To register a domain, first you have to find a registrar. You will then purchase your domain there. Domains can range in price form $9 to $35. The site I use and recommend is Godaddy . I have listed some others for your convenience on my web page. Once you have purchased your domain, you have to link it to your host. To do this, you have to change the domain pointer. You host will tell you what to change them to, but usually they are ns1.your-domain.com and ns2.your-domain.com. Once you have changed this information with your registrar, you will have to wait 24-48 hours for this to propagate. Then you have your domain!. The next step is uploading your site to your new host.
Suffixes
“.com” is not the only suffix you can have. There are many others. The top level suffixes are .com, .net, and .org. Here are some other suffixes you can use:
.com
.net
.org
.us
.info
.biz
.ws
.name
Remember, these are for the U.S. If you live outside of the U.S., there will be different suffixes.
Subdomains
Subdomains replace the “www” in domain names. For example, a subdomain would be look like “site1.your-domain.com”. A subdomain can be made up of the same characters as a domain name. Subdomains represent different directories in your domain. The beauty of this is that instead of having to make separate folders for each one of your sites, you just make some subdomains. This is very useful if you are going to host different sites on the same host. Sometimes when you sign up for a free host, they will give you a subdomain of their web site, such as zimmerdesigns.netfirms.com.
Setting Up Godaddy (or another) Account
This example is for www.godaddy.com registration (our favorite low price registrant). However, the concepts for domain registration are basically the same. It's really easy to register a domain - there are many registration sites that charge less than $10/year for each domain. However, watch out - because most will try to entice you into a bunch of extra's during registration. And you can quickly get back to the high prices charged by Networksolutions.com and Register.com (i.e. $35 /year for each domain - which is a 'ripe off' IMHO).
However, the BIGGEST tip you'll ever get for domain registration is : DO NOT let your web host register for you. Many will offer to register the domain for free when you sign up. That is an underhanded trick to make sure it'll be more difficult for you change web host in the future. In other words, if you want to change web host - you have to try to get the web host (or web master) to make the NS (DNS) name server changes. And they will then try to convince you to remain with their service (or worst yet - they may drag their feet and not allow you to move your page immediately. And of course, they will want to continue to be the registrant for your domain - but then they will tell you that it's going to cost you $35/year (or they will try to convince you that you have to sign up for 3 years at a discount of $100 (again much more than the $9/year at godaddy and a lot of other domain registrant).
P.S. We offer free domain hosting ONLY because our competitors make this offer. However, we do NOT recommend that you allow ANYONE to purchase your domain name on your behalf, including a web hosting company (Not even us - despite the fact WE will not play use the nasty tricks that other host use) ! In other words, you really should Always register your own domain - even if someone offers to do it for you - for free ! !
The main 5 steps at Godaddy are:
- Check Domain Name Availability
- Select Length of Your Registration
- Create Your Contact Information
- Select From Hosting Options
- Confirm Your Registration Details
Go To Godaddy.Com
Enter Desired Domain Name
Select Extension (com, etc)
Check to see if open
Domain Taken
Either check out alternate 'extensions'
Or go back and try for another domain name
Domain Open:
Note: This is Step 1 of 5
Check all 'extensions' required
Smart Registration (recommended)
Go Down - Use Smart Registration
New Account Info:
Click 'no' (for no previous account)
Select length of registration
Fill in the *required* info
Private Info / Auto Renew:
You must decide (but I do public)
Private means all domain 'loads' go thru
Their server (and cost about $9 more)
(Not worth the extra layer n money IMHO
Auto Renewal means credit card info on file :(
Enter Name Server:
This example shows client with a
Web Host i.e. DNS (name server)
info was already acquired
Most web host instructions provide this info
(the example shown is for one of my services)
VIP: If NS unknown - use 'free parked' option
Proceed to Checkout:
Check the Domain Agreement (after reading)
(Next are many offers (you don't need :)
Many Offers (more $$$):
Button Hidden at Bottom - under
A lot of advertisements
For things you probably do not need
No Thanks:
This "Specials" page - hides
the exit in the 'no thanks' link
Select Pay Method::
Brainfart: Perhaps if you have .org (non-profit)
with PayPal Donation Button Account
Paypal may be good 'tax' choice :)
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