A Guide to Buying Your Internet Domain Name
In today’s digital age, your internet domain name is like your home address. It is where people can find you, your business, or your personal brand online. Whether you are starting a blog, launching a business, or setting up an online portfolio, choosing and purchasing an internet domain name is a crucial first step. In this guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know to buy an internet domain name.
Step One: Define Your Domain Name
Before jumping into the purchasing process, you will need to decide on a domain name that reflects your brand or personal identity. Here are some additional tips in order to help you choose:
Keep it Short and Memorable: A concise and catchy internet domain name is easier for visitors to remember. You will want to try to aim for around six to fifteen characters if possible. Some internet marketers recommend keeping your domain length to ten characters or less.
Become Relevant: You will want to choose an internet domain name related to your content, business, or niche. This will help visitors understand what to expect. Also, it may help with search engine optimization techniques.
Avoid Numbers and Hyphens: These can often lead to confusion. For example, six may be misinterpreted as the number 6. Hyphens, while allowed may also cause confusion. You will want your Internet domain to become memorable without any confusion.
Research Existing Domains: You will want to ensure that your desired internet domain name is not already in use or too similar to an existing brand, as this could lead to legal issues. Also, you may want to have a unique domain that will separate itself from any competition. If there already exists a popular brand with a domain similar to yours, you may have difficulty branding your website.
Consider Keywords: If you are starting a business, you may want to consider including relevant keywords in order to help with search engine visibility. Also, relevant keywords helps your potential website visitors to remember your domain. For example instead of using a brand name that is not popular you could use descriptive keywords in your internet domain name such as mycoffeebeans.com.
Step Two: Check Domain Name Availability
Once you have a few internet domain name ideas, it is time for you to see if they are available. You can use a domain name registrar like GoDaddy, Namecheap, or Bluehost. Most of these internet domain name registrars have a search tool where you can quickly check the availability of your desired domain.
Alternative Extensions
If your desired .com domain name is already taken, do not despair! There are numerous domain name extensions also known as top level domains available, including .net, .org, .co, and many industry-specific extensions such as .tech, .design, or .shop. These can provide more options and might even be more relevant to your brand.
Step Three: Choose a Domain Name Registrar
Once you have settled on an available internet domain name, it is time for you to choose an internet domain name registrar. Here are some popular options available:
GoDaddy: One of the largest and most well-known internet domain name registrars with a wide range of top level domains and various additional services.
Namecheap: Offers affordable prices and a user-friendly experience, along with free privacy protection on most domains.
Bluehost: Great for those starting a website, as it offers free domain registration with its hosting plans.
Google Domains: Simple and straightforward for those who prefer using Google services.
You will want to take a moment in order to compare prices, services, and user reviews before making your decision. Changing domain name registrars can cause website service interruptions so you may want to spend sufficient time choosing a reputable internet domain name registrar to begin with. Also, when chaning domain name registrars you would be required to transfer your internet domain name to your new provider.
Step Four: Register Your Internet Domain Name
Once you have selected an internet domain name registrar and ensured that your desired domain name is available, it is now time for you to register. Here is how to accomplish this task:
Create an Account: Sign up for an account with the registrar of your choice.
Add Domain Name to Cart: Enter your chosen domain name into the search bar and add it to your cart.
Choose Additional Services: Most internet domain name registrars offer additional services such as domain privacy protection, email hosting, and even web hosting. Domain privacy keeps your personal information confidential in the WHOIS databases. These databases keep who is responsible for domain names information.
Select Duration: Domains are usually registered for one year, but you can often purchase them for multiple years at once. You may receive a discount by registering your domain name for multiple years at a time. Also, you will not have to worry about renewing your internet domain name registration each year.
Enter Payment Information: Complete the purchase by entering your payment details. Make sure to review your order before confirming. You may want to use a credit card in case you run into any problems and need to dispute your purchase.
Step Five: Configure Domain Name Settings
Once you have registered your internet domain domain, you will want to configure the settings based on your needs. This may include linking it to a web host if you are building a website, setting up email accounts, or adjusting domain name system settings. Also, you will be able to create sub domain, aliases, forwarders, etcetera.
Step Six: Stay on Top of Your Domain Name Renewal
Remember that domain names need to become renewed periodically usually yearly depending on your domain name registrar. You can set reminders or enable automatic renewal with your registrar in order to ensure you do not lose ownership of your domain. Also, you can have your internet domain name revoked if you do not renew your domain registration within the grace period.
In Conclusion
Buying an internet domain name is a straight forward process, but it is a significant step that requires careful consideration. Taking the time to choose the right domain name, registrar, and additional services can set up your online presence for success. Whether you are creating a personal blog or launching a new business, your domain name is your digital identity.
You can make it count the first time. Choosing the correct domain can help your website succeed. Happy internet domain name registering!