The first step to starting a website is registering your domain, which is the address for your website. This guide will break down all the steps you need to choose your domain, register it, and start building your website. Are you ready to set up a website for yourself or your business? You can register your domain in just as little as a few minutes with these four simple steps. Here are a few things to consider when choosing the right domain:
Is it memorable? Make your domain name easy to remember, especially if you’re setting up a domain for your business. You want to make sure that visitors can easily return again and again.
Is it easy to spell? If your domain is too long or difficult to spell, then visitors might have a hard time finding it. Here’s a good litmus test to decide if your name is easy enough to spell: When you say it out loud, is it obvious how it should be spelled? Just to make sure, you can ask a friend, family member, or acquaintance for their feedback. Can they spell it just by hearing you say it out loud? If not, you might want to find a simpler name.
Does it identify your brand? Look for a domain name that identifies the brand you’re trying to build. If you’re building a personal website to use as a resume or portfolio, then it makes sense to register a domain that is your first and last name. On the other hand, if you’re registering a domain for your business, the best choice would be your business name. If you’re starting a new website or business and don’t have a name yet, consider choosing a name that identifies the niche or topic of your website.
Is it legal to use? When you’re choosing a domain for your website, consider checking to see if someone has a trademark on that name. Even if they haven’t purchased the website, a trademark owner still has a legal claim to the name. The last thing you want is to purchase a domain, set up your website, and then find out that someone else owns the name you’ve chosen. Not only is it frustrating to change later, but it can also be expensive if it results in a lawsuit.
If your domain isn’t available, consider looking at different suffixes. Most people automatically look for websites that end in .com. But that’s not the only option, and given the massive number of websites available today, more are becoming popular and common. Suffixes you can look for other than .com include:
.co
.net
.org
.us
.biz
.io
After confirming that the domain you want is available, you may also want to confirm that the matching social media handles are available too. For businesses, it’s important that all of your online branding matches. An online tool like namecheckr.com can help you identify which social media handles are available matching your domain. Some of the most popular domain registrars are:
Domain.com
GoDaddy
Google Domain
Bluehost
Network Solutions
HostGator
DreamHost
If you’ve already purchased a hosting plan, or plan to do so, you may consider purchasing your domain from your hosting provider. In many cases, you can get your domain for a free or discounted price with the purchase of a hosting plan.
