How to Register Domain Name

It is imperative to register domain name after choosing the name that best suit your niche or what you want to blog about. The process of doing this may not be as cumbersome as domain name search, but can be rather technical especially for beginner.

One of the reasons why it is important to get it right is the need to point that domain name to your site (your web host server) after registering it with a domain name registrar.

These registrars need to submit these names to ICANN- Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (an international non governmental organization responsible for internet protocols). Why is it important to register domain name?

Importance of registering domain name.
a) To brand your blog for uniqueness.
b) It would make you possess the right of ownership
c) No other webmaster will be able to register it and later sell for profit
d) It is the address that point to your site. The gateway to your products and services.
e) Keyword rich names can be quickly hijacked so, registering it on time makes it your own.

The process of registering domain name.
Find a suitable and reputable domain name registrar like Godaddy or namecheap and do a check/search availability of the web address you intend to register.

This web address usually come in different version/extensions e.g COM, NET, CO, BIZ, INFO etc. Each has it’s specific function, purpose and usefulness.

For example, .com is for commercial and the most popular among other extensions, .org is good for non governmental organization or charity website, .net for networking and so on. It is often better and necessary to register other extensions of the same web name after picking a version.

Though, this may not be compulsory but can be necessary if the goal to build unique brand quality across the globe is envisioned. This effort will also prevent competitors from registering the same name in other extensions most especially keyword rich names thereby compromising your brand.

However, to register domain name, you must have credit/debit card or PayPal account through which payment transactions would be made.

It cost average of 10-13 dollars to register a single domain extension. After the transaction, username or customer ID and password including unique code are sent to the email account used at sign up stage. Keep these information for subsequent use.

If you intend to choose a web host different from domain name registrar you used (which is the best practice), then you will need to point their server to your domain name.

Sometimes, we make the mistake of using the same web host to register our domain name simply because, the offer is free and somewhat cost effective.

There are reasons why I feel we should not toll that path except a separate account is maintained that manage domain name transactions different from web host account like in the case of customers on Godaddy.

Why we should not register domain name with web host

# Ownership status maybe compromised: There are personal information needed to effect registration from ICANN via domain name registrar. Your web host may not have this information at the point of registration. Therefore, they may use their information to register it on your behalf.

# Domain transfer may become hard: It is a known fact that the domain name registered by a web host on behalf of a client often become hard to transfer should the client decide to swap or migrate to another web host.

They use this technique as a yard stick to perpetually keep you on their platform even when you no longer enjoy their services.

The offer of free domain seems an indirect sales gimmick employed to transform client to loyal and consistent customer. Beware of free service for nothing is really free.

# Web host scam: I have heard a situation where web host claim the ownership of domain names they register on behalf of clients only to demand huge amount of money for transfer.

Though, this is a peculiar situation. The move is similar to domain name front running or domain name registrar’s scam.

# Renew process: Domain name registration expires in at least a year depending on the number of years registered for after which the recipient would have to signify the intention of continue usage by renewing the process of registration, failure to do so would amount to loosing the name.

This is better done by you and not a fourth party. There may be some update you want to effect on your personal data, DNS configuration or update and so on.

# Effective management: It is far better to manage domain name and web host transactions in different portfolios. It gives you more control and effective management.

Now, how do we point our domain name to our web host server because only then can our website be accessible and functional. But, before then there are precautions we need to observe while registering domain name.

Precautions
Beware of domain name front running. They hijack keyword rich domain names before they are registered.

HOW? When you type a domain name into a browser with the intention to see if it has not be taken, domain name front runners get to know about it through a software and hijack it by registering it immediately before you ever think of registration.

They do this with the hope of making profit when you later want to register the name. This is part of the reasons why some domain names are very expensive. Do not use browser to search for domain name. If you do, be prepare to register it immediately.

Likewise, some domain name registrar hijack searched names on their platform when they are not registered immediately. Ensure you are ready to register a name before embarking on research.

Get reputable domain name registrar like Godaddy or Namecheap. They are reliable. Do not share the name on forums before you register, but you can seek advise from friends you trust. Good keyword rich names are not easy to think through this days. Keep yours discreetly.

Image Credit: Businessemail