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Registering Your Domain Name

Description: Once you know what domain name you want it's vital that you register it in order to make sure you can use it for the foreseeable future.

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Choosing your ideal domain name can take some time, and it is worth taking that time to create one that you will be happy with. But once you have chosen one and you want to use it for your website, you will need to register it.

This is done via a domain name registrar, and there are plenty of them online that will do it for you. They all offer similar services but you will find the price varies between them. Shop around and see what you can find, but it's advisable to go with one of the top companies that have been around for some time. If you search for the term ?domain name registrar' on Google or one of the other major search engines you will find the best ones at the top of the results.

You have several options available to you when you are registering your domain name. The actual name of your site can have one of several extensions, ending in .com, .net, .biz or any one of several other different options. The .com name is perhaps the most popular, although some people prefer to have their site name ending in the relevant suffix for their country, such as .co.uk for the UK and .com.au for Australia. This is fine if you don't want to do business with anyone outside of your own country, or you have a business which is limited to your local area for some reason.

When you register your domain name you will find you are able to do so for either a year or two years. In essence you don't actually buy your domain name you rent it - so it is in your best interests to make a note of when it is due for renewal so you can do so in plenty of time. If you don't renew it someone else can legally rent it instead.

You will find that some domain extensions cost more than others, although the amount is often negligible compared to what you get. For example a .com name will usually cost more than a name related to your own country, such as .com.au. With that said if you are selling worldwide the extra cost is worth it to convey that image.

It's also a good idea to check out different registrars to see what additional features are offered when you register your domain name with a particular company. You will however usually get a single web page that they will park for free, allowing you to get online in the fastest time possible - even if it is only to tell people that your brand new website is coming soon.