How To Register A Domain Name
Domain registration is the first step to establishing your online presence. It builds the groundwork for all the work needed to build a successful website. Fortunately, it’s a simple process that leads directly to building a website.
Domain registration is integrated with website builders and hosting platforms. Once you register your domain, it’s easy to use this existing infrastructure. Hosting platforms provide your server space, bandwidth, and built-in security. Website builders enable you to build a basic site with pre-designed options and without coding experience.
What Are Domain Names?
A domain name is a mailing address for an online address (website). Your domain name selection includes all the options that are not already owned. You buy a domain from a domain registrar. Choosing the right domain name gives you a massive advantage from the start.
The best choice of domain can give your brand the following:
- Increased Visibility
- Increased Credibility
- Search engine favorability
This is why some especially coveted “.com” domains cost as much as $10,000!
How To Register Your Domain Name
Registering your domain name now is important. Who knows; someone could end up stealing your idea first! Also, owning a domain requires just a few quick steps that can pay off in the long run. First, prepare by making a short list of acceptable domain names.
Choose a few options of domain names that are:
- Relevant
- Memorable
- Descriptive
- Intuitive
Think about how well the name communicates what users can expect from browsing your website. You want to pick a name that corresponds to what people search for on Google. You can use free tools like Google Trends to find out what people search for in your country, a selection of countries, or worldwide. It’s good to draft several names for a few reasons. Some domains are already owned. Also, your research may reveal that one option is better for SEO.
To find out which domains are owned, you can do a quick Google search. Domain registrars will offer that domain to you if it isn’t already owned and not for sale.
Choosing a Domain Registrar
A domain registrar is a corporation that offers domain registration and management. Some offer different domain extensions (eg. .com, .org, .biz). For example, most domain registrars offer .com domains for the highest price. National registrars like Web Hosting Canada offer local domain extensions (.ca in Canada’s case).
When choosing a domain registrar, there are a few factors to consider.
Pricing
Most domain names cost the same among major domain registrars. But it’s always good to check. To do so, simply search for the same domain name and domain extension on multiple registrars. Compare the prices they charge.
Reputation
Read customer reviews and check with impartial organizations such as the Better Business Bureau. Good customer feedback and a lack of customer action against the registrar are both good signs.
Domain management features
Tools and features enable you to change DNS settings and edit the interface, among other things. Features like domain forwarding and domain locking can become crucial when the need for them arises.
Security
Robust security is crucial. Without it, you can more easily fall victim to unauthorized access, hacking, or even domain hijacking. By the same token, data privacy is crucial, so check their privacy protection policies and resources. Losing customer data due to these shortcomings can be disastrous.
Support
It’s normal for some technical problems to pop up. The availability and quality of the registrar’s customer support determine how well these problems are dealt with.
Comparing Popular Domain Registrars
Many registrars offer bundled services with website builders and hosting included. Or, you can simply register a domain and carve your unique path to website construction.
Here’s a quick overview of a few popular domain registrars.
Domain.com
- Huge selection of domain extensions to help you save money
- $2 to $12 per year
Namecheap
- Simple user-friendly interface
- $2 to $30 per year
GoDaddy
- Lowest introductory rates and comprehensive services
- Uses an auction system; can start as low as $0.30 per year
IONOS
- Comprehensive hosting packages
- From $1 per year, normally up to $24 per year
BlueHost
- Built for WordPress users
- $24 to $108 per year
How To Register a Domain Name Step-by-Step
This process is similar to all domain registrars. As an example, let’s go over how to register a domain name with Namecheap.
Step 1: Search for Domain Name
On the Namecheap directory, search for the domain name you want to use. After you search for the name, you will see several options for domain extensions. Choose the domain extension you want. That means accepting the corresponding price in the process. To buy the domain, click “Add to cart”.
Step 2: Purchase & Auto-Renewal
View your cart to review the domain(s) you want to register. Use one of the available payment methods to make the purchase. Set “Auto-Renew” to agree to the annual rate to keep the domain active.
Step 3: Features & Integrations
From this point, you have options for using extensions for business email addresses, WordPress integration, and more. These are all options that you can consider based on your personal needs.
Step 4: Domain Configuration
Once you own a domain, the next step is domain configuration. Namecheap guides you through this process intuitively, so it is very clear at every step.
Step 5: Build Your Website
From here, it’s up to you to build the website. Similar to other registrars, they offer integrations with WordPress and email/hosting providers.
Integrating Website Builders
Many website builders come with domain registration included in their pricing. For example, Wix and Squarespace offer domain registration so beginners find it easier to get started. Platforms that don’t offer domain registration will provide concise instructions for connecting to your domain.
Even when website builders don’t include domain registration, they offer other benefits and features such as:
Ease of Use
Website builders are designed for the needs of users without coding experience. Their interfaces are designed to be simple enough for a child to use them.
Templates
Website builders enable you to use template components to design web pages. They often use drag-and-drop or other simple mechanisms to give you unlimited customization.
Integrations
Integrations with hosting platforms and other tools provide important functionality without requiring more work. Integrations provide enhanced workflows, access to professional tools, automation, and much more. There are also important SEO integrations for building an SEO-friendly domain.
Be sure to look into which integrations the website builder you choose offers. For example, WordPress offers tens of thousands of integrations for every purpose. Other builders normally offer a wide selection of their own.
Choosing a Hosting Platform
Website hosting services make your website accessible on the web. Some popular, reliable hosting platform examples include:
- SiteGround
- Amazon Web Services
- GoDaddy
- DreamHost
This “simple” service is multifaceted and necessary. To do so, hosting services offer:
- Storing website files
- Data storage on remote servers
- Facilitating website visits from around the world
- Security
- Database
- Payments/money transfers
- Some offer seamless integration with domain registrars and website builders
There are a few different types of hosting services. Here are the basics of how they work.
Shared Hosting
Multiple websites are hosted on a single server. They share computing power (RAM, CPU, data storage) for greater efficiency. They offer smaller businesses a more affordable hosting option. However, they are prone to poorer performance should one of the sites gain larger amounts of traffic than expected.
Virtual Private Server (VPS) Hosting
A dedicated portion of a private server is dedicated to the user. This means you get more control than with shared hosting. VPS hosting is a more reliable option for businesses with fluctuating website traffic.
Dedicated Hosting
An entire server is dedicated to your website alone. This grants you maximum performance and customization, at a higher cost. Businesses with complex functionality and high volumes of traffic often require dedicated hosting to perform well.
Cloud Hosting
A network of servers dynamically distributes its collective resources to meet the needs of users. Cloud hosting is normally very cost-effective and is the most versatile option. Because of its nature, cloud hosting is the best option for a quickly scaling website with dynamic needs.
Setting Up Your Domain with Your Website
With all of the above complete, the next step is connecting your site with your new domain. This is the step that connects your website visitors with the site you designed for them.
Pointing Your Domain to Your Hosting Account
You need to configure your domain’s DNS settings to direct traffic to the server where your site files are stored.
You’ll need to do the following:
- Get the DNS information from your hosting provider (varies by provider).
- Go to your domain registrar’s settings/controls.
- Edit the settings to point to your hosting account (these settings are normally named “DNS Settings”, “Domain Management” or something similar).
- Use a DNS checker to make sure the changes are active.
- Test your website manually to make sure everything is working.
It’s normal to have some kind of trouble at the start. Monitor your website’s performance based on the guide provided by your hosting platform. You may need to reach out to their support team in the case of performance/connectivity issues.
Maintaining Your Domain Registration
Most domain registrars make this step simple with automatic renewal. When you buy the domain, you can opt to automatically make an annual renewal payment. The rate is normally agreed to when you buy the domain and cannot be changed without your expressed approval. If for some reason auto-renewal isn’t offered, be sure to set a reminder.
Lastly, make sure your registration information is up to date. Check whether the following information has changed since you registered your domain:
- Contact information
- Ownership verification
- Security information (2FA, backup email, etc.)
- Compliance information
After that, check your account’s recent messages or notifications.
Missing any of this information can lead to complications with your hosting. These simple checks prior to renewal ensure that you won’t experience unnecessary downtime. Interruptions from simple issues like this can be harmful to your business.
Conclusion
Registering a domain name is the first step of building a website. By choosing a registrar and following their instructions, you can register your domain name. Or, you can choose a hosting service with an integration. Start the process of registering your domain name today in just a few steps.
FAQ
Q: How much does it cost to register a domain name?
A: The typical cost of a new domain is between $10 and $20, with similar annual maintenance fees. Buying an existing domain can cost a lot more. The most highly coveted domain names may cost thousands of dollars.
Q: How to find where my domain name is registered?
A: You can go to lookup.icann.org and click “Lookup” to get a fast answer.
Q: How to Acquire a Domain Name That is Already Registered?
A: People may sell domains they own on existing domain registrars. If the domain you want is not currently for sale, you can try reaching out to the owner. In this case, arranging with them is the only way to acquire ownership of the domain name.
