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The first action towards creating a website is to get a good domain name and register it. In this article, we will explain to you how to register a domain name step by step.

What is a Domain Name?

A domain name is your website’s address that people type in the browser to visit your website—for instance, Artimization.com.

In simple terms, if your website was a house, then your domain name will be its address.

The entire internet is a massive network of computers. Each computer is specified a number which is called an IP address, and it looks like this: 104.26.12.238

Now, this is not simple to remember the address. Imagine if you had to use this kind of address to visit your desired websites.

To fix this problem, domain names were created. Domain names can have alphabets and numbers, which supports business owners to create brandable names for their website’s address.

Related Article: Top 10 Web Design Agencies of the World

Few Best Suggestions Before Buying Domain Names:

Before you buy a domain name, consider doing some proper research. After all, the name of your website is one of the prime things that visitors will see. Here are some essential points to keep in mind:

Review your ideas: If you feel like picking the right name for your website is the most challenging choice of your life, possibly you need some help. Give your ideas to friends, family, colleagues. Who understands, they might give you that golden piece of advice that you are looking for.

How much does it cost to buy a domain name?

Usually, a .com domain name costs $14.99 / year. The cost of domain changes is based on each different extension. Some are even more expensive than this.

We do not suggest using anything but .com domains because everybody remembers a .com domain, and your smartphone keyboards have a pre-built key for .com

Things to Watch Out for When Choosing a Domain Name Registrar

Due to the high demand in the domain registration business, you will come across companies with some attractive offers. While these offers may look good, there may be some downsides that you may overlook right away.

Following are a few things you must watch out for before choosing a domain name registrar.

1. Add-on Pricing

Some domain name registrars can automatically pre-check add-on services when you buy a domain name. If you do not uncheck those options, then this would raise your bill significantly. Typically a .com domain name should not cost you more than $14.99 / year. If it does, then it should show a red flag.

You must pay consideration to the checkout page and uncheck any add-on services that you do not require. On top of that, it is always a good approach to double-check the total amount you are charged in your credit card statements.

2. Bad User Experience

Most domain registrars attempt to make their website easy to use, so they can keep you as a customer. However, some domain registrars do the exact opposite.

This would make it hard for you to change your domain name settings. You will require to do that if you wanted to transfer the domain to a new host or a new domain registrar. The simplest way to look for this is by searching for domain registrar’s online reviews. Keep in mind that very few happy customers leave online reviews, so it is essential to read the reviews thoroughly.

3. Hidden Fees

You may also require to look for the hidden charges and fees when picking a domain registrar.

Some domain registrars may have unique offers for more affordable domains for first-time registrations. Most beginners do not realize it, but the domain’s renewal cost is often quite unconventional and even higher.

All good domain registrars make it simple to transfer your domain name to a different company. However, some will put an additional fee.

That being said, let’s take a look at the best domain name registrar that will benefit you in future.

Best Domain Registrar to Buy a Domain Name

Picking the right domain registrar keeps you from possible future difficulties. It not only benefits you to protect your brand name but also makes it simple to move your website to a new host or service provider.

Recommendation for NameCheap

Namecheap is the top domain registrar on the market. They have a robust domain search tool that helps you determine the right domain name and makes recommendations when your preferred domain name is not available.

They also give domain add-on services like domain privacy and premium DNS. Their domain management field is just perfect.

One delightful thing about NameCheap is that they give free domain privacy with all their domain names.

How to Buy a Domain Name with Namecheap

As we know, the market is overflowed with domain registrars. But Namecheap is super simple for anyone to buy a domain using this registrar, even if it is your first experience.

This process is a bit more straightforward than using other registrars, only because you are not bundling any other services—Namecheap is surely for buying a domain. 

This process is a bit more straightforward than using other registrars, only because you are not bundling any other services—Namecheap is surely for buying a domain. 

Step 1 – Visit the Namecheap website:

The first thing you require to do is make your way over the Namecheap website.

From here, you can explore your domain directly from the homepage.

Enter your preferred domain name into the search bar, which can be seen in the center of the screen. 

Make sure that “Register” is toggled above that search bar. The “Transfer” option is offered for people who have an existing domain and want to change registrars—that’s not for you. 

Click the search button to continue. 

Step 2 – Choose Your Extension:

As a domain registrar, Namecheap gives a comprehensive list of domain extensions. 

You will have the option to pick from things like .fun, .vip, .studio, .health, .xyz, .lol, .design, and numbers of other extensions. But in most instances, choosing a .com extension will be your best thing. 

Just hit the “Add to cart” button next to the extensions you want and then checkout.

Step 3 – Confirm Your Order:

When you purchase a domain directly from a domain registrar, you can leap all of the extras. You will not need an SSL certificate, professional email, or anything else. You will be able to get that from your web hosting provider.

Make sure you have WhoisGuard enabled. This shields your personal information from being open to the public. Some domain registrars make you spend extra for this, but Namecheap offers it free forever. 

Turn on “auto-renew” for your domain registration as well. Otherwise, you will have to renew it manually every year, which sets you at risk for the registration lapse. 

Once you verify the order, you will be required to create a Namecheap account. After you inscribe your payment details and finalize the purchase.

That’s all you have to do with it, and the domain is yours.

Approaches to Buy a Domain Name:

Usually there are two main approaches to buy a domain name. 

There are advantages and disadvantages to each method, and the process for each one is very contrary.

Buying a Domain from a Standalone Domain Registrar

In many cases, going directly to a domain registrar like Namecheap will be your most suitable option. As the name suggests, these platforms specialize in domain registration. 

Buying domains direct from a standalone registrar will be quicker than alternative methods. That’s because you are not bundling other services, so the process is more straightforward.

Domain registrars also make it more comfortable to buy domains in bulk. So if you are in the market for more than a single domain, definitely go with a registrar. 

If you want alternative extensions, domain registrars will offer significantly more choices. We typically do not suggest anything other than a .com domain, some of you might like to view through hundreds of alternative extensions. 

Transferring domain names with a registrar is also more lenient than using a service that does not practice in domain registration. So if you want to transfer your domain or think you might want to transfer it in the future, use a domain registrar.

It’s usually more affordable to buy domains directly from a registrar. For beginners, the domain itself will likely be less costly. But the best registrars, like Namecheap, include WhoisGuard protection for free with the buying of a domain. You probably will not get that from a hosting company. 

The downside of getting your domain from a registrar is that there’s an additional step in the process. You will still have to get web hosting elsewhere.

Buying a Domain from a Web Hosting Company

For beginners who are new to the world of web hosting and domain registration, getting everything under one roof is just more comfortable. It is fewer steps, and you can manage your hosting plan and domain name from a single account.

But if you are getting a domain from a hosting provider is not ideal if you want to purchase domains in bulk. It is fair for a single domain, but beyond that, it gets troublesome. You also will not have as many choices for alternative extensions if you want something different. 

Most web hosting providers will also ask you extra for domain privacy and protection, whereas you can get this for free from a domain registrar.

Final Thoughts

Buying a domain name does not need to be that difficult.

Even newcomers and first-time buyers can accomplish this process in just a few moments by following our step-by-step instructions explained in this guide.

There is a number of other domain registrars and resellers in the market. They all almost offer the same services. We want to make it easy for you to pick the best and most reliable domain registrar without creating some issues.

In our opinion, Namecheap is the best domain registrar in the market for small businesses and large companies. They give the most flexible pricing and have all the features you like to have. We hope this article will help you in your domain name hunt.

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