Finding that Perfect Domain Name
Our last post gave a few thoughts for consideration when picking a domain name. This post will give some advice on how to actually find a name and to buy it.
FINDING THE NAME
You can see if your perfect domain name is available right here (checks it on 1and1.com my host provider - check a few names, but don’t buy a domain yet)
But if your perfect name is taken, try using Godaddy.com or Dotster.com to get domain name ideas. Both of these sites have excellent name generators but I don’t buy from them. I started with Dotster many years ago, then moved all my domains to Godaddy because they were a lot cheaper. Now I use 1and1.com since domains are free with hosting packages or $6.99 without hosting. That price (or the lack thereof with hosting) includes private registration. You absolutely want to get private registration. With Godaddy, you pay the $9 or so for the domain and then an addition $7 or so for the private registration. Without the private registration, your information (name, address and phone) will be on display for anyone to lookup at a whois site. You will be spammed through (snail) mail with advertisements that look like domain renewal forms - a very unethical business model to say the least.
Godaddy and Dotster give pretty nice alternate suggestions for domains that are taken. http://www.godaddy.com and http://www.dotster.com/domains/register/ (click on the ‘Suggested Domains’ tab after searching for a name)
BUYING A DOMAIN NAME:
Spend a good bit of time thinking of a name. Try to envision it as your brand. It doesn’t matter if you are selling something or if you are wanting to start a blog for future advertising revenue – think of your website as your brand.
If you go with 1and1.com (my current register for nearly all of my domains), you will get the domain (for free) with your hosting. 1and1.com is one of the world’s largest hosting providers and has very competitive prices. I have had some problems with my sites, but all in all, 1and1 has done a decent job taking care of the issues and I am a satisfied customer. All servers at some point have down time after all.
I should stop and explain a few words just in case you are a new (or future) webmaster.
Domain Name: A domain name is your web address. www.yourname.com
Hosting: This is where you put your site. Think of it like paying rent for an apartment. You don’t own the apartment, but you reside there. You don’t own the server, but you rent the server space and bandwidth.
So, using the links above, find a domain name you love then see if the hosting company you choose (in my case 1and1.com - see below) also sells domains. They may offer bundles like 1and1.
For 1and1 (my recommendation, but there are many good hosts out there), simply go to: http://www.1and1.com (I get a small commission if you purchase a package, but having tried four other hosts through the years, these are the guys I’m sticking with - at least for the next few years)
If you know what kind of hosting plan you would like, go ahead and sign up and register your domain name. If you don’t know what size disk space or bandwidth you will need, stay tuned for the next article entitled ‘What Type of Hosting Package Do I Need?’
