How Does Domain Registration Work?

August 17, 2022  /  
How Does Domain Registration Work

Many confuse a domain with a website or website hosting service. A domain name is the address of your website, while web hosting is where files are stored. Think of it like a house. The domain is the physical address, so people know where your home is located, while web hosting is the actual house built on the property where items are kept. 

It’s essential to understand domain registration and how it works in order to launch and maintain a successful website.

What Is A Domain?

When you are ready to launch a website, one of the first things you need to do is purchase a domain name. A domain is a unique address that identifies your website on the internet, helps visitors find your site, and can be used to create a professional email address. 

A good domain name can be valuable for branding and search engine optimization purposes. Choose short, easy-to-remember, and relevant words for your business. Steer clear of funny but hard-to-remember and difficult to spell domain names. Avoid using generic terms that don’t reflect your brand. Remember that the domain name is the first thing people encounter about your site. 

Once you have registered your domain name, you will need to set up hosting to make your site accessible to the world.

How Does Domain Registration Work?

Registering a domain name is quite simple, and it’s the easiest and fastest step when building a website. Of course, you must consider several factors to ensure you don’t end up with a domain you’d regret later on.

Choosing A Domain Name And Domain Extension

First, choose the name you want and make sure it's available. Various site registrars allow you to check your preferred domain name and offer variations in case what you want isn’t available. Take note that the most commonly used descriptive domain names are already taken. Sometimes, they are just parked, so you must contact the owner to repurchase the name. That’s why injecting some personality or brand is advisable to make your domain name stand out and reduce the chances that other people have already purchased it.

Deciding on a domain name is important. Once you’ve built your site, you can’t simply change a domain name without affecting your site’s visits and confusing your audience. Domains are also like real estate on the web, so grab them immediately when you’ve decided on one. Failing to do so may result in others getting the name ahead of you, forcing you to either settle for a different domain name or purchase the desired domain at a ridiculously high price. 

Another thing you should decide on is the domain name extension. The extension is like your site’s zip code — it identifies what kind of site you have. The most common extensions are .com, .org, and .net, but in recent years, you can be as specific as you want with domain extensions. Some descriptive ones are .lawyer, .club, .live, and .work. There are also country-level extensions such as .au, .uk, and .ca available if you are a citizen of that country.

Registering With A Domain Registrar

Once you've found an available domain, you can register it with a domain name registrar. A registrar is an organization that manages the reservation of Internet domain names. When registering a domain, you'll be asked to provide your personal information and pay a small fee. Your registrar will then manage your domain and renew it on your behalf. Most registrars offer discounted plans if you opt to pay for your domain for more than a year. 

You’ll also notice various add-on options when registering a domain name, such as domain privacy, professional email, and an SSL certificate. While these add-ons are optional, some, like domain privacy and SSL, help secure your site from malicious attacks. You’d be better off purchasing them now instead of dealing with attacks in the future. 

Where Can I Register A Domain?

Some popular sites to register a domain name are GoDaddy.com, Domain.com, and Namecheap.com. You can also buy a domain from a web hosting solution like Bluehost, HostGator, and DreamHost. Most of these hosting services offer a free domain name for one year. 

Build A Website By Registering A Domain Today

Building websites are not as complicated as they look. The process starts with a domain name, and registering one is fast and easy. All you need is a good domain name and your credit card to get started. 

By following these simple steps, you can easily register your own domain name. For more articles about creating and managing websites, visit the Page Kits’ blog section.

Was this article helpful?
YesNo
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Comments are closed.

pagekits logo
Copyright © 2024 PageKits. All Rights Reserved.
linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram