How to Register a Domain Name in 3 Easy Steps
Registering a domain name is the first step in creating a website. After you've registered a dormain name, you own the exclusive rights to use it for a specified period of time and then renew it once the registered terrm expires. Domain name registration is usually effective for a year at a time, unless specified during checkout process.
Step 1 - Picking The Best Domain Registrar
There are many registrars to choose from. Here are two factors to consider when selecting the right one are cost and accreditation:
Cost: Some registrars charge up to $35, be sure to avoid paying more than $10 per year to register your domain name. Pittman Unlimited (PittmanUnlimited.com) is among the most reliable and cheapest registrars around. We used them to register our Creating My Website domain name as well as others.
Accreditation: You should only use a registrar listed (or an affiliate) that is on the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (lCANN) website located at www.icann.org/registrars/accredited-list.html. This way you will not have any issues with domain name ownership in the future.
Step 2 - Choosing the Right Domain Name
Before allowing you to register a domain name, registrars will check to make sure it's not already registered. In order to find out whether your domain is available, visit Start Domain Name Search.
Step 3 - When selecting a Domain Name:
- Choose as brief a name as possible.
- A good domain name must be memorable, avoid using hyphens
- If the names you prefer are all taken, try pluralizing the name, by adding "the" to the beginning of the name.
- Twenty characters is the maximum that you should use for a good domain name, ten is even better.
Domain Extensions
There are several domain extensions available to you such as .com, .net, .org, .tv, .info, .gov, .me, etc. Ssome of these work better than others and are more memorable at the same time. It is important to understand that some extensions also have restrictions such as .gov is reserved specifically for government websites. The .com domain name extension is the best by far, because it is the most widely used.
