How do I register a domain name?
Many people find choosing a domain name a daunting task. Not only do you have to come up with the right one, but with more than 350 million domain names already registered, finding one that’s not already taken can be a challenge.
Your domain name is someone’s pathway to you and your business, so it’s important that it’s unique, true to your business, and easy to read. When coming up with a domain name, keep theses tips in mind:
- Use “.com” domains – “.com” is memorable and is what users will type by default when searching for you.
- Easy to spell and remember
- Short and simple
- Relevant to your business or brand
- Easy to pronounce
- Free of numbers and hyphens when possible
Whenever possible, choose a .com domain sin
Checking Your Domain Name’s Availability
Registering a domain name will give you ownership of it for a licensed period of time, but how do you know if it’s even available?
Who.is (https://who.is) is my go to resource for checking availability.
Hover.com (https://hover.com) is also a great place to check availability and look for alternatives if you first choice is already taken.
New Domain Extensions
The amount of top level domains, or domain extensions, has really increased in the past couple of years. Think outside the box, or .com, when looking for a domain. There is a whole list to choose from now – look for one that relates to your industry. Browse domain extensions at hover.com.
Ready to Register?
Popular domain registrars include:
Whoever you choose as your registrar, make sure you are the one registering it, not another company on your behalf. You, as the business owner, need to have control over that domain name. That is going to be the key to your website and email.
Keep Track of Your Login Information
Store your:
- Registrar login
- Domain renewal date
- Billing information
Losing access to your domain account can create major issues later.
If you need help with registering a domain, contact us and we can walk you through the process.
About the Author: Carla Baldwin
