How To Register A Domain Name

If you want to set up a website for your business, you will want to register a domain name (URL) for that website. Often, it is a good idea for your website to be the same as your company name, but this is not a requirement. Your domain name can be an abbreviation of your company name or a different name altogether (like a description of your products or services combined with your company location).

Step 1: Choose a Domain Name

You first want to start by finding out if your domain name of choice is available. You can do this by using a domain name registrar like Go Daddy and use their domain name register search box. Generally, a.com extension is preferable, but you can usually use a different domain extension if a.com is not available, such as.net,.info or.biz. You can also include dashes and numbers in your domain name if you are having difficulty finding website url availability.

Step 2: Register Your Domain Name

Some website hosts include domain registration free of charge, so that you do not need to pay for it separately. Alternatively, some domain register services provide website hosting, so that when you register your domain name, it will automatically direct to your website. These are both good tactics for saving money and making website set up easier.

You also have the option to register your domain name with one company and get website hosting from another company. For example, if you have a blog with a free service like Word Press, you can purchase a domain name and point it to your blog website address. You are not required to purchase additional hosting.

In any case, you can register a domain name before you have a website. You simply register the name and “park” it until you are ready to point it to a website address.

Step 3: Point Your Domain Name to Your Website

When you are ready use your domain name, you have a couple of options. If you want to forward the domain name to one page, you can redirect the domain name to a specific web address. If you want to use the domain name for an entire website, you can point your domain name to a website location using name servers provided by your website host. The website hosting company that you are using will provide you with the name servers and instructions on set up.

When you update your name servers, allow 24 to 48 hours for other networks to access the information and for your website properly appear on the internet.

You can sometimes save money by registering a domain name for multiple years or by finding a domain name registrar who is having a sale. Keep in mind that you will need to renew your domain annually. Many domain name registrars will let you register domain names for cheap for the first year, but the renewal price will usually return to the regular rate.

Get creative tips for domain names and use the free domain name search tool at Home Business Center, Inc.