Do you want to start a blog or a new online business in 2022? If you do, then you’ll need to register a domain name, follow this tutorial to learn how to Properly 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.
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:
- What is a domain name?
- When is the right time to register a domain name?
- How to choose the best domain name?
- How to register a domain with namecheap (starting at $0.99)
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, learnwebdesign.ng
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.
How to Register a Domain Name (Step by Step)
You can register a domain name from any of the top domain registrars that are authorized by ICANN to register domain names.
Since there are so many different registrars, we will cover the most popular domain name registrar on the internet.
How to Register a Domain Name with Namecheap
If you only want to register a domain name at the moment without creating a website, then namecheap.com is your best option.
It offers an easy way to manage your domain name without creating a website.
Once you are ready, you can just point the domain name to your preferred WordPress hosting company.
First, you need to visit the Namecheap website and search for your desired domain name.
If your desired domain name is available, then click on ADD TO CART for it to be added to your cart.
You can adjust the registration period to 1 year. You can either choose to keep or remove the privacy protection. Namecheap offers free domain privacy to all its users.
Click on the continue button to check out.
On the checkout page, you can review your order and click on ‘confirm order’ button. You can also add additional products such as SSL, Premium DNS, Web hosting etc , on this page.
Note: you’ll be charged an icann fee of $0.18 for all top level domain names e.g .com
Next, you will be asked to log into your account or create a new one
After which you can proceed to the payment page to complete payment via any of the available payment channels.
Namecheap will now register your domain name, and they’ll send you an email with the details.
Domain Name Registration FAQs
We have gotten just about every question you can possibly think of. Below are the answers to some of the top domain name questions:
Which is the best domain name registrar?
We believe that namecheap is the best registrar right now because they have the features you need, and they’re offering a $5 discount for all new customers.
You can always transfer your domain name to Namecheap just incase your not comfortable with your current registrar.
Which domain extension I should buy?
You should always stick to .com domain names. They are the easiest to remember, and most mobile devices have a dedicated .com key in their keyboards. For more details, see our article on the difference between domain name extensions.
Should I register new domain name extensions?
Apart from the most common .com, .net, and .org, there are dozens more domain name extensions available. However, these new domain extensions are hard to remember and difficult to brand. To learn more, see our article on choosing a new domain extension for your website.
How can I buy a domain name permanently?
You cannot buy a domain name permanently. Domain name registration is done on a yearly basis. However, you can pre-pay for up to 10 years which guarantees that you will have a domain name for 10 years.
What happens to my domain name once its registration expires?
Unless you renew your domain name, it will automatically expire after the registration period you have paid for. Some domain name companies offer a grace period to renew your registration, but it is not guaranteed, and you can lose control of your domain name if you let it expire.
How do I renew my domain name?
You can renew your domain name from your domain control panel. We strongly recommend that you turn on auto-renew feature to automatically renew your domain name. You can always turn it off if you decide not to keep a domain name.
Even though your domain registrar would remind you to renew your domain registration before it expires, you may miss those emails and lose control of your domain name.
How can I reserve a domain name without buying it?
There is no way to reserve a domain name without purchasing it. You have to buy it if you want to reserve it. Considering the low cost of a domain name, it’s a small investment for a business.
Is there a way to buy an existing domain name?
Yes, you can use brokerage like Sedo.com to potentially acquire an existing domain name. However, it’s not guaranteed that you will get the domain name that you want because the seller may not want to sell it or ask for an outrageous price.
You can also purchase premium domains from a premium domain broker like Namecheap.
Can someone steal my domain name?
Yes, domain name theft can be devastating for small business owners. This is why it’s important that you choose a well-known domain registrar with a good reputation.
The way hackers can steal your domain name is by obtaining access to your domain registrar account. It’s important that you use a strong password and setup 2-factor authentication.
Furthermore, we always recommend small business owners to use an identity theft protection service to get near-real time alerts of identity fraud because generally domain theft and ransomware is a byproduct of another hack.
We hope this article helped you learn how to register a domain name for your website. You may also want to see our tips on how to make money online with your new domain name and/or how to create a professional email address with your domain.
If you liked this article, then join us on Twitter and Facebook.