How to Register Your Domain Name

Registering domain names is not as complicated as you might think. Your web design is completed, everything is set up and you are ready to go. The best thing to do is to find a registrar that is an official Internet registering service and use this to register the name. Often web hosting sites will offer registration of your domain name. However, there is some confusion among some of the sites when it comes to ownership of the domain name so the best idea is to register it yourself.

Where to Go

Your domain name can be anything that you can think of that describes your site. As long as it is not already taken by someone else, you will be the owner of the name when you register it. Find out if your choice is available by visiting http://www.whois.org and search the name you have chosen. Whois is a database that displays information for those searching for domain names. If someone does a search for the one you have chosen, after you register it, this is where the information comes from to show the name is already taken.

For instance, you may do web design for people who do not know how to do their own. The name of your site will be the URL that is entered when people search for a web design service to help them set up their own web site. So the name you choose needs to reflect the service you provide so that it will be easier to find. Because there are millions of domain names this may prove a little difficult. But if you do a search for keywords that describe your site you should be able to come up with the right combination.

Once you have chosen the name you will use and made sure that it is available, visit some of the Internet registrars and find the one you want to use. What the registrar basically does is resells domain names. The prices vary among the different ones but typically start at around $5.00 for a one year registration. They can go as high as $50 so finding the one that offers the best price can take some investigative work.

When you are ready to register the name, you will be required to provide either a PayPal account or a credit card to pay for it. This is not optional. Most all providers require this method of payment. On the plus side by paying using this method you can immediately have access to the name.

How Long Can You Keep the Domain Name?

You may also register the name for a longer period than one year but this is the minimum time. The domain name may be registered at some registrars for up to 10 years. This is a good idea if you are worried about forgetting to re-register. If you have a very popular name and want to ensure that it remains yours, registering it for as long as possible will keep anyone else from purchasing it.

When you find the registrar that you want to use, they will ask for your contact information. This is the information that will show in the Whois database when someone searches this domain name. The contact information should have a correct email address as well as other information because this is where re-registering information as well as anything else that concerns your name will be sent.

If someone should want to purchase your web design name for their site, they can contact you to make an offer. Some domain names have sold for a lot of money if they are very popular.

The Importance of the Domain Name

The web hosting site that you are using when you choose your domain name may not always be the site that you use. If you change to another site you can take your name and this will allow you to keep your regular customers as well as visitors. The name will be typed in the same as before and they will be taken to your new site.

If you have a web hosting site already, you will need to get their name servers. There are normally primary and secondary ones. This is necessary for pointing your domain name to the website you have set up. Often this information is in the frequently asked questions section under the domain name category. Email the host if you cannot find them.

By following the instructions at the web hosting site you choose, this is not difficult. The main thing you want to remember is to re-register your domain name at the end of the period of time you have chosen. This will ensure that your name remains with you which is essential to finding your website and keeping your business going.