Choosing A Reputable Domain Registrar
The allocation of all available domain endings has been the responsibility of ICANN since 1998. The organization manages all established and new top-level domains and sells the allocation rights to registries, which in turn work together with domain registrars . So, if you want to get a suitable address for your website, the first step is to choose a suitable registrar. Here you should not only pay attention to the costs, but also make sure that the desired top-level domain is available.
In addition, it is important that you choose a serious provider. Otherwise, you run the risk of the purchased domain not being registered correctly or not being available at all. In our big domain provider comparison, we took a closer look at the best domain startup sites like IONOS and united-domains for you.
You dont necessarily have to register a domain just for your own website – the domain trade has been booming for years now. You can find out more on this topic in our article Domain trading: How can you make money with domains?.
$1 Domain Names
Google Discounts Pixel 6 Nest & Pixel Buds In Limited
Renewing A Domain Lease
While you cannot buy a domain name, you can maintain your lease as long as your registrar exists. The first step is, of course, making the initial payment to lease your chosen domain name. Registration typically lasts for a year, so you’ll need to keep the date of your initial registration in mind. Before the year ends, find the option on your registrar’s website to renew the lease and pay a new charge.
You can preempt the expiration of your domain lease in this manner. There are other options to make it easier, however. For instance, most registrars offer an auto-renewal option, but vigilance is still necessary even when you rely on auto-renewal. Many registrants change their credit cards and forget to update the payment information associated with their lease, at which point they lose the domain.
Long-Term Leases
Another option is taking out the maximum lease that ICANN allows. ICANN is the international body that governs domains and related considerations, and they typically allow registration from one to 10 years. A term of 10 years may be more cost-effective and reduce any worries of losing the lease. While it’s not a lifetime lease, it is more enduring than a standard one-year lease. However, that raises questions about the registrars that offer leases beyond 10 years.
Lifetime Leases
What’s The Best Option?
How Do I Choose The Best Domain Name
Great question! Here’s a few core things to consider when choosing your new domain name:
Recommended Reading: How To Transfer Squarespace Domain To Shopify
Verify Ownership Of Your New Domain
Paying for your domain might seem like the last step in the process, but you also need to verify your ownership. This step lets you send email using the domain and keeps other people from using it without your permission.
If you purchase your domain through Mailchimp, this process is simple. Youll receive a verification email after you complete your purchase. Simply click on the Verify Domain button in the email and follow the instructions on the next page, and you can start using your domain to build your brand. Youll only ever have to complete this step once.
Is Domain Name Privacy Protection Worth It
To put it simply: yes, yes, and yes.
To put it a little less simply: When your domain is registered, you’re required to maintain a publicly viewable WHOIS database that displays all your contact details â including home address and phone number. This puts you at risk of spam and identity theft .
Luckily, you can keep your info hidden from the public eye by opting to use HostGator’s Domain Privacy Protection. Interested parties will still be able to contact you if they so please, but your identity will remain anonymous â aka super top secret. Learn more about Domain Name Privacy.
Recommended Reading: Wix Domain Forwarding
Check Social Media Handles
Before registering your great idea, take a few minutes to see its already in use as a handle on social media platforms. Its ideal to have a clients domain and social media handles match in order to create a stronger brand. Visitors will feel more confident finding your client online, and theyll have more credibility when you share all the cool stuff youre doing.
Namecheap: Cheap Prices Decent Service
NameCheap is as cheap as the name suggests. They offer great deals starting at just $8.88 for most .com domains, with some more obscure extensions even being under a dollar. Their DNS isnt bad either, offering free WhoIs protection and a robust DNS provider thats easy to manage and transfer.
They have a bulk search option that lets you search up to 50 domain names at once, so if you have a whole list of ideas, you can enter them all in, see which ones might be taken, and check the prices for different TLDs.
They do offer managed WordPress hosting through EasyWP, though its probably best to go with a better WordPress provider and forward the domain to that site.
Image Credits: Maxx-Studio/Shutterstock
Recommended Reading: Find Mail Server For Domain
Integrate With Social Media
If you’re planning to use social media to market your business, it’s a good idea to check if the name you want is also available on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or other social media channels you’d like to use. When you start marketing your business online, using social media channels makes it easier to send integrated messages to your customers make sure you note these down in your
How To Choose A Domain Name Registrar
The first step toward buying a domain name for your new venture is selecting a domain name registrar.
There are several factors youll want to consider when selecting your domain registrar, but before going into those details, lets break things down a bit and explain a few different terms that you might come across as youre searching for the right domain name registrar.
Registrar refers to a company, such as GoDaddy, that manages the domain name registration process. Different domain extensions are managed by their respective registries, but those registries dont sell domains directly to users . Thats where the registrar comes into play.
Like a middle man, the registrar works with the registries in order to deliver domains to end-users.
So, now that youre a bit more familiar with how the registry/registrar relationship works, lets take a look at what to consider when selecting your domain registrar.
Also Check: Connect Wix To Shopify
Who Can Register A Domain Name
Anyone… but some extensions have registration rules or restrictions. For example, you can only register a .ltd.uk if you are a limited company and the domain is an exact match to your company name. Most extensions like .com, .co.uk and many more, are open for everyone to register. If you’re uncertain about the rules, you can check the information icon next to each extension in our search results.
Dont Hesitate To Register Your Perfect Domain
If you already used Media Temples domain name search tool to find a web address your client will love, make sure you register it without delay. Each day thousands of domains are registered taking them off the market. Once you find an available domain that resonates with a brand, register it and any variants, and then help your client get started making their way online.
About the Author
You May Like: How Much Does It Cost To Buy A Domain
How To Buy A Domain Name In 3 Steps
Buying a domain name may seem like a daunting process. After all, there are so many domain extensions and domain name registrars to choose from, it can be quite difficult to know where to start. However, once you know what is involved in buying a domain name, the process becomes pretty straightforward.
There are three steps that you have to follow to buy a domain name:
Choose The Right Web Address
In general the best web addresses:
- reflect the name of your business
- are three syllables or less, such as Yahoo!
- are easy to remember, pronounce, spell and type
- are alliterative, for example beyondblue and Firefox
- are also available for registration via social media channels.
Some people argue a good web address is one that people are searching for online and come up in search engines, for example Melbourne plumbers. Use the tools to check high search terms.
Others argue a good web address will be unique or distinct, such as for Google so it stands out in a crowded market, and won’t have to compete for web traffic online because of searches for popular terms.
You May Like: Transfer Shopify Domain To Another Host
How To Buy A Domain Name With Namecheap
The market is flooded with domain registrars. But Namecheap is definitely my favorite. Its super easy for anyone to buy a domain using this registrar, even if its your first time.
This method is a bit more straightforward than using Bluehost, only because youre not bundling any other servicesNamecheap is strictly for buying a domain.
The entire process can be completed in just three quick steps.
How To Figure Out If You Own Your Domain
The name that appears in the domain registration is the legal owner. To find out who owns your domain name:
- Enter your domain name and click search.
- Scroll down to the bottom of the page and look under the Whois Record.
- If your name or an entity owned by you is registered as the owner, then you have no worries. Note it is important that both the Registrant and Administrator fields are in your name, if both are listed.
If your name is not shown as the registered owner, it is likely because of one of the below scenarios:
Also Check: Godaddy To Squarespace
A Summary Of The Most Important Tips For Buying A Domain
Your web address should be considered the flagship of your website or online store. So, when looking for a good combination of top- and second-level domain, its best to leave yourself enough time to find a satisfactory solution. Below, weve summarized some tips that will help you to make this process as successful as possible.
Are you searching for a suitable solution to realize your web project? Use the MyWebsite Design Service from IONOS and let our design experts design a custom website for you.
- 16.04.21
Avoid Slang & Pop Culture
Imagine if today you tried appealing to a millennial demographic by using the term xtreme in a domain. You might reel in droves of fortysomethings, but the target audience would likely find that choice of words laughably outdated.
Planning for long-term success means picking a web address with classic appeal, not something that fades from popularity within a few years.
Similarly, avoid slang or use only slang thats universally recognizable. With the global reach of the internet, its not unthinkable that youll attract some folks who speak English as a second language. Make it easy for them.
Recommended Reading: Transfer Domain From Wix To Squarespace
What Should My Domain Name Be
Ideally, youre going to be holding on to this domain name for a long time, so choosing the right one is important.
When youre considering a domain name, ask yourself these questions:
- Is it relatively short? Super long domain names are hard to remember and type. Aim for 15 characters or less.
- Does it read well? If people mentally stumble over saying your URL, itll lose some of its impact.
- Is it specific to me? Youre trying to enhance your personal brand, so pick a domain name that helps with that.
To see whether a domain name is available, try Squarespaces domain search engine.
Id start by looking up your first and last name followed by .com. This format is memorable, relevant, and uniqueand as I talked about earlier, owning your name gives you more control over your online identity.
If your name isnt available with the .com extension, consider using a different extension. For example, you could use .bio or .expert if you want to keep it professional, .design or .finance if you want to tie it to your profession, or .cool or .fyi if you want to add a little humor and personality. The options are pretty endless.
You can also experiment with different variations on your name. Here are some ideas:
- first name + middle initial + last name
- first name + middle name + last name
- first initial + middle initial + last name
Alternatively, you can incorporate your profession or interests. Here are some more ideas:
Where To Buy A Domain Name
When you buy a domain name, you do so through a Domain Registrar that manages the registration of that domain name. For most registrars, youll buy the domain from them and then use a hosting provider to manage the website. Some companies provide both services.
is a great tool for finding domains and integrates well with Googles mail services. Namecheap and Hover are other great options and offer good DNS support and mail hosting in addition to low prices on domains.
You can also buy directly from your hosting provider , but if you want to switch providers, its generally more difficult as youll usually have to transfer the domain to another registrar, sometimes even having it locked down to that specific host.
Read Also: Squarespace To Godaddy
Ways To Buy A Domain Name
Generally speaking, there are two main ways to buy a domain name. Both of which have been covered abovedomain registrars and hosting providers.
There are pros and cons to each method, and the process for each one is very different.
Ill quickly explain the differences between these options so you can figure out which one is the best choice for your website.
Determine If The Domain Seems Attainable
If a domain is unavailable from a registrar, try going directly to that website and see what you find. If theres an active website or business using that domain, it might be tougher to acquire.
But if you dont see an active site, theres a good chance that domain will be for sale.
Heres an example for management.com:
Clearly, not much is happening on this site. So if you wanted this premium domain, there is a pretty good indication here that its for sale.
In some cases, youll even see text like buy this domain or information that says this domain might be for sale. All of these are good signs that the domain is attainable.
Recommended Reading: How Much Do Domain Names Cost