Your domain name is your business’s identity on the web.
The right domain lets people know exactly who you are and what you do.
Every website needs a domain and if you’re looking to get your business online, you’ll have to register your domain name with a domain name registrar.
Purchasing a domain name may seem complicated but it’s actually a simple process.
This post will show you how to buy a domain name and answer those questions you might have.
Don’t have a website yet? Don’t worry! Join our team and we’ll take care of the domain registration for you.
What is a Domain Name?
Domain names basically make hard-to-remember numeric internet addresses easy to… well, remember.
Every device on the internet has a unique internet protocol (IP) number. A domain name represents one IP number or more.
A domain will consist of a top-level domain (TLD) and a second-level domain (SLD).
The TLD is the part of the domain located to the right of the dot, e.g., ‘.com’, ‘.co.uk’, ‘.org’. The SLD is the part located to the left of the dot, e.g., ‘google’ in ‘google.co.uk’.
Where Can You Buy a Domain Name?
To buy a domain name, you need to use a domain name registrar.
There are so many different companies you can choose from, so your best bet is to do a little research to find one that works for you.
We like to use Namecheap to register our domains and those of our clients. One nice thing about them is that they offer free domain privacy.
Once you know where you’re going to buy your domain name, you can start the buying process.
How to Pick a Great Domain Name
Picking a domain name doesn’t have to be difficult.
Although you can’t buy any domain, only ones that aren’t already registered by another person or business, there are still many available and you can be sure you’ll find one that matches what you need.
You’ll want something that represents your brand or business.
Below are a few simple things to consider to make the process easier:
Go With .Com
As of right now, .com is the most popular domain name extension.
It’s a good option when buying a domain name, as most web users will easily remember it.
If you have the budget, it can be wise to buy your local domain too (e.g., .co.uk)
Keep It Short
A short domain name is usually better.
They’re simple for customers to remember and make getting matching usernames for social media accounts easier.
You might find that many of the shorter names are taken. Don’t worry too much and focus on finding something that works for you.
Don’t Use Numbers or Hyphens
While numbers and hyphens let you create more domain name variations, they can sometimes cause confusion.
Anyone who hears your web address won’t know if you’re using a numeral 5 or ‘five’.
If your business name has a number in it, register both variations.
Include Keywords
Having keywords in your domain tells people exactly what you do and can help them find you easily.
If your business is local, include your city, town, or country so local customers can see where you are.
The How-to Guide
Below are the steps you can follow to purchase your domain name.
As we like Namecheap, we’ve used them as an example.
Step 1.
Go to namecheap.com/domains or your chosen registrar.
Step 2.
Type in the domain name you would like.
Add the suffix if you know which one you want.
As an example, we’ve searched for lawncareinkent.com
Step 3.
You’ll be taken to a page that shows you whether your searched domain name is avaialable or not.
Ours is!
Click Add to cart.
You can also add different suffix variations of your domain name from this page.
Step 4.
Once you’re ready to pay, click View cart.
Here you can see how long you are registering the domain for and other information relating to your purchase.
We like to register domains for 2 years, but 1 year works too.
Click Confirm Order.
Enter your payment details and you’re done!
We hope you’ve found this post helpful and are now able to get your very own domain name.
If you get stuck or need any help, feel free to contact us.
