LeadWebDesigners

How To Buy A Domain Name

On this page we’ll discuss how to Buy a Domain Name.

We recommend registering domain names at Godaddy.com because of their long history, reliability and cost effective management. Domain Names are under $11 a per year.

When you go to their website type in the name you want in the search box in the middle area. This box will check if your preferred Domain Name is available, if it is then continue through their process of creating an account. Be Honest about your Address and information but also keep in mind that it is public information so where possible use your business info rather than your home info. They do offer an extra fee service to Hide your information from the public.

WARNING #1
Now is a good time to mention, if any company or person offers to “buy a domain name for you” RUN AWAY. Whoever Registers the Domain Name OWNS the Domain Name Period. So if you ever stopped services with that company/person you are Also walking away from your Domain Name. Shady companies and people use this as extortion to Keep you as a customer. We see this Everyday!

WARNING #2
Never, Ever, Never give Anyone your Registration Login info. Those that have Access can Quickly change the ownership of your domain name to themselves or someone Other than you and you’ll have a Heck of a time getting it back if you ever do. Your Website Designer may need access to that info to set up your DNS (domain name server) which points your domain name to the website hosting. That is a small risk you can avoid by asking them to walk YOU through the process, it’s not hard and can be done while on the phone with the designer if you have internet access. If you decide to let the designer handle it be sure to login soon after they complete the process and check the email address on your account is correct then change your password.

Now, Selecting a Domain Name
We often help clients brainstorm for Domain Names. We start by checking availability of their Company name first and possible variations such as abbreviations. If those fail then try for keyworded names 3 words or Less and easy to spell because people need to be able to remember it. By the way, Caps do not matter when you register or present the name somewhere.

Example: Say your name is Karl Thomas and you own a Furniture store in Washington State and your store is called Karl Thomas Furniture. Your First choice would be KarlThomasFurniture.com, if that’s taken then maybe KTFurniture.com or maybe KTFurnitureWA.com. Any of those would go with your print marketing nicely. Maybe even KarlThomas-Furniture.com but adding things like the dash gives people a chance to Forget it’s there including your printers.

If none of those are working then you have to get creative and make Sure your MetaTags reflect your True name later. Creative names could be LuxuryFurniture, BestFurniture, PerfectFurniture. Make Sure you keep your keyword “furniture” in the name and start playing.

If that all fails too then you may want to check the Secondary Markets where used Names are sold. You’ll then have to pay whatever the current owner is asking to buy the rights to it. An example of a website where used names are sold is Afternic.com, here is a link to the list of names We have listed there and you can check out their whole system. Nice secure system.

To .COM, .NET or something else
We strongly recommend .com because the public are trained to Assume it’s .com. Buy your .net also and forward it to your site. This will keep scammers off your name and their free ride on your advertising efforts. If someone is camping on your .com ie not doing anything with it and you buy the .net understand that all your advertising is also raising the value of the .com and could cost you a pretty penny to get it later. You are Far better off trying to get the .com from them cheaply Now.

The .BIZ
This is an acceptable possiblity.  (.com>.biz>.net)

The .ORG
Unless you Are an Organization such as a nonprofit avoid this extention.

The .WS
Marketers would have you believe .WS stands for WebSite. It does NOT. It is the Country Code for Samoa and They own all rights to their extention and can remove your rights at Anytime. The same goes for any other extention which is a Country Code. If you are not in that country, do not use their country Code.

If you would like more information about our professional Website Design, Website Hosting or Search Engine Submission services please feel free to call us!