Registering your Domain Name

Website name

The shorter the better.

Choose a top level extension like .com, .org, .net if you can!

The name needs to reflect your site’s purpose if possible, or needs to be catchy and memorable.

Pick a name that will give you that warm fuzzy feeling. Remember, your domain name will be the “brand” your stuck with. (Imagine if Yahoo had been called YoDude instead!)

Private vs. Public

Going private with your domain name is an additional expense, but will prevent your contact info from going into a Global Internet database, (a valuable source for spammers to gather your personal data). If you decide to go public, be aware that the information you give to the Domain Registrar is the information you give to the world!

To Register your domain name

1.) To register your website’s name you will need to go to a domain name registrar such as:

  • GoDaddy.com
  • Bluehost.com
  • NameCheap.com
  • Name.com
  • 1and1.com

2.) Search to see if your proposed website domain name is available.

3.) Purchase your domain name.

4.) Transfer the nameserver to your webhosting company, if it is a different company from the registrar. (There will typically be two nameservers such as NS19.ixwebhosting.com & NS20.ixwebhosting.com)

Registrar Accreditation

Domain Name Registrars are accredited by the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)

For a Complete list of every accredited Registrar throughout the world:  ICANN-Accredited Registrars

Try to choose a registrar that has a good reputation. More reputable registrars will have better name security measures, and will email you repeatedly if your name is approaching expiration. If you lose your domain name to hijackers, or are a victim of domain sniping because you forgot to renew your name before it expired, your website and all of your hard work is down the drain.