The starting time domain name in history was Symbolics.com, which was registered on March 15, 1985. Today, in that location are more than 300 million domain names, with millions more than added each year. A domain name is essentially the accost that visitors will type into their browser address bar to get in at your website.

Domain names permit users to easily connect to other figurer IP addresses past typing in an accost like "Google.com" instead of Google's numerical IP address of "74.125.239.116." In other words, domain names make our lives a lot easier.

Google's IP address could be used instead of a domain name.

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Your domain name is an important part of establishing your brand. No two domain names can be exactly akin, although they can be like. Ideally, your domain name will be unique and distinctive, so users don't confuse it with other domain names or different businesses.

You might be wondering — isn't a domain proper name, and so, simply a website? Although they are similar, domain names and websites have important differences. Your domain name is the address for your website; it is what people employ to find your website, which consists of pages, images, and other files.

Choosing and registering a domain name is often the first step when building a website. Read on to learn how to register a domain name.

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GoDaddy's home page, a site where you can register your domain name.

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How to Register a Domain Proper name

  1. Notice a domain name registrar.
  2. Search for your domain name.
  3. Finalize your domain name choice.
  4. Choose a domain name suffix, such as .com or .net.
  5. Buy the domain proper name.
  6. Add Domain ID protection.

one. Notice a domain name registrar.

The non-profit Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) oversees the entire organization of domain names, and it allows outside companies, called domain registrars, to sell and manage domain names. You will demand to register your domain name through a registrar.

Some of the nearly popular domain registrars include GoDaddy, Bluehost, and Domain.com, although in that location are many more to choose from. Be sure to advisedly consider pricing and policies for each one before choosing your domain registrar, as it volition exist managing your domain name.

two. Search for your domain name'south availability.

One time you have found the correct domain registrar for you, y'all'll demand to search for your domain name using the registrar'southward search bar. In that location are millions of domain names out there, with thousands more added daily.

If you lot have your centre set up on a domain name earlier doing a search, you might be disappointed to discover information technology is already taken. Keep an open mind and incorporate of import keywords into your domain when advisable.

iii. Finalize your domain proper name pick.

Once you've brainstormed several domain options, consider which ones are available and choose the ane that fits your make all-time and will likewise be easy for users to notice.

4. Choose a domain name suffix, such as .com or .cyberspace.

Afterwards settling on the domain name, consider the suffix. The most popular suffix is .com, although .internet and .org are also popular. These are considered to exist meridian-level domains, or the highest-level domain suffixes in the domain naming system.

There are also other varieties to consider, such equally country lawmaking peak-level domains. These domain names terminate in a suffix that is particular to a specific country. A website in Germany might cease in .de, for example.

Finally, there is another course of domain name suffixes called "sponsored, top-level domains," which are sponsored by a specific community related to the domain name. For instance, .gov is for the U.S. government and .edu is for education organizations.

For near websites, .com is the best suffix for its ease of use, but if you have a specialized website, y'all might consider a country code or sponsored top-level domain.

five. Purchase the domain name.

When you take settled on the domain proper noun and a suffix, you will pay to register the domain name with the domain registrar. This is non a one-fourth dimension purchase, even so. Typically, you lot will pay to own the domain name for one yr, later on which you can renew your registration for a fee. You can await a registration fee of nearly $10 to $15.

WordPress allows domain name registration on its site.

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6. Add together domain ID protection.

When y'all annals a domain name with ICANN, you lot must provide your contact information including your name, phone number, physical address, and e-mail address.

Every bit soon as your domain name is registered, this contact information becomes available to the public — unless you pay for domain privacy through your domain registrar. This domain privacy will shield your information from view keeping your personal data rubber from spammers or worse, identity thieves.

Domain WHOIS Privacy allows domain ID protection.

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Once you've got the domain name in hand, you're ready to find hosting and build your website. Consider a costless CMS, similar HubSpot, to design your website, strategize for SEO, and create a blog.

Toll to Register a Domain Name

According to HostGator, domain name cost ranges from gratuitous to tens of thousands of dollars, with the average domain proper name settling effectually $10-$12 annually. These factors will affect what you lot'd pay for a specific domain:

  • The need for the item name you cull (e.thousand. cars.com sold for $872 million because of how "valuable" that real estate was perceived to exist)
  • The TLD domain extension (e.one thousand. .com is perceived to be a more valuable TLD than less-used TLDs such as .info.)
  • The domain registrar you're purchasing from
  • Whether the domain has already been purchased by someone else (and now has it for sale at a much college cost)
  • Whether you commit to an annual payment or another payment schedule
  • Add-ons such as privacy

Whether you lot choose a gratuitous or paid domain will depend on your budget and your website'south purpose. For example, you might demand a basic website or something simple and temporary. In that case, a gratuitous domain name might be a good option.

However, paid domain names look more professional and are more likely to abound with your brand. You should ultimately decide what will piece of work best for your concern and goals.

How to Register a Domain Name for Gratis

Looking for a free domain name? At that place are several domain registrars, website hosting providers, and website builders offering free domain names, typically with the purchase of another service or with no cost only some customization limitations.

Wix, a website builder, allows domain name registration.

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1. Wix

Wix is a pop drag-and-drop website builder that allows you to annals a free domain proper name with the stipulation that information technology includes Wix'south name as well. This means that although y'all go your domain name for costless, it volition read yourdomainname.wix.com. This is a trade-off to consider when registering a domain name for free.

Weebly, a website builder, offers domain name registration.

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2. Weebly

Similar Wix, Weebly offers a simple website builder with a free domain name that will announced equally yourwebsite.weebly.com. You will have limited access to the site-edifice features, but you will save annual fees for domain names. This is a swell option for temporary or bones websites.

Bluehost allows domain name registration.

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3. Bluehost

Bluehost is a web hosting provider that will offer you lot a costless domain name for one year with the purchase of its web hosting plan. If y'all are in the market for both a domain name and a web hosting provider to get your business online, this can help you salvage money on the first year's expenses by calculation the domain name on for complimentary with a purchase you were already planning to make.

WordPress offers domain name registration.

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4. WordPress

WordPress will besides offer a free domain proper noun, although it will announced as yourdomainname.wordpress.com. If yous register your domain name here, y'all tin easily build your website with WordPress, too. WordPress is the most widely used content management system, so you'll detect information technology easier to add functionality with plugins and get support when you demand it.

GoDaddy offers free domain names.

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5. GoDaddy

Another web hosting provider, GoDaddy offers free domain names, so long as you purchase one of its hosting plans. GoDaddy is loved for its low rates for hosting plans and its added security tools that scan for and remove malware and backup your website.

Build Your Business organization Past Registering Your Domain

Afterwards weighing the benefits and drawbacks of free or paid domains, you should become started on your search for the perfect domain proper name. Domain names tin go quickly — and there's a piddling more contest than Symbolics had in 1985 — so it is important to register the one you want before it is too late.

Registering a domain name is quick and easy, but it does take some time to brainstorm the correct name, select the optimal suffix, and detect the right domain registrar for yous. As such, there's no better time than now to get started on registering your domain name.

Editor's note: This mail service was originally published in February 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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Originally published December 13, 2020 7:00:00 AM, updated March 31 2022