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Check if the domain is available
Now that you have a domain name in mind, it’s time to check whether the domain is available. Head over to GoDaddy, NameCheap, or another domain registrar and type in your chosen name to see whether it’s available. If it is, great! If not, try again with a different name until you find one that works for you.
A note on choosing a domain registrar:
You’ll need to choose a domain registrar – the company that will hold your domain information and manage your registration. When it comes time to choose a registrar, you have several options. If you are buying the domain name as part of your hosting package, the host is likely to take care of the registration process for you. This is a convenient option and will save you some time and money, but it means that if you ever decide to switch hosts, you will also need to transfer your domain name. If you decide to register your domain name separately from your hosting package, there are dozens of domain name registration companies out there.
Register your new domain
Congratulations, you have an available domain name. Now all you need to do is register it. When you register a domain, you get the rights to that specific domain for a certain period. You will want to purchase the domain name for at least a year or two.
Here’s how to register your new domain:
The exact procedure will be different depending on the company you choose, but here’s an example of what you can expect:
- If the name is available and you decide it’s right for you, click ‘Add To Cart and fill in your details. These are usually fairly standard requests and will include things like your email address and physical address.
- If you have followed the previous steps, it should lead you to the checkout page eventually. This is where your credit card comes in handy. You’ll need it to pay for your new domain.
- Your information will already be pre-filled, so all you need to do is double-check that the information is correct, enter your payment info, and then click “Pay Now”.
Confirm the registration, and you’re done!
Gotten a Domain Name. What Next?
Congratulations! You’re the proud owner of a shiny new domain name. Now what?
Find hosting for your domain name (web hosting)
That brings us to the next step: finding hosting for your site.
Your domain name is how people find you online, but you need a web host to connect your site to the internet. A web hosting service stores all of the files for your website on its servers and delivers those files to browsers when people access your site.
Some registrars also provide hosting, while others will point you to another company that can help you set up a site on your new domain. Make sure the host’s offerings match your needs.
Pro Tip: check hosting reputation and subscription, by using a Reverse IP/DNS API tool.
Here is why it matters:
If you want to be taken seriously online, don’t host your website on a crowded IP address or along with maliciously operated websites with a bad reputation; this can severely harm your website’s performance, and even get it blacklisted!
Other actions:
- Create an email address with your new domain name. For example, if you register mysite.com, then you might want an email address like [email protected] or [email protected].
- Building your website. You can either do this yourself or hire a professional depending on your level of competences. You can choose to use WordPress, which is the most popular way and the easiest to set up, or you can choose to use something like Wix or Squarespace.
