Ultimate Guide on How to Register a Domain Name in 2022

Buying a unique domain name is an essential part of building a website. Symbolics.com was the first domain name in history, registered on March 15, 1985. There are about 300 million domain names in use today, with millions more added every year. A domain name is an address visitors will type into their browser’s address bar to go to your website.

Instead of putting in Google’s numerical IP address of “74.125.239.116,” users can connect to other IP addresses by typing in “Google.com.” Domain Names, to put it another way, make our jobs much easier.

The domain name you choose is crucial to building your brand. Although they can be similar, no two domain names can be identical. Your domain name should be distinct and unique. So users don’t confuse it with other domain names or companies.

You might be thinking, “Isn’t a domain name a website?” Despite their similarities, domain names and web pages differ significantly. Your domain name is the address for your website. It’s how people will find the pages, photos, and other things that make up your website.

When it comes to creating a website, choosing and registering a domain name is the first step. Continue reading to find out how to register a domain name.

What is the concept of a domain name?

A domain name is the address of your website that visitors type into their browser to access. To put it another way, if your website were a house, your domain name would be the address.

The entire Internet is a massive computer network. An IP address is a number that is allocated to each computer and looks like this: 66.249.66.1

This address is now difficult to recall or memorize. Consider what it would be like if you had to use this address to access your favorite websites. Hence, domain names were created to solve this problem. Domain names can contain both letters and numbers it makes it easier for business owners to develop memorable titles for their websites.

When Is It Necessary to Register a Domain?

In 2020, 56500+.com domain names were registered on average every day. There are currently approximately 151.8 million.com domain names registered. In total, 366.3 million domain names have been registered across all TLDs.

This suggests that all the good domain names are currently being registered. However, it’s a good idea to register a domain name as soon as you have an idea. As because someone may likely register a domain name that you’re considering,

This is why, even before starting a firm, all sensible entrepreneurs register domain names in advance as the domain names are affordable and can be registered only for a year. After that, you can let them expire if you decide not to pursue the online company idea.

The bottom line is that if you’re serious about starting a business, you should get a domain name asap. It will help you safeguard your brand’s identity, company name, and even future business concepts.

What Is the Importance of a Good Domain Name?

A domain name is a unique identifier for your website among the billions of others on the Internet. That is why, to have an online presence, you must have a memorable and easy-to-type name.

Your domain name is an extension of your given name or company name. In this way, it:

• Improves awareness and recognition
• Increases the credibility of your business
• It improves visitors’ remember.

Also, a proper domain name is crucial for SEO. Exact match domains (EMDs) were popular a few years ago, but most people now prefer brandable domain names.

Memorable domain names are more likely to be typed into Google. Algorithms take track of this and give your website extra authority. As the number of branded searches grows, your domain name gains more authority. As a result, making it easier to rank for relevant keywords.

What is the cost to Register a Domain Name?

Domain names can cost anything from free to tens of thousands of dollars each year. According to HostGator, the average domain name costs approximately $10-$12 per year. These factors will influence how much you pay for a domain:

• The demand for the name you chose.
• TLD stands for Top-level domain (e.g., .com is perceived as a more valuable TLD than less-used TLDs such as .info.)
• You’re buying a domain from a registrar.
• Whether the domain has been acquired before and now has it for sale at a much higher price.
• Whether you make a one-time payment or a recurring subscription.
• Add-ons, such as Privacy

Your budget and the purpose of your website will determine whether you go with a free or paid domain. For instance, you might need an essential website or something quick and easy. A free domain name can be a decent option in that instance.

But, Paid domain names appear more professional and are more likely to expand. In the end, you should select what will work best for your company and goals.

How to Register a Free Domain Name?

Do you need a free domain name? Several domain registrars, website hosting providers, and website builders provide free domain names. Usually, they do so in exchange for the purchase of another service or with some customization restrictions.

Wix

Wix is a famous drag-and-drop website builder that offers a free domain name. However, if you put Wix’s name in, it means that your domain name will be yourdomainname.wix.com, even if it is free. So when registering a domain name for free, this is a trade-off to consider.

Weebly

Weebly, like Wix, offers a simple website builder with a free domain name (yourwebsite.weebly.com). You’ll have restricted access to the site-building tools, but you’ll save money on domain names every year, and it is an excellent choice for temporary or straightforward web pages.

Bluehost

Bluehost is a web hosting company that will give you a free domain name for a year when you sign up for one of their plans. So if you need a domain name and a web hosting provider to bring your business online, this can save you money on the first year’s costs by bundling up the plans.

WordPress

WordPress will also provide you with a free domain name, which will be yourdomainname.wordpress.com. You may quickly develop your website using WordPress if you register your domain name here. Because WordPress is the most extensively used content management system. Adding functionality with plugins and getting help when you need it will be easy.

Domain.com

Domain.com is the best option if you want to register a domain name without establishing a website right now. It allows you to control your domain name without having to create a website.

You can point the domain name to your choice WordPress hosting company once you’re ready. To begin, go to the Domain.com website and search for the domain name you want.

If your preferred domain name is available, it will be added to your cart automatically. During registration, the domain duration can be extended to one year. You can select whether or not to keep the privacy protection. Removing it will save you money on domain registration. To check out, click the proceed button. You can evaluate your order and click the ‘Proceed to billing’ button on the checkout page.

To complete the purchase, you will need to provide your account and payment details. In addition, your domain name is now registered, and Domain.com will send you an email with a link to your domain control panel.

Network Solution

With over 7 million domains registered, Network Solutions are now one of the primary domain registrars; it is a well-known name in the domain name industry. They’ve been registering domain names since 1993 and were the only registrar for all common domain extensions at the time. They provide domain name registrations with a more user-friendly control panel. They also offer some straightforward domain management tools.

To buy a domain, you should go to the Network Solutions page. In the search box, type the domain name you want to register.

If the domain name you choose is available, it will be added to your cart automatically. You’ll receive a success message, and then click the checkout button to proceed to the next step.

If you’re a returning customer, you’ll be asked to sign in or proceed as a guest at checkout.

After that, you’ll be given the option to enable the domain privacy extension. But, again, we recommend skipping it for the time being and adding it later if necessary.

After that, you’ll be given the option to add more items to your cart. By clicking Proceed beneath the ‘Domain Only’ option, you can skip them.

The option to enable domain security features will get displayed like premium DNS and malware protection add-ons. You can skip them for now and add them later if necessary.

Finally, you’ll arrive at the payment page.

After that, you can go to check out and complete the domain registration by making a payment.

GoDaddy

Godaddy is the world’s largest domain name registrar. They presently administer over 77 million domain names for over 18 million consumers worldwide. When you’re ready to develop a website, you may point your domain to any hosting company using their simple domain control panel.

Below is a step-by-step method to use GoDaddy to register a domain name. To begin, go to GoDaddy’s website and type the domain name you want to register into the search box.

A success message will appear with your domain name at the top of the screen if your domain name is available. You can now add it to your shopping cart.

Then, to check out, click the continue to cart option. GoDaddy will now present you with a list of extra services you can buy in combination with your domain name. By selecting ‘No thanks’ and clicking the proceed button, you can skip those.

Your domain name and registration duration will appear on the next page. If you like, you can extend the registration time to up to ten years. However, we do not advise doing so. Because you can always renew your domain name before it expires. You also have an option to choose a 1-year registration duration to save money.

To continue, you’ll need to establish a Godaddy account. You will be able to enter your billing address and make a payment for your domain name after registering an account.

GoDaddy will now register your domain name and send you an email with a link to your domain control panel.

You also can opt for auto-renewal of your domain name, so Godaddy can bill your account and renew it. You won’t lose your domain if you forget to renew it this way.

The Suffix Factor

The suffix indicates that the name belongs to a particular top-level domain (TLD). .com, .edu, .game, .green, .hiphop, .net, and.org are a few of the TLDs available for general purchase. The most popular is .com, which is designed to denote commercial sites but has embraced practically anything.

Depending on the domain name and suffix, you might expect to spend anywhere from $1 to thousands of dollars every year. On the other hand, suppose you’re looking for a popular suffix and a widely desirable domain. In that case, you may need to open your wallet wide because it’s likely that someone else has already registered it.

For example, Carinsurance.com was sold for approximately $50 million. As stated before, there is a growing business of intruders that want to profit by flipping domains. Some of them request that you make an offer, implying that anything less than $500 will be rejected.

The Domain Agreement

We’d all want to believe that once a domain name is purchased, it is ours forever and under any circumstances. This isn’t always the case, though. So before you pay, make sure you know exactly what you’re getting. The agreement you sign with the registrar could have many consequences for you.

Many registrars reserve the right to remove your domain name for specified reasons. Most commonly, if you use it for unlawful or unethical purposes (such as spamming). In addition, a clause in many contracts allows the registrar to remove your domain name for no apparent reason. Of course, this implies that the registrar owns the domain name, not you.

Furthermore, almost all registrants reserve the right to amend the registration agreement at any time and without prior notice to you. The point is that every registrar should be thoroughly investigated.

The Game of Waiting

Even if you register and pay for a domain name, you may not be able to use it for several hours or even days afterward. It is because your website’s Domain Name System information must get updated in the official domain name registrar. That’s something that happens in the background without you having to do anything.

Some registrars promise that the name will be available almost quickly. However, this might take up to seven days. You should expect the domain name to be up and running on the Internet within 48 hours.

It’s also worth noting that you can move your domain name from one registration service to another. For example, suppose you’re unhappy with your existing domain hosting service. In that case, if you find a better offer when your current registration expires, or if you’ve signed up for a web hosting service that will also transfer your name to its site, you’ll want to do this. Again, expect the transfer to be free, but look for another domain hosting service if it isn’t.

You should never pay more to change your name than you would receive a new one. Next, check to see what the transfer will demand. Is the new service capable of handling a task entirely? Or will you have to manually modify the technical specifications on your current registrar’s website? Finally, before registering your domain name, examine the registrar’s transfer policy.

Typically, you can’t change your name within the first 60 days of registration, although this can be extended. Expect no refunds from any registrar if you’ve paid for months of service you won’t use.

Grow your business by Registering your domain.

You should begin your search for the appropriate domain name after evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of free and purchased domains. Because domain names move quickly — and there’s a little more competition now. So it’s critical to register your preferred domain name before it’s too late.

While registering a domain name is simple, it does take some effort to come up with a good name, choose the best suffix, and find the correct domain registrar. As a result, there’s no better time to start registering your domain name than right now.

Few Domain Registration Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What are the different types of domain name extensions?

Domain name extensions help in the classification of various domain names. It’s a unique hierarchy created just for the Internet.

You can select from a variety of popular top-level domain extensions (TLDs), including:

• .com
• .org
• .net

Or, if you wish to focus on establishing a presence in a single country, choose a local domain extension such as:

• .co.uk
• .es
• .fr
• .au

Many new creative domain extensions have been released. You can experiment with them to come up with a shorter, more brandable name. Consider the following scenario:

• Alchemi.st
• Autu.mn
• Dear.ly
• Handma.de

Q. How Do I Buy a Website Domain forever?

As stated earlier, domain names are not for sale in their complete entirety. In essence, you’re reserving the use of a domain name for a specific amount of time (10-years max at a time). However, you can renew your domain name as many times as you choose.

You can keep your domain name as long as you pay your renewal cost, even if you can’t buy it outright from a registrar.

Q. What Happens If I Don’t Renew My Domain Name?

Your domain name will expire if you didn’t set auto-renewal or forgot to do so despite notifications from your domain registrar. This can mean several things:

• First, anyone who types your website’s URL will no longer be able to access it.
• The domain name will be available for purchase again when it has expired, usually within 30 days.
• It can also be sold at a domain auction on a website.
• Failure to pay a renewal fee effectively means that you will lose access to your domain.

Q. Is it possible to transfer my domain name?

Yes, most domain registrars can help transfer a domain name from one person to another (if certain conditions are met). For example, suppose you wish to purchase a premium domain name from someone. In that case, a registrar can assist you in securely completing the transaction.

You can also transfer your domain name between registrars if you find a better offer or need extra functionality.

The following are links to help documents for each registrar:

• Domain.com
• GoDaddy
• Namecheap

Q. What Is the Best Way to Find Out Who Owns a Domain Name?

The ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) asks you to give personal contact information when you register a domain name. Your information is stored and maintained in the WHOIS database.

Anyone who uses the WHOIS search tool can see the record as soon as the domain name is registered in the database.

There are other WHOIS tools available on the Internet, but you can try the ICANN Lookup tool, for example.

Conclusion

You should now know how to register a domain name if you have followed our step-by-step instructions.

All you have to do is come up with a catchy phrase, choose a domain extension, select a few add-ons, and pay for your subscription. Following that, the registrar will send you further simple instructions for connecting your domain name to your website, allowing you to be visible on the Internet finally.

We hope that this post has provided you with helpful information on registering a domain name for your website.