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

Domain names allow users to easily connect to other reckoner IP addresses past typing in an accost similar "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 alike, although they can be similar. Ideally, your domain name will be unique and distinctive, then users don't confuse it with other domain names or different businesses.

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

Choosing and registering a domain name is ofttimes the first pace when building a website. Read on to acquire 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 Annals a Domain Name

  1. Find a domain name registrar.
  2. Search for your domain name.
  3. Finalize your domain name choice.
  4. Cull a domain name suffix, such as .com or .cyberspace.
  5. Purchase the domain proper name.
  6. Add together Domain ID protection.

1. Notice a domain name registrar.

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

Some of the well-nigh popular domain registrars include GoDaddy, Bluehost, and Domain.com, although there are many more to choose from. Exist sure to carefully consider pricing and policies for each 1 earlier choosing your domain registrar, every bit it volition be managing your domain proper name.

2. Search for your domain proper noun'south availability.

Once y'all accept found the right domain registrar for you, you'll demand to search for your domain name using the registrar'due south search bar. There are millions of domain names out there, with thousands more added daily.

If you have your heart set on a domain name earlier doing a search, y'all might be disappointed to find it is already taken. Keep an open listen and incorporate of import keywords into your domain when appropriate.

3. Finalize your domain name selection.

Once you've brainstormed several domain options, consider which ones are available and choose the one that fits your brand best and will also be easy for users to find.

4. Cull a domain proper name suffix, such as .com or .internet.

After settling on the domain name, consider the suffix. The most popular suffix is .com, although .cyberspace and .org are also popular. These are considered to be top-level domains, or the highest-level domain suffixes in the domain naming system.

In that location are likewise other varieties to consider, such as country code top-level domains. These domain names stop in a suffix that is particular to a specific country. A website in Germany might end in .de, for example.

Finally, there is some other class of domain name suffixes called "sponsored, top-level domains," which are sponsored by a specific community related to the domain name. For example, .gov is for the U.Southward. government and .edu is for education organizations.

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

5. Purchase the domain name.

When you have settled on the domain name and a suffix, you will pay to annals the domain proper noun with the domain registrar. This is not a 1-time purchase, nevertheless. Typically, yous will pay to own the domain name for one twelvemonth, after which you can renew your registration for a fee. You tin expect a registration fee of nigh $10 to $15.

WordPress allows domain name registration on its site.

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six. Add domain ID protection.

When you lot register a domain name with ICANN, you must provide your contact information including your proper name, phone number, physical address, and email address.

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

Domain WHOIS Privacy allows domain ID protection.

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Once y'all've got the domain name in hand, you're set up to notice hosting and build your website. Consider a gratis CMS, like HubSpot, to blueprint your website, strategize for SEO, and create a blog.

Cost to Register a Domain Name

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

  • The demand for the particular name you choose (e.k. cars.com sold for $872 million because of how "valuable" that existent estate was perceived to be)
  • The TLD domain extension (e.g. .com is perceived to exist a more than 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 higher price)
  • Whether you commit to an annual payment or another payment schedule
  • Add together-ons such as privacy

Whether you choose a gratuitous or paid domain volition depend on your budget and your website'southward purpose. For case, yous might need a basic website or something simple and temporary. In that case, a free domain name might be a good option.

Withal, paid domain names look more than professional person and are more likely to grow with your brand. You should ultimately make up one's mind what will piece of work best for your concern and goals.

How to Register a Domain Name for Complimentary

Looking for a complimentary domain name? In that location 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 but some customization limitations.

Wix, a website builder, allows domain name registration.

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1. Wix

Wix is a popular drag-and-drop website builder that allows you to annals a free domain name with the stipulation that it includes Wix's name as well. This means that although you get your domain name for free, it will 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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two. Weebly

Similar Wix, Weebly offers a simple website builder with a costless domain proper noun that volition announced as yourwebsite.weebly.com. You will have express access to the site-building features, but you volition salve annual fees for domain names. This is a dandy option for temporary or basic websites.

Bluehost allows domain name registration.

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3. Bluehost

Bluehost is a web hosting provider that will offer you a free domain proper noun for one year with the purchase of its web hosting plan. If you are in the market for both a domain name and a web hosting provider to become your business online, this tin can help you save coin on the first year'southward expenses past calculation the domain proper name on for free with a purchase you were already planning to make.

WordPress offers domain name registration.

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4. WordPress

WordPress will also offering a free domain proper noun, although information technology will appear as yourdomainname.wordpress.com. If yous register your domain proper name here, you can easily build your website with WordPress, besides. WordPress is the most widely used content management arrangement, and then you'll find it easier to add functionality with plugins and get support when you need it.

GoDaddy offers free domain names.

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5. GoDaddy

Some other web hosting provider, GoDaddy offers free domain names, and then 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 browse for and remove malware and fill-in your website.

Build Your Business Past Registering Your Domain

Later on weighing the benefits and drawbacks of costless or paid domains, you should go started on your search for the perfect domain proper name. Domain names tin can go chop-chop — and in that location's a piffling more competition than Symbolics had in 1985 — and then it is of import to annals the one you want before it is as well belatedly.

Registering a domain name is quick and easy, but it does take some time to brainstorm the right name, select the optimal suffix, and find the correct domain registrar for you. Equally such, there'due south no better fourth dimension than at present to get started on registering your domain name.

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

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Originally published Dec 13, 2020 7:00:00 AM, updated July twenty 2021