How to Register a Domain Name

 

Do you want to start a blog or a new online business in 2021? If you do, then you’ll need to register a domain name.

The first step towards building a website is to find a good domain name and register it. In this article, we will show you how to register a domain name, step by step. We will also share a tip on how you can register a domain name for free.

 Recommended : Google Domains

Since this is a comprehensive guide on how to register a domain name, we have created a table of content, so you can easily skip to the section that you’re most interested in:

Before we get started, let’s cover the basics so we’re on the same page.

What is a Domain Name?

A domain name is the address of your website that people type in the browser to visit your website. For example, ac.com.

In simple terms, if your website was a house, then your domain name will be its address.

The whole internet is a giant network of computers. Each computer is assigned a number which is called an IP address, and it looks like this:

66.249.66.1

Now, this address is not easy to remember or memorize. Imagine if you had to use this kind of address to visit your favorite websites.

To fix this problem, domain names were invented.

Domain names can have alphabets and numbers, which helps business owners create brandable names for their website’s address.

To learn more about domain names, see our beginner’s guide on domain names and how do they work.

When Do You Need to Register a Domain Name?

On average, 56500+ .com domain names were registered every day in 2020.

Currently, there are over 151.8 million .com domain names already registered. 366.3 million domain names are registered in all TLD.

This means that all the good domain names are being registered as we speak. Chances are that someone may register a domain name that you’re thinking of, so it’s smart to register a domain name as soon as you think of an idea.

This is why all smart entrepreneurs proactively register domain names even before launching a business.

Domain names are cheap, and you can register them for a year. If you decide to not pursue the online business idea, then you can let them expire.

The bottom line is, if you are serious about building a business, then you should register a domain name right away.

It will help you protect your brand’s identity, business name, and even future business ideas.

How much does a domain name cost?

Normally, a .com domain name costs $14.99 / year. The cost of a domain varies based on each different extension or TLD (top-level-domain). Some are even more expensive than this.

We don’t recommend using anything but .com domains because everybody remembers a .com domain, and your smartphone keyboards have a pre-built key for .com.

Do I Need a Website to Register a Domain Name?

No, you do not need a website to register a domain name. You can register a domain name and make a website later. You can also register a domain name and setup a temporary website or coming soon page with SeedProd.

A lot of entrepreneurs treat domain names like digital real-estate, so they register a good domain name and hold it for the right buyer to purchase it from them for profit.

How to Choose The Best Domain Name?

Domain names play a very important role in your website’s identity and success. This is why it’s important for you to carefully think about the domain name you choose.

However, it’s also important to not overthink it otherwise you will never get past the research phase.

Following are some general tips to keep in mind when searching for a domain name.

• Make sure that your domain name is easy to pronounce, spell, and as short as possible.
• Stick with the .com extension because most users find them easier to remember than any other domain extensions.
• Use your keywords and brand name in the domain name search. For example, stargardeninghouston.com is more SEO friendly, than stargardeningcompany.com
• Do not use numbers or hyphens in your domain name. It makes them harder to pronounce and difficult to remember.

Need more advice? See our expert tips on finding the best domain name for your website.

You can also use a domain name generator like Nameboy to speed up your search.