Monday, March 25, 2024

Where To Buy Web Domain Names

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Is There Any Difference Between Domain Registrars

Where To Buy A Domain Name Without Web Hosting

Once you register a domain, its yours it doesnt matter which service you purchased it from. If a domain is available, you can usually buy it anywhere youd like. However, some domain registrars offer services or advantages that others dont.

Lets talk about a few key areas in which registrars tend to differ:

  • Additional hosting services. As we mentioned, some platforms tackle both domain registration and hosting, while others only offer one service.
  • Different prices for the same domains. Two domain registrars may charge you different prices for the same domain, for any number of reasons. That means its in your best interest to shop around if you want to save money.
  • Support for different sets of TLDs. Some registrars only deal with popular TLDs, such as .com and .net, whereas others may include more niche options. A few examples of those include .wiki and .blog.
  • Better domain management features. Ideally, you want to use a registrar that offers an intuitive user panel to help you manage your domains. At some point, you may need to transfer some domains over, or maybe modify their CNAME records. A convoluted control panel can complicate those tasks.

In summary, its smart to be picky about which domain registrar you use. You may want to choose one that offers premium top-level domains. At the very least, you want to use a service thats not going to make your life more complicated, which brings us to our next point.

Is My Domain Name Available

I don’t know, is it? Let’s check together! To do a domain name search, go to the top of this page, enter your desired domain name in the search box and click “Register domain” to find out its availability and the amount it’ll cost to register the domain.

Our domain search tool also helps you check out other available domain name extensions or variations that are available, such as yourwebsite.net or yourwebsite.org.

How To Buy A Domain Name In 5 Steps

Before we go any further, its worth noting that its only possible to register an existing domain name with a valid domain extension that other people or businesses dont already own.

Were going to dive deeper into the steps to register a domain name from finding a trusted registrar through which to buy a websites address to finally getting into the registration process.

Here are the five steps to buy a domain:

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How To Buy A Domain Name

When I purchased my first domain name, I did everything wrong. There wasnt a whole lot of information out there, and I didnt even know that I could buy a domain andbuild a website in the same place. All I knew was that I was going to start a new business, and I needed to be on the World Wide Web.

I didnt know:

  • Where to buy a domain name
  • The difference between a domain registrar and a web host
  • The various costs associated with buying a domain name
  • What to do if my domain name was taken
  • That I could buy an existing or expired domain name
  • What to do after I got my domain name
  • The good news is that I struggled with all of this already, so you dont have to!

    Need to choose a domain name?

    Read our article Whats a Domain Name?. Think through your options. Follow the dos and donts. And when youve found your domain name, read on

    How Should I Buy A Domain Name

    3 Ways to Buy a Cheap Domain Name

    Buying a new domain is simple. Here are the steps: i) Decide on a name for your domain and the TLD that you would like to use. The name would ideally be your business name and the TLD could be .com, .net, .biz, .online, etc. ii) Enter the domain name that you choose into the search box at the top of this page. Well let you know if the domain name is available and also display other options that you might like better. iii) Pick the option that suits you best, and proceed to purchase it. You are now the proud owner of your very own domain. You can now set up a website and configure a custom domain email address using this domain name.

    Also Check: How Much Should A Domain Name Cost Per Year

    Recommended Reading: How Much Does It Cost For A Domain Name

    Buying An Existing Or Expired Domain Name

    Take caution when thinking about purchasing an existing or expired domain name.

    Its a good idea to use the internet archive, Wayback Machine, to check out what that domain led to in the past. Basically, it gives you a snap-shot of the website that was up at a given domain at various points in time. It doesnt have every domain and website, but if youre looking to spend the extra money to purchase an existing domain, its worth a look.

    While purchasing an existing or expired domain name could potentially help with traffic and Search Engine Optimization , that traffic may not be the kind you want. You never want to purchase a domain that has a bad reputation, may send bad traffic or might be banned in . While youre checking out the archives, its a good idea to also check the domains status at bannedcheck.com and ismywebsitepenalized.com to be sure you really want that site.

    How Do I Decide Which Domain Name Provider To Use

    Think of domain retailers like grocery or big box stores. Prices, quality of service, and offerings differ. It pays to shop around and pick the one that suits your needs the best.

    Whatever you decide to go with, make sure your chosen providers have the products and customer service that will not only help you to get started but also help you to grow.

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    How To Choose A Domain Name

    Since your domain name can have a major impact on your online presence, what you choose is a vital first step in building your brand. Finding the perfect domain name, however, can be challenging.

    While its true that there are millions of domain names available, many of the popular domain names that are easy to remember are taken. Fortunately, you can still get what you need if you go through a simple process and use a bit of imagination.

    Avoid Numbers And Hyphens

    Where to Buy Your Domain? Best Domain Name Registrars 2021

    Imagine asking your 10 friends to spell or pronounce a domain name filled with numbers and dashes. It wont work.

    If you choose a domain name with these elements, youre likely going to lose traffic to people who cant remember your domain or effectively tell someone else how to find it. We probably wouldnt have Facebook today if you had to go to Face-Book.com to reach the site.

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    Expert Customer Support That You Can Count On

    We do more than answer questions and provide assistance when you need it, we help you reach your online goals and are invested your success.

    “Shawn and his team at Webnames went above and beyond to help us migrate our portfolio of dozens of domains from our previous registrar. Many of these domains required a local presence and correspondence with the respective local authorities, which Webnames took care of for us as well. Responsiveness and quality of support were among the main reasons we made the switch and I am extremely satisfied with the level of customer service provided by Webnames and very happy that we moved to them. Highly recommended!”

    “Webnames.ca offers exceptional service and quality, and they are local. We recommend them to our clients and we trust with them with our domains.

    “Webnames.ca takes the pain out of managing and maintaining our domain portfolio. MEC recommends Webnames.ca to other Canadian Corporations looking to secure themselves online.”

    “Getting the perfect domain for our business has been one of our best investments. Our domain brokering experience was efficient and professional. Thanks Webnames!”

    Choose A Hosting Plan

    The hosting menu will expand and present you with three different options:

    • Dedicated Hosting
    • VPS Hosting

    Youll still be able to bundle your hosting plan and domain registration if you select dedicated or VPS, but most of you wont need to worry about that right now. Just stick with shared hosting.

    Bluehost offers four different shared web hosting plans to choose fromBasic, Plus, Choice Plus, and Pro:

    If youre launching a small personal site, the Basic entry-level plan starting at $2.95 per month should be fine for you. For those of you launching a site for your business, Id go with the Choice Plus plan, at a minimum.

    The extra features that come with this plan are worth the few extra bucks per month.

    To continue, just click the Select button under the plan that fits your needs.

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    How To Find The Best Domain Registrar For You

    Finding the right domain registrar for your business can be tricky. Even in a list like this, how do you choose?

    Luckily, were here to help.

    Below are all the criteria we used when determining our list. We judged each product against these benchmarks to see how they performed. Use them to help guide your ultimate decision.

    Follow The Registrars Checkout Process

    How to Buy a Domain Name for your Website?

    Next, use the registrars tool to see if it can sell you your desired domain and TLD.

    If you can buy your domain, select a plan, and follow the registrars checkout process. Some registrars will offer a base plan with add-ons like a professional email address tied to your domain. Others offer methods that scale with your needs.

    Many registrars will also offer you multiple TLDs as a bundle deal . These plans are perfect for anyone concerned about visitors struggling to find the correct address or competitors buying the domain.

    Once you reach the checkout process, youll need to provide your registrar with your:

    • Name
    • Contact details
    • Payment information

    If you dont want your contact information to be public, make sure you purchase domain privacy.

    You should also check the duration of your registration carefully. Many registrars will allow you to buy your name for several years at a time, but you may want to select a shorter plan if you havent used that registrar before.

    Choosing a shorter plan to start with will allow you to switch if you arent happy with your registrars speed, security, service, or anything else.

    Read Also: What To Do After Buying A Domain Name From Godaddy

    Best Tips Before Buying A Domain Name

    Having a good domain name is essential since it can add extra credibility to a website, spread brand awareness, and ensure that users can find you on the internet. Thats why its crucial to dedicate some time to research before choosing the right domain name for your site.

    Here are 15 tips to review before deciding on a domain name:

    Buying A Domain From A Standalone Domain Registrar

    In most cases, going directly to a domain registrar like Namecheap will be your best option. As the name implies, these platforms specialize in domain registration.

    Buying domains directly from a standalone registrar will be faster than alternative methods. Thats because youre not bundling other services, so the process is more direct.

    Domain registrars also make it easier to buy domains in bulk. So if youre in the market for more than a single domain, definitely go with a registrar.

    If you want alternative extensions, domain registrars will offer significantly more options. While I typically dont recommend anything other than a .com domain, some of you might want to browse through hundreds of alternative extensions.

    Transferring domain names with a registrar is also easier than using a service that doesnt specialize in domain registration. So if you want to transfer your domain or think you might want to transfer it in the future, use a domain registrar.

    Its usually cheaper to buy domains directly from a registrar. For starters, the domain itself will likely be less expensive. But the best registrars, like Namecheap, include WhoisGuard protection for free with the purchase of a domain. You probably wont get that from a hosting company.

    The downside of getting your domain from a registrar is that theres an extra step in the process. Youll still have to get web hosting elsewhere.

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    Web Hosts And Domain Names

    You needn’t go to a dedicated registration service to buy a domain name, though. The best web hosting services, such as DreamHost, HostGator, and Hostwinds routinely offer a registration mechanism as part of the sign-up process. Hosting services typically offer a free domain name when you sign up for a web hosting package.

    Keep in mind, however, that free domain names are usually free only for one or two years, after which the registrar will bill you for the annual or biennial fee. In other words, the provider of the free domain name pays only for the first billing from the registrar. Also take note of whether or not the provider charges a fee for setting up a domain name. Most services offer to transfer an existing domain name to their servers at no cost, but sometimes you’ll find a setup fee over and above the registrar’s fee.

    Please note that not all web hosts give you the option to register a domain name. Cloudways, for example, is a solid web host that requires you to purchase a domain name from elsewhere.

    Registrars offer a wide variety of registration durationsone year, three, five, and even ten. Be careful about registering for more than a year, though. First, there might be restrictions on your ability to transfer the domain name should the registrar give poor service. Second, the registrar could go out of business, leaving your domain name without a host. Check the policies closely.

    Why Whois Privacy Is Important

    How to Purchase a Domain Name (Where to buy a domain for website)

    Without going too in-depth to what ICANN and WHOIS are, suffice to say its the nonprofit corporation that is responsible for keeping the internet secure and the naming structure of websites as it is. It requires anyone who registers a domain to provide accurate identifiable contact information, including name, address, email and phone number. Not everyone is comfortable with that information being public.

    Domain registrars have found a way to keep your info safe and still provide ICANN with the info they need. These domain privacy features replace your information with the registrars info, at least publicly. Anyone can look up who registered a domain name, so having domain privacy can reduce spam for you, and keep you safe.

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    What Is A Domain Name

    Every website on the internet has an IP address. These addresses point to a websites location think of them like GPS coordinates. The IP address, which is generally a set of numbers, usually resembles something like this:

    216.27.61.137

    Unfortunately, trying to remember all of those numbers in order to navigate to a website can be challenging. Thats where domain names step in and lend a hand.

    A structure called the Domain Name System translates those IP addresses into names that are simple to remember. Those names are called domain names.

    Your website’s domain is what people enter into the address bar on their browsers to point it toward your website. In the simplest terms, if an IP address is your websites GPS coordinates, the domain is its street address. Some examples are mailchimp.com and google.com.

    When someone types a domain into a browser, it gets routed through a DNS server. That server translates the name to figure out which IP address it points to. Then it grabs the data for that website and delivers it to the browser. This process happens in a matter of seconds, letting you find and view a website fast.

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