How to Register & Buy a Domain Name in 7 Easy Steps

Purchasing a domain name is one of the first—and arguably most impactful—steps you must take when you decide to launch a website. By learning how to buy a domain name and understanding the details of the process, you can ensure you have all the information you need to launch your website and start promoting your digital identity. 

Step 1: Understand the importance of a domain name

Your domain name will serve as your brand’s digital identity, and it should last for the entire life of your business. To that end, it’s important to be strategic when choosing your perfect domain name.  

An effective new domain should not only promote the name of your business but also the purpose of your business, as domain names play an important role in search engine optimization (SEO).

When potential customers search for your brand—or any keywords related to your services—a readable, relevant custom domain name may be more likely to appear in their search engine results. 

Put simply, a well-thought-out domain name can easily connect interested customers to your products and services. 

Step 2: Choose a reliable domain registrar

Domain registrars are accredited organizations that manage your domain name registration and services. It’s helpful to start with a reliable, trustworthy domain registrar that you can work with long-term. 

For example, Name.com is an established, ICANN-accredited registrar that offers hundreds of domain extension options, as well as helpful security features. 

Step 3: Run a domain name search

Brainstorm a list of potential domain names, then search for them on your chosen registrar’s site. Most registrars offer a convenient domain name search bar that will tell you if a desired domain name is currently available for purchase. Name.com also offers relevant, targeted suggestions of other domain names to consider.

It’s also important to note that when creating your digital address, you can customize both sides of the dot. For instance, if you’re starting a coffee shop called Jane’s Coffee, instead of opting for “janescoffee.com,” you might choose “janes.coffee.” In this case, “janes” is the left side of the dot, and “.COFFEE” is the domain extension or top-level domain (TLD). By choosing a different TLD, like “.COFFEE” instead of “.COM,” you can make your website stand out and be more relevant to your niche or industry.

As mentioned, choosing a different domain extension, also known as a top-level domain (TLD), can help make your website stand out. If you’re wondering, “What is a top level domain?”, here are a few main types of TLDs to consider:

• Country code top-level domains (ccTLDs): ccTLDs are domain extensions that indicate a connection with a specific country or geographic area, such as .UK for the United Kingdom or .IN for India.

• Sponsored top-level domains (sTLDs): sTLDs have a sponsor that oversees the TLD on behalf of a community or group. For example, the .EDU TLD is sponsored by the education nonprofit Educase and is reserved for educational institutions.

• Generic top-level domains (gTLDs): gTLDs are standard domain extensions that aren’t associated with a specific area or sponsor. They include traditional TLDs, such as .COM or .ORG, as well as new TLDs, such as .MONSTER or .SHOP.

Step 4: Purchase your preferred domain

To purchase your new domain, start by creating an account with your registrar. Then, add your chosen domain to your cart from the search page. 

During checkout, you can select the term of your domain registration and browse potential add-ons. If your registrar offers professional email addresses or website-building tools, consider bundling these services with your domain name. Name.com offers custom email solutions as well as website builder solutions that are worth exploring.

Step 5: Enter accurate contact details

As a domain registrant, you’re responsible for providing accurate contact information to your registrar. Your domain name registrar will then reach out to you using your provided contact information to verify that you are the domain owner. Having inaccurate details could put your domain at risk of being removed. 

Providing the correct contact information also makes it easy to: 

• Approve any changes to your domain services
• Authorize domain transfers
• Make additional purchases

Keeping your contact details up-to-date also ensures that you’re compliant with ICANN policies.

Step 6: Protect your domain

ICANN requires domain registrars to share the contact information of their registrants with the WHOIS database. You may be wondering, “What is WHOIS?” It is a directory of all domain name owners. However, you may not want this information to be publicly available. To solve this problem, some registrars offer additional privacy protection to hide your personal information from the WHOIS database. 

With domain privacy protection, the registrar or another third party acts as a proxy for your domain. This way, they can connect you with incoming WHOIS inquiries without listing your phone number or email in the database.

Step 7: Consider future-proofing your domain

Because your domain name is synonymous with your brand, it’s important to choose something evergreen that can grow with your business. Focus on selecting a good domain name that will always be relevant to your brand’s name, services, or industry. 

For example, let’s say you start a business selling eco-friendly sneakers. Instead of choosing a domain name like “CheapGreenShoes2023.com,” which may become outdated as years go by, you might opt for “EcoStrideSneakers.com.” The latter is timeless, directly relates to the brand’s mission, and avoids tying the brand to a specific year or temporary promotion. It can remain relevant as your business grows and evolves over time.

Although it may be tempting to capitalize on trending topics, choosing a relevant, evergreen name can make your brand more recognizable and help you avoid a costly rebrand down the line.

Factors to consider when buying a domain name

When picking out a domain name, start by exploring options that are short and easy to remember. If people can easily recognize and recall your domain name, your site will be much easier to find. 

You also want your new domain to be distinct to support your unique brand and avoid accidental copyright infringement. Search for different iterations of your chosen name to see if other brands are already using something similar or if they’ve trademarked the name itself. 

Why choose Name.com for your domain needs

If you’re looking for a reliable registrar and a seamless experience for your domain needs, look no further. Name.com walks you through the process of securing your desired domain name with convenient online search tools, impactful extension options, and a variety of other resources to help you easily manage and grow your brand’s digital identity. 

Start by using Name.com’s domain search to find the perfect domain name and streamline your website launch. 

Sources:

Name.com. What Is a Top-Level Domain (TLD)? Types of TLDs & More. https://www.name.com/blog/what-is-a-top-level-domain-tld-types-of-tlds-more

Educase. .edu Administration Portal. https://net.educause.edu/

ICANN. Basics of WHOIS. https://whois.icann.org/en/basics-whois#:~:text=ICANN%20requires%20WHOIS%20information%20to,provided%20by%20domain%20name%20registrants.
Name.com. Adding Whois Privacy. https://www.name.com/support/articles/205934677-adding-whois-privacy