Buying a domain name is a relatively simple process, but managing them can be confusing. There are many options to consider, and there are hundreds of registrars to choose from.
There are several important decisions you will have to make. It’s not enough to just register a domain from the first place you come across. You need to choose the best possible domain for your website, buy it from a registrar you can trust, and manage it effectively.
You will also need to decide whether or not to use WHOIS protection, whether to park the domain, and for how long to register it. Believe it or not, these things make a difference.
So let’s get started so you can find out exactly how to register a domain and manage it correctly.
Choose a registrar
The first thing to do is decide which registrar you want to use. GoDaddy is a popular option, but I don’t recommend it. According to many people, they are prone to disable domains even with false spam reports and then charge a huge fee to reinstate the domain even if you can prove you did nothing wrong.
NameCheap is a popular option. They have free WHOIS protection for the first year of each domain, and they have a coupon every month that allows you to get a nice discount, making each domain less than $10.
I’ll use NameCheap as an example in this guide, because I consider it the best registrar. It’s affordable, the support is good, and its interface is easy to use.
I do not recommend using the domain services of a hosting company. They will often take your domain hostage and make it difficult to transfer if you decide to leave their hosting. Always register your domain yourself, and always do it directly through a registrar.
Find a domain name
Many people believe that all good domain names are taken. That’s not true. While you certainly won’t be able to select books.com or something similar, there are still plenty of great domains available.
To choose the right domain for your purposes, you need to decide what you are going to use the domain for. There are two main classifications.
keyword domains
If you want to build a niche-based blog or website, or if you want to invest in a domain that you can sell for a profit later, you’ll want to buy a keyword-based domain name.
You should look for domain names that have high-traffic keywords. If you want to create a site about discount golf clubs, you should ideally get DiscountGolfClubs.com.
Keyword domains, especially for keywords that get a significant number of searches, also have great resale value. You can buy a domain for $10 and trade it in for hundreds or even thousands.
brand domains
If you want to create a site that is branded like Pinterest or Flickr, you can get a little more creative. You’ll want to get a mastery of one word (or two at the most). But you can use creative spelling.
When purchasing a domain for branding purposes:
1. Find a word that is not too difficult to spell. Flickr is relatively easy to remember, but Fotograffi might not be. Too many letters are changed. People may not remember which ones are different from the original word. It should be memorable.
2. Pick a word that fits your niche. For a site about golf, you might get something like Puttr.com, for example.
3. Integrate your brand. Make sure you can create a logo that helps people remember your domain name.
Warning: DO NOT look up domain names at any registrar until you are ready to buy! Some registrars make deals with speculators to provide them with recently searched names. They buy the domains and then charge a premium for them later.
domain registration
Once it’s time to register a domain, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, do not use false information during the registration process. Your domain may be taken away later, which would be a real shame if you’ve generated significant traffic to it.
Second, you probably want to register all of your domains with the same registrar. It becomes tedious to have to worry about your domains at multiple registrars.
You will also need to decide whether or not you want to use WHOIS protection and how long you will register the domain for.
WHOIS protection
Many people automatically opt for WHOIS protection, but this is not always the best option. Some SEO experts have suggested that Google and other search engines may penalize sizes that have their registration information protected.
Also, some customers may not trust you if you protect their information. This could result in lost sales.
However, if you’re worried about people finding out what you’re doing or coming to your home, you may want to use WHOIS protection or at least provide a PO Box instead of a mailing address.
Record Duration
You can register your domain for as little as one year, or most registrars will allow you to register a domain for up to ten years at a time. If you can afford it, opt for a longer registration period.
For one, you won’t run the risk of accidentally forgetting to renew your domain. You’d be surprised how often this happens. You may not receive the reminder email, and if you don’t have it set to auto-renew, you could lose your domain.
Another important reason to register for at least two years in a row is that some SEO experts believe that Google can boost sites with longer registrations. They think that Google may think a site is more trustworthy if it’s registered longer, because spammers usually register for only one year, assuming they can be quickly banned anyway.
name servers
To use your domain, you must set up name servers. This tells computers where to find your domain when someone tries to go there. Connect your domain with your web server.
I’ll show you how to set up your nameservers with NameCheap. You will need the nameservers of your hosting company. You may be able to find them on your dashboard or in the welcome email you received from them. If you can’t find them, contact your hosting company and ask.
You will need two. They will look like this:
ns1.yourserver.com
ns2.yourserver.com
Sign in to NameCheap. Next to “Number of domains in your account”, click “view”. Then find the domain you want to modify and click on it. In the menu on the left, click on “Domain Name Server Settings”.
Click the selection field next to “Specify custom DNS servers (your own DNS servers). Then enter both DNS servers and click “Save changes”. Done!
domain forwarding
You may not always want to host a website or blog on your domain name. You may want to use it to forward somewhere else. For example, article marketers often use domains to forward directly to their affiliate links.
It’s very simple to set up domain forwarding with NameCheap, but you can only use it if you’re using their default nameservers. You’ll need to change them back to NameCheap before continuing.
Sign in to your account and select Manage domains. Click on the domain you want to forward and choose “All Host Records”. In the “@” field, enter your domain name. In the “www” field, enter the URL you want the domain to forward to (for example, your affiliate link). Make sure it says “URL Redirection” in “RECORD TYPE”.
To transfer your nameservers back to NameCheap, click on your domain and select “Transfer DNS back to us” in the left menu. Then check the box next to “Transfer DNS to NameCheap Default DNS and click “Save Changes”. Do this before attempting to set up forwarding, otherwise you won’t have the option available.
domain parking
You can earn money from your domain name when it’s not in use by parking it. You won’t earn much unless your domain is visited very often, but it’s still better than nothing if you’re not currently using the domain.
As with forwarding, you can only park a page if you’ve changed your domain to NameCheap’s default nameservers. Once you’ve done that, go to “Manage Domains”, click on your domain and select “Customize Parked Page”. You can then change your parked page to whatever you like.
Please note that you will not be able to add images to a parked page. You can only use text on it. But you can use various types of ads there. Just make sure they allow parking, because some companies (like Google AdSense) don’t allow their ads to show on websites without content, such as parked pages.
Parking your domain can help you earn a little money while you decide what to do with a domain or while it is under development.
Do you know what you are going to do with your domain name now? Are you ready to start your online business?
Join me and my students on the Strategic Marketing Roadmap, where you’ll also learn how to start and grow your own online business.