These days, having an online presence is just as necessary as having a physical store. Therefore, purchasing a domain name for your business comes naturally when you wish to build and grow your brand. It’s fruitful to know the details of the entire process of how to purchase a domain name before purchasing one. Learn the complete domain buying process and how to buy a domain name, and learn the first steps to creating a memorable brand and identity.
Know what a domain name is
A domain name is your website’s unique address or presence online. It’s what the users type or search in the browser to find your website. It consists of two parts: the name and the extension (or top-level domain, TLD). e.g., in the URL “www.unboxfame.com“, “unboxfame” is the name and “.com” is the extension.
What is a domain registrar?
A domain registrar is an organization that administers the registration of domain names on behalf of individuals, persons, or companies. E.g,. GoDaddy and Namecheap. The ‘Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)’ is responsible for all the domains and supervises them. Meanwhile, the registrar deals with ICANN on your behalf.
A credible domain registrar
The following factors should be considered for an appropriate domain registrar:
Domain pricing: Compare the prices of the registrars that are offered, including the initial registration costs, renewal costs, and any extra costs associated with the services offered, such as domain privacy protection.
Customer Support: This is because a registrar that has a good customer support system provides various forms of contact like chat, email, and phone, and makes sure that they are available when you need them.
Management tools: Domain management is available in some of the registrars, including easy DNS management, transfer lock, and bulk editing.
Security features: Two-factor authentication, domain locking, and professional monitoring are the features of a registrar that will be preferred. And as it protects your realm against unlawful bequests or invasion.
Some may provide discounts for longer registration periods, while others may automatically renew your domain each year.
Avoid use of special characters like hyphens and numbers:
This can reduce your online presence, as it can be difficult to remember, can end up in spelling blunders, and make your domain name appear spammy, so be wise while choosing your name
Keep it simple
Easy and simple names have a higher chance of doing well online as they may increase your brand’s reach.
Keep it relevant to your business.
The name should convey your brand’s value and should not beat around the bush. It should stick to what your business is about and shouldn’t be misleading.
There are certain domain extensions available, each serving a specific purpose and category. These extensions help you build a credible and strong presence, establishing a strong customer base. The domain extension ‘.com’ is the most common and readily available domain extension as it’s valid worldwide. Other country-specific domain extensions are ‘.in’ for India and ‘.ca’ for Canada.
Check domain availability
Check the availability of your name to verify if it is available for buying or has been registered by someone else. After you have narrowed down your domain names, see if your name is not already being used by any previous individual or corporation.
Purchasing and registration of the domain name
Once you have checked the availability of your domain name, the next thing is to select a registrar and then buy your selected domain name using your domain registrar.
The process involves creating an account by entering required credentials, your payment credentials, and the mode of payment. Along with choosing the period for which you will be buying the domain name.
The following is a step-by-step idea that should be followed:
- Start by going to a domain registrar of your choice.
- Enter your domain name, and then click Search. In case the name is available, then click Get It. Otherwise, find more recommendations or type something new into the search field. When you have a great domain name, click Get It.
- You have an option of registering for one, two, or three years. The greater the registration period, the more you save money on an annual basis. After opting for the timeline, click Continue and proceed to checkout.
- Finally, you can connect your website to your domain name. And, share it with your target audience, family, and friends.
Last step: Verify the ownership of the domain
After you have purchased your account, an extra and crucial step is to verify the possession of your account. This helps you ensure that you are the sole owner of your domain, and it’s linked to your account only. This also helps the domain registrars to act as a precautionary verification process, and acting quickly will help you avoid delays in activating your domain.
- Go through your email address linked to your registrar. Check your emails for the verification link. Verify your purchase by completing the verification process.
- Click the link and proceed with the instructions. This involves logging into your account and verifying some details.
- Complete the verification within the required timeframe. Plenty of Registrars allow a grace period, but if the verification isn’t completed on time, your registration may be suspended.
Key takeaways:
Getting a secure and safe domain name goes hand in hand with your brand’s overall presence. It can be done by following the complete guide. Taking care of some preventive measures and keeping your credentials and details updated helps you have a secure and protected domain that has a strong presence.