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Section:: Web Articles < Archives > |
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So You Want a Domain... Getting your own domain used to be so easy! You went to the Internic website, checked to see if the domain you wanted was taken, and if it wasn't, you filled out their short form and paid $70 for the first two years. Now, many companies will register your domain. They charge anywhere from $10 to $35 per year, and may not charge you the first two years in advance. They don't use the same database of registered names, so the old "Whois" search may not be able to tell you if your chosen name has already been registered. The different registrars may not even require the same information for their forms! Most of the new registrars are capable of registering 64-character domain names. Some of the old registrars can still only accept 32-character domain names. "Are these longer domain names everything they're cracked up to be?" Longer domain names may be harder to remember and type, but they're perfect for companies with long names and strings of keywords for search engine positioning. If you want to register one, make sure your registrar supports them. If you can get a shorter domain name that's still easy to remember, go for it. It will be easier for your visitors to use and you won't have to worry about whether your registrar can deal with it. "Too cheap or not too cheap?" Some registrars (like Joker) are advertising prices as low as $15 per year (I'm rounding up). How can they do that when the big guys still charge $35 per year? The new companies are reselling bare-bones services. Certainly you'll have your domain, but you won't get the same level of technical support you've come to expect. Instead of allowing hosting companies to become your technical contact by simply replying to an email, you'll have to go to the website and fill out a form. Then you'll have to reply to the email using the same email address you entered as the administrative contact. Since it's the same for the administrative and billing contacts, it can be quite a mess if you have several different contacts that you may eventually want to change. If you're comfortable with computers and the internet, this may be okay with you. You do it yourself (which you prefer), plus you save $20 a year! If you don't know anything about DNS servers and you never want to, I suggest registering your domain with an established registrar, like Network Solutions. If you go with a cheap registrar (or you already have, and need to change contact information), the forms you need are all on your registrar's website. Just look for a link for "Managing Your Domain" or something like that. "What do I need to know?" You need a list of possible domain names. I suggest you think up at least five, and rank them in the order of how much you like them. Test to see which are available at Better Whois. That's it. If you have a domain name that isn't taken, you can register it, or have your host do it for you. If you register it yourself, they'll ask for your name, address, and email address. I recommend doing it this way, because if someone else does it for you, they may make themselves the administrative and technical contacts - making it difficult (if not impossible) to change website hosting companies (or website design companies, if your designer does it) and keep your domain. Here are other helpful things to know:
Getting the above information from your host up front will allow your website to appear at your domain address much faster. (If you try to update this information later, it could be days, if not an entire week, before your website will show up at your domain address.) If you think knowing this information will make the registrar's lack of technical support a moot point, think again. If you don't like your host for whatever reason, your DNS servers change, or even if you're address changes, your registrar's technical service will come in handy. Once you have all the information you need, choose a registrar, fill out their form, and you're done! Good luck! About the Author Dawn Gray can help you drive more traffic to your website. For other great articles on website promotion and a free email newsletter, visit her website at http://www.busymarketing.com. All articles published on EthanCote.com are copyrighted by their respective author. They are not to be taken without the consent of the author. |
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