Why Every Small Business Should Own A Domain Name
? You should buy a domain name.
A domain name is the address for a websiteyou’re reading this article on zapier.com, for example. Registering a domain name isn’t expensive, typically costing around $15 a year.
Some businesses use the free subdomains offered by web hosts like Wix or WordPress.com. If Zapier went this route, for example, you could be reading this article on zapier.wordpress.com, and we’d have an extra $15 a year to spend on snacks.
Obviously, it would be silly for a tech company like Zapier not to have a dedicated domain name. We’d look amateurish. Here’s the thing, though: this is true for every business. You should buy a domain, even if you don’t plan on having much of a websiteor any website at all. Here’s why.
Speaking of WordPress: here’s the , just in case you’re thinking about choosing one or the other. And here are .
But Wait What If My Domain Name Is Taken
You have options. You could come up with a new name, slightly modify the domain name with a suffix, or try a different extension than .com. You could also use Whois to contact the current domain owner and get their asking price. If the domain is privately registered, you could also use a broker to negotiate on your behalf. It all depends on how badly you want that name. At the very least, it doesnt hurt to reach out. Youll be able to tell from the looks of the site whether itll be expensive to purchase or not. Theres no market rate for buying a domain name from somebody. It could cost you $10, or in the case of insurance.coms 2010 sale $35.6 million!
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Registrars And Website Hosts
The registrar may be the same company as the host, or it may be a totally different company. Most companies will allow customers to perform a name search & register it there. In fact if you choose a package first it is likely to get it for free for one year. Because the equipment required by registrars is so similar, most companies engage in both activities. Many companies marketed as registrars offer domain packages to those that use their name registration services, and other companies marketed as website hosts offer free or discounted registration for subscribers to their packages.
Find a host first or start with a search on a registrar. However, if it is already registered, you can subscribe to nearly any other hosting service. All you have to do is tell the host the names of the servers where the name information is stored.
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Review The Purchase Summary
It can take up to 48 hours for your domain to start working. If this domain is the first domain that you add to Shopify, then it’s automatically configured to be the web address thats displayed to customers. If you already use a domain with your store, then the new domain automatically redirects to your primary domain.
Brainstorm Concepts And Ideas
If you already have a name you want to buy, awesome! Head on down to the next section.
If you want to see if your domain name is actually good , keep reading.
This is crucial. Its the name youll use for your business, or a campaign, or a blog. You want to try your best to nail this on the first try.
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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.
Many Names One Destination
With most registrars, its easy to forward multiple domains to your website so you can simply create one site and then redirect visitors who type one of your other domain names to that one website. Google Domains offers simple web forwarding that lets you redirect any of your domains to your main website, or even to specific pages within your site, such as an order page, support page or image gallery.
Ready to find additional domain names? Visit now to search for names that perfectly complement your existing domain.
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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.
How To Buy A Domain Name: A Comprehensive Guide
Are you wondering how to buy a domain name? Well break down the exact steps for you in this guide.
Whether youre a new business owner about to create your first website, a marketer branching out into a new field, or just want a website for your hobby, weve got you covered.
Registering a domain may seem tricky if youve never done it before. But its surprisingly easy after all, there are over 1.9 billion websites online .
In this article, well teach you how to buy a domain name and review some of the best domain registrars on the market .
Lets go.
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What Should You Do Next
If you decide that it makes sense for your company to own multiple domain names, the next steps are going to be simple. First, figure out which domain name registrar is going to be best for you. Next, make a list of all the different domains including their TLDs that you want to purchase. If you have a large list, consider contacting the domain name registrar to see if you can negotiate a discount. If not, simply go through and register each domain separately to your account.
Once you own the domains, set them up with a website. This can be done by pointing that domain to an existing website or creating an entirely new site for each one. Verify that youre keeping track of each domain and how long you own it. Making sure that you renew the domain before it expires helps ensure that you never lose access to your domains.
Why Having A Domain Name Is Important
Whether you own an existing business or have an idea for a startup, you need a strong online presence. Usually, the first thing your potential customer will do when searching out your product or service is to conduct a web search, and if your website is relatively easy to find and navigate, youll greatly increase your chances of a sale.
With the majority of shopping happening on the internet, the dynamic of marketing has changed significantly, and one of the most effective and lasting methods of reaching potential customers is through a well-developed and maintained website. From a marketing standpoint, you can create a lasting brand image with the right domain name.
Online success starts with a great domain. Get yours today at Domain.com.
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Add Domain Id Protection
When you register a domain name with ICANN, you must provide your contact information including your name, phone number, physical address, and email address.
As soon as your domain name is registered, this contact information becomes available to the public unless you pay for domain privacy through your domain registrar. This domain privacy will shield your information from view, keeping your personal information safe from spammers or worse, identity thieves.
Once youve got the domain name in hand, youre ready to find hosting and build your website. Consider a free CMS, like HubSpot, to design your website, strategize for SEO, and create a blog.
Why You Should Buy Multiple Domain Names For Your Business
Written by Michael Levanduski
Disclosure: Your support helps keep the site running! We earn a referral fee for some of the services we recommend on this page. Learn more
If you own a business, you almost certainly understand how important it is to register a domain name for your company website. For many people, however, buying one domain name isnt going to be enough.
There are some significant benefits to owning multiple domain names for your business. Take some time to learn more about this option to see if its a good idea for you. While reading this article, find out:
- Why do businesses buy more than one domain?
- What types of domains should you consider purchasing?
- How do you manage multiple domains?
- What problems could you face with multiple domains?
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Types Of Domain Names
A domain name is usually broken up into two or more parts, each of which is separated by a dot, such as techradar.com. The section to the right of the last dot in the domain name is the top-level domain . These are usually one of the generic TLDs such as .com, .net, and .org.
Then there are ccTLDs, which are country code top level domains such as .uk and .in. Theyre meant to be used to identify sites meant for specific regions, such as bbc.co.uk or abc.net.au.
Unlike gTLD, many TLDs are intended for a specific use case. For instance, .edu is meant specifically for educational institutions, while .gov can only be used by Government agencies. You can view a list of all valid TLDs here .
Domain Registrar Vs Web Host
Theres a lot of info out there about this, much of it convoluted and confusing mostly because most registrars provide web hosting services, and most web hosts also register domain names. And you dont have to get your domain from your web host . The hardest part is keeping everything straight.
So keep this in mind
A domain name is an address on the World Wide Web. And a website is like the building at that address. You can usually get both in the same place, but not always.
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Make It Short And Sweet
When people finally find your website, youll want them to keep visiting again and again. The best way to do this is to choose a memorable domain name. The longer your domain, the more likely it is that your visitors will forget it. So, when you buy domain names, choose short names over long, forgettable ones.
Does It Matter If Your Domain Name Is Different From Your Business Name
With just about every business worldwide boasting a website these days, it’s gotten a lot more difficult than it used to be to find the website domain name you want. Does it matter if your domain name is different than your business name?
Of course, the ideal situation is to have your domain name match your business name. If you’re just starting your business and haven’t yet decided on a business name, you may even want to adjust your business name to match available domains. For example, suppose you were planning to name your business Rinaldi Pizza, but the domain name RinaldiPizza.com is taken. If RinaldiPizzeria.com is available, you could change your business name to Rinaldi Pizzeria.
The situation is a little trickier if youre the owner of an established business but are just now getting around to creating a website. When you start your search for domain names, there are a couple of situations you may run across:
- YourBusinessName.com is taken, but the owner of the domain is not currently using it. You may be able to buy it from them. Do a WHOIS lookup to find contact information for the owner of the domain and/or for their domain registrar. Contact the person and see if they are interested in selling the domain.
Read more: 5 reasons your business needs its own email domain
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Choose The Right Domain Extension
When picking the extension or TLD for your domain name, .com is still the best choice unless you have a reason to choose something else.
While Google confirms that your choice of TLD will not impact rankings, it does affect consumer perception. Many people view other TLDs as less trustworthy.
That said, .net or .org extensions are not uncommon, so they can be good secondary options if you find the perfect name and the coveted .com isnt available.
But if you do decide to go with an extension other than a .com, make sure you take a look at what type of website is currently on the .com extension. Someone is bound to go there accidentally while looking for your brand. If the site holds fishy or offensive content, you might want to steer clear of that name altogether.
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.
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Consider These Popular Domain Extensions:
.com
The most popular and professional extension for any kind of website.
Grow your network, and your business, with a .net domain.
Brand your site as an organization for greater good.
Show you’re at the forefront of todayâs tech scene with a highly relevant domain.
Get personal. Show off what you’re all about to your visitors.
Rep your company with a domain that’s globally recognized and memorable.
What To Do If The Domain Name Is Unregistered
In this case, all you need to do is go to Domain.com and register the domain name .
Youll find out for sure if that is an option or not once you type the domain name into the search bar.
Youll go through a straightforward process here. Dont buy any of the add ons or worry about web hosting or any of that yet except for privacy protection.
Its what will keep your name off a bunch of spam call lists. You want to use Domain.com to register your domain name and keep your information private . Thats it.
They are the best domain registrar and I use them exclusively. I do not use them for anything else because there are other companies that I use for the rest of my web needs. Im a huge proponent of going to the expert in each area of my business.
After you finish registering the domain name, youre done! You are officially the proud owner of your new domain name. All you have to do moving forward is renew the domain name each year.
If you fail to renew it, then someone else will be able to replace you as the owner. I recommend setting your domain to auto-renew. Its just one less thing to worry about.
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Why Businesses Buy More Than One Domain
There are many different reasons why businesses consider purchasing multiple different domain names. The following are some of the most common reasons why a business would spend the time and money needed to set up and manage more than one domain:
- If you have a specific domain for each service, you may be able to run more precise marketing campaigns
- SEO: Your domain can have a big impact on your search engine results, and having multiple domains can benefit your SEO efforts
- Legal protection: Buying domains related to your business or business name now can help you to avoid the need to sue someone for trying to steal it later
What If I Never Received A Renewal Reminder
Registrars are required to send two renewal reminders one month and one week before the expiration of a domain name. The registrar must display on its website the methods for sending these notices.
If you did not receive renewal reminders from your registrar , please submit a Domain Renewal Complaint Form.
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