when this happens are:
- Keep searching. Let your creative juices flow, and continue to search until you find something you love or at least like.
- Choose another extension. If the .com isnt available and youre set on a certain name, consider the .net or .org if you think it will work.
- Reach out to the owner. Maybe the domain is already owned, but its not being put to much use. You could reach out to the owner with an offer.
Recommended Reading: Multiple Domains On One Host
Why Everyone Should Register A Domain Name
My students get extra credit if they can show they’ve registered an internet domain name for themselves. In any future course I teach, this will no longer be optional it will be a requirement.
My students and the rest of us are partly who others say we are. That’s a key reason why each of us needs to be one of the voices defining us. To the extent that they live public lives in any way and like it or not, it’s getting harder not to be public in some way tomorrow’s adults will need an online home that they control. They need an online home, a place where they tell the world who they are and what they’ve done, where they post their own work, or at least some of it.
Of course, the students and most of their parents have a presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+, Tumblr, Flickr and all sorts of other places. The value of conversation and sharing in general is enormous, and these services offer great convenience. But to cede our online presences in a way, our very identities to these entities strikes me as a mistake.
Now, LinkedIn and the other services aren’t likely to alter what we say about ourselves in our profiles and other postings, and they offer convenience plus teams of people who handle issues like security, not to mention visibility for users. Yet, we all need to remember who’s in charge at those social media sites. You and I are just visitors, suppliers of content they hope to use to make money.
Tips For Choosing A Domain Name
Because .com is so popular, you may have difficulty finding your business name available as a .com. You can try one of the more obscure extensions, such as .info, .store, .shop or any other of the hundreds available. If youre set on getting a .com, though, consider using modifications on your business name.
Lets assume ghostlycastle.com is not available, and then try these changes:
- Add articles, such as a the or an
- Try adding another word to your domain
- Possibly include a hyphen
Disclaimer: Its worth noting that many of the domain registrars we include in our list of the best domain name registrars are subsidiaries of Endurance International Group , including Bluehost, HostGator, Domain.com and BuyDomains. The fact that theyre all under one umbrella should not affect the service you receive for domain registration, but its good to know.
You May Like: How To Transfer Domain From Wix To Shopify