How Is A Domain Name Registered

Whether you're starting a blog, showcasing your portfolio online, or opening an online store, your domain acts every bit the principal reference point for users looking to detect your website, making information technology inseparable from your brand.

Registering a domain name doesn't take very long, but that doesn't mean you should rush through information technology. Domain names are difficult to modify one time you've launched. Doing so can negatively impact your search engine rankings and make it harder for users to notice your website.

That's why it's crucial to consider your domain name carefully, choice one with long-term potential, and brand sure that you've registered information technology correctly.

If you're looking to register a domain name for your website, here's how to become started.

How to Annals a Domain Name in iv Steps

1: Cull a domain name
2: Make sure your domain is available in the domain name organisation (DNS)
3: Choose a domain proper noun registrar
4: Purchase and annals your domain name

Registering a domain name with Shopify
Registering a domain name with Google Domains
Registering a domain proper name with GoDaddy
Registering a domain proper noun with IONOS

Renew your domain name registration at the cease of your term
How do I register a domain name for free?
How to register a domain proper name FAQ

1. Choose a domain name

If y'all don't already have a name for your brand, information technology'south a practiced idea to merge the domain selection process with the process of coming up with a brand name. Your domain name will be inseparable from your brand, meaning they'll both be more than memorable if they're akin.

If your company already has a name, your kickoff-choice domain is probable YourBrand.com, just if that's taken, you have a couple options for making sure information technology's easy for users to associate your brand with your domain name:

Use a suffix. Add a word to the end of your domain name to differentiate it. You could add the proper noun of your chief product (yourbrand shoes .com), your location (yourbrand canada .com), or something all-encompassing (yourbrand online .com, yourbrand shop .com).

Use a prefix. Add an action-oriented verb at the showtime of your domain that draws attention to your production ( get yourbrand.com, article of clothing yourbrand.com, eat yourbrand.com).

Use a different domain proper noun extension. A domain name extension, too referred to as a top-level domain (TLD), is the suffix that appears at the end of your domain. The most commonly used domain extension is .com, merely there are also region-specific domain extensions (such as .ca, .usa, or .eu) and a growing number of specialty domain extensions (such as .shop or .store). Proceed in heed that specialty domain extensions tend to be more expensive.

ii. Make sure your domain is bachelor in the domain name system (DNS)

When users enter a URL in their browser, the browser sends a request to a global network of servers that are able to locate your website using something chosen the domain name system (DNS).

The DNS is a universally recognized, decentralized system for naming websites. This is what allows computers, phones, and whatsoever other device that can access the internet to find the webpage a user is looking for.

Checking domain availability simply takes a couple of seconds, and nearly every registrar and hosting service has a gratis domain proper name search tool that allows you lot to practice this. Here are a few tools for rapidly checking the availability of a domain:

Shopify
Google Domains
GoDaddy
IONOS
Bluehost
Domain.com
Namecheap
HostGator

Recall that domain names are universal, so if a domain name is unavailable from one provider, information technology's unavailable from all of them. What's great nigh these tools is that they'll often suggest like domains that are bachelor if yours isn't.

If your domain name is unavailable, yous might go a message back about brokering the domain. This means that the domain name is taken, but the registrar offers a service wherein they will negotiate with the domain possessor on your behalf to try and get them to sell their domain name.

Although snagging your start-choice domain proper name might sound enticing, it's important to sympathise the risks associated with attempting to broker a domain proper name.

Banker service fees are paid in improver to domain registration fees, fifty-fifty if the electric current domain owner is unwilling to sell the domain. The process can be time-consuming and delay the launch of your store. And even if the current owner does make an offer, it'south likely to be far more than expensive than just purchasing an available domain.

Acquire more than: Domain Name Services: Which Hosting Provider Should You Trust?

iii. Choose a domain name registrar

A registrar is a company that reserves and registers domain names on your behalf. When you buy a domain name, either straight from a registrar or through a web-hosting service, it's registered to the DNS for you.

Though there are more than a thousand accredited registrars, it's all-time to stick with more well-known providers. Using a mutual provider will make it easier to find info on managing your domain and to troubleshoot bug you might take with syncing your domain to other services.

Domains tin be purchased from a number of different types of businesses. Yous might cull to purchase ane from a website-edifice platform (similar Shopify, Squarespace, or WordPress), a spider web-hosting service (like HostGator or BlueHost), or directly from a domain registrar (like GoDaddy, NameCheap, or Google Domains).

How much does a domain name cost?

Domain names aren't sold for a flat-rate. Instead, they're paid for on a recurring basis (ordinarily annually). When considering the costs of your domain, be mindful of the difference between the starting price and the renewal price.

Domain providers often offer discounted rates on domains for the first twelvemonth or two, particularly if the domain is purchased in addition to other services. The starting price is unremarkably lower than the renewal price, and so when budgeting for the long term, make sure you lot factor in the cost of renewing your domain downward the road.

On top of this, your domain extension tin change the toll of the domain. Specialty domain extensions like .store are normally more expensive than available .com domains.

While the price of domains is important, at that place are a lot of other factors to consider as well. If you're looking for the domain provider that'due south right for you, hither's a couple of questions to ask yourself:

How like shooting fish in a barrel will it be to point my domain to my website? The advantage of purchasing a domain from a web-building platform is that set-upwardly tends to be fast and like shooting fish in a barrel, since you lot're only dealing with one company directly. Using services from different companies adds additional steps and tends to be more technical or disruptive.

Will I need domain privacy protection? When you register a domain, your contact info becomes publicly bachelor in the global ICANN registry. Privacy protection is a feature that hides this data. Some providers (like Shopify), provide domain privacy protection for free on all domains, but some providers offer this feature at an additional toll.

Which domain extension(southward) do I desire to use? A domain extension is the part of the domain that comes at the end. All domain providers offer .com domains, but if you're looking for a region-specific domain extension (such as .ca, .eu, or .au), or a speciality domain (.shop, .store, etc.), you lot'll want to make sure you choose a provider that provides them.

Do I demand any other services? Domain registrars usually offer additional services, like ecommerce hosting, website building features, and electronic mail hosting. Occasionally, domains are offered at what seems like a low rate, but merely in addition to the purchase of other services.

To make it easier to decide, hither's a quick breakdown of major domain providers, their starting price points, and cost of WHOIS privacy protection:

Shopify

Beginning-year toll: Starting at $14

Renewal cost: $14/yr

WHOIS privacy protection: Free

Google Domains

First-twelvemonth toll: Starting at $10

Renewal price: $10/year

WHOIS privacy protection: Free

GoDaddy

First-year price: Starting at $0.99

Renewal cost: $18.99/year

WHOIS privacy protection: $nine.99/yr

IONOS

Kickoff-year toll: Starting at $ane

Renewal price: $15/year

WHOIS privacy protection: Complimentary

Bluehost

Offset-year price: Starting at $12.99

Renewal price: $12.99/year

WHOIS privacy protection: $11.88/yr

Domain.com

First-year price: Starting at $9.99

Renewal price: $9.99/year

WHOIS privacy protection: $8.99/year

Namecheap

First-year price: Starting at $8.98

Renewal price: $13.98/yr

WHOIS privacy protection: Free

HostGator

First-year price: Starting at $12.95

Renewal toll: $17.99/yr

WHOIS privacy protection: $14.95/year

4. Purchase and annals your domain proper noun

In one case y'all've decided on a registrar and a proficient domain proper name, you're ready to proceed with purchasing your domain name. Once you lot've purchased your domain, your provider volition reserve and register it on your behalf.

Registering a domain name with Shopify

If y'all're edifice an online shop, the quickest and easiest fashion to add together and annals a domain is by purchasing information technology directly through Shopify. Setup is automatic, and having a Shopify domain allows you to edit your domain settings, prepare up subdomains, and create forwarding email addresses all in the same place you manage your ecommerce store.

To register a domain with Shopify, beginning past logging into your Shopify shop and proceeding with these steps:

From your Shopify admin, become to Settings > Domains.
Click Buy new domain and enter the domain proper noun you lot wish to purchase. As you enter your domain, you'll see an automobile-generated list of available extensions. Click the Buy button next to the domain y'all'd similar to register.
If you haven't added a payment method to your store, you'll exist asked to exercise so at present. In one case yous've added your payment method, you lot'll be brought to the summary folio, where you lot can edit your personal information, signal whether y'all want the domain auto-renewed each year, and review the ICANN policy and the Domain Registration Agreement.
Once you cease reviewing the information, click Buy domain.
Later on y'all complete the buy, a verification email volition exist sent to the e-mail address associated with your Shopify shop. Click the link in the email to verify your information and complete your domain registration.

Subsequently you verify your domain, registration is complete. Note that it can have upwardly to 48 hours before the domain is working properly. Once you've completed setting up your domain, you'll be able to edit your domain settings, prepare upward subdomains, and create forwarding email addresses in the Settings > Domains section of your Shopify admin.

Registering a domain proper noun with Google Domains

Google Domains is one of the most popular domain registrars. Google Domains is endemic and operated by Google, and as such, has the benefit of being able to easily sync with other Google services.

For case, if you lot wanted to create custom email addresses with your domain name (info@YourDomain.com, for example), Google Domains has built-in integrations with Gmail and Google Workspace that make setup more seamless.

To annals your domain with Google, start by going to the Google Domains registration page.

Click the Find the Perfect One push button and enter your domain to bank check its availability.
Click the Add to Cart icon next to the domain you wish to buy and register. If you'd like to purchase additional domains, yous can select the Add to Cart icon next to them also.
Once y'all have added all your selected domains, click the Get to cart option that pops upward at the bottom of your screen, or select the cart icon in the top right corner.
On the next screen, signal if you lot'd like Privacy Protection and whether yous'd like the domain to renew automatically after the first year. Click Checkout at the bottom of your cart when you're finished.
Ane the next screen, enter the contact data you lot'd like associated with your domain and click Save and Continue.
On the next screen, edit your payment data and select Buy.

Later on you've received confirmation that your buy was successful, your domain has been reserved and registered with Google Domains.

Registering a domain proper noun with GoDaddy

GoDaddy is one of the oldest and best known domain providers, so it's very piece of cake to find information on integrating your domain with all kinds of tertiary-political party services. If yous're looking to annals your domain with GoDaddy, here are the steps you'll need to take:

Beginning by going to GoDaddy.com and entering your domain into the field and clicking Search Domain.
If your domain is available, click the Get it push at the top of the folio. You tin also add more domains from the suggestions beneath by clicking the add to cart icon next to them.
Once you've selected the domains you want to register, click Continue to Cart.
I the next page, you'll exist offered a number of services GoDaddy provides in addition to its domains. These services include e-mail hosting and website building. If you're already using a website-building service, like Shopify or Squarespace, you'll want to opt out of this service.
Once you've selected the services you'd similar to add to your purchase, click Continue to Cart.
On the next folio, you'll run across a break down of your selected services and their charges. You tin can remove items by selecting the garbage can icon. You'll also exist able to select the payment term. Typically, domains are paid yearly, but GoDaddy allows you to select a term of up to 10 years for .com domains. If everything looks correct, select the I'm Ready to Pay button.
Next, you lot'll be prompted to create a GoDaddy business relationship or log in to an existing one. When you practice this, you'll exist asked to provide billing and payment information. Enter your information and proceed to the Complete Buy page.
Review your data and click Complete Buy if everything is correct.

In one case you've completed your purchase, your domain will be successfully registered with GoDaddy.

Registering a domain name with IONOS

Headquartered in Germany, Ionos is one of the oldest players in the it industry, having been around since 1988. Ionos offers domain registration along with website hosting plans.

To annals your domain with IONOS, go to the IONOS homepage:

Enter your domain name in the field at the top and select Check.
If the domain is available, click Add to Cart next to the domain. You can also add together additional suggested domains past clicking Add together to Cart adjacent to them.
Ane the next folio, IONOS offers a number of services in add-on to its domains, such as email hosting and website building. If you simply want to purchase the domain without any boosted services, select Continue with Domain But.
On the cart page, review your details and select Continue.
On the next page, y'all'll be prompted to create an business relationship with IONOS or log in to an existing account. After doing this, select Go along to proceed to the payment page.
Add together your billing and payment data and click Keep.
Review the details of your order and select Complete.

After completing your order, your domain registration is consummate.

Renew your domain name registration at the stop of your term

When you purchase a domain, you're purchasing it for a stock-still length of time, usually i year. While some domain providers offer longer terms (GoDaddy, for instance, offers upwardly to 10-year terms for .com domains), domain registration is never permanent.

In order to hold on to your registered domain, you'll want to brand sure you renew registration when your term is complete. Nearly all domain providers offer an automatic renewal, then it'south generally a skilful thought to have this option selected when y'all purchase.

Keep in mind that if your payment data changes, y'all'll demand to update your settings with your domain provider and so they're able to charge for automated renewal.

About domain providers volition notify yous when information technology's fourth dimension to renew, whether yous have automatic renewal enabled or not, merely information technology's important to renew your domain. If you don't renew your domain, information technology will no longer point to your website and may be purchased by someone else. If you don't desire to lose your domain, make sure you renew information technology.

How exercise I register a domain proper name for gratis?

Domain name registration usually comes with a charge, but there are some companies that offer gratuitous domain names with the purchase of other services. These domains typically come with a lot of customization restrictions and express features.

Complimentary domains from website builders

Website builders typically offering a free domain proper noun when yous sign up to their services, nevertheless the website domain unremarkably includes their brand name in the URL and, unlike paid domains, they are not transferable to other service providers.

For case, when you beginning a Shopify store, you'll be provided a free .myshopify.com domain that tin can be used every bit your store's main domain. WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, and Weebly offer free domains that contain their own concern name as well.

These default domains provide the same basic office as a custom domain, but come up with a lot of downsides; they're harder for users to remember, they await less professional person, and they don't come with features like email forwarding or the option to create subdomains.

You also won't be able to apply these domains exterior the platform they're affiliated with. That ways that even if you wanted to use a 3rd-party service provider to add features like email hosting, you wouldn't exist able to.

Generally speaking, information technology's a proficient idea to buy a custom domain. Domain registration isn't too expensive, and the charge is worth information technology for the reward of being able to customize, transfer, and manage your own domain.

Gratuitous domains from hosting services

Hosting providers like BlueHost and GoDaddy offering a twelvemonth of gratis domain registration with the purchase of their other hosting services. If you're looking to apply one of these hosting services to build your website, then it'due south definitely a good idea to take advantage of this option.

That being said, if you're planning on using a website architect like Shopify, the cost of unneeded hosting services will be more than expensive than purchasing a custom domain. On superlative of this, domain registration is but gratuitous for the first year. Renewing the domain in the years post-obit volition still come with the aforementioned costs.

Register your domain name to give your website the uniqueness information technology deserves

While registering your domain proper name may be a short-term task, it'southward a long-term commitment. Whatever yous're edifice a website for, your domain will act as the ballast of your online presence and stick with yous for years to come.

It can help your SEO, act as a pathway for users to learn more nigh your brand, and make it easier for customers to spread the word virtually your products.

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How to annals a domain proper name FAQ

How practice I annals my own domain name?

To register your own domain proper noun, you'll want to select a domain provider and continue with purchasing your domain from that provider. Bank check out the steps to a higher place for information on how to register with the most common providers.

Remember that domain registration is temporary; if yous want to proceed your domain registered, you'll need to renew it at the end of your registration term.

Are domains gratis?

Some companies offer a complimentary domain in addition to the purchase of other services. These domains typically come with a lot of customization restrictions and limited features, and commonly include the company's brand name in the URL.

Other companies may offer a free year of domain registration with the purchase of hosting services, simply these domains volition nevertheless demand to be paid for when renewing the domain registration.

Do domains need to be registered?

Domains need to be registered, but this is done by your domain provider when you lot purchase your domain. You will non need to personally register the domain, as long as y'all've paid and provided a registrar with all of your registration information.

How much does it cost to annals a domain name per year?

Yearly charges can differ depending on the provider and the domain extension. Regional and specialty domains tend to be more expensive than .com domains. For a full breakdown of costs with major providers, bank check out the Choose a domain registrar section higher up.