How to Register a Domain Name

Registration Overview

When you register your Domain name with a domain registrar means that you are registering your domain name with an organization called ICANN. For an example when you register “coolexample.com” site with a registrar it will cost you around US$10 to US$35 for that name for one year period. That will give you the right of using that particular domain name and you have to renew it annually for (usually) the same amount per annum.

Some web hosts allow you to get your domain name free (usually only the commercial web hosts) when you purchase a web hosting plan for them.

Step By Step Instructions

  1. First of all think few domain names which are suitable for your site. Most probably you can see the domain name you prefer already be taken. Therefore always come up with some alternative domain names.
  2. You should have one of payment methods commonly use in internet to make your payments like Credit Card or Paypal account. Actually this is requirement of most of the registrar but not all. These methods allow you to claim and get the domain name immediately on application.
  3. If you already have a web host you can take the names of their primary and secondary nameservers. Normally you can find these information form their FAQs or other documentation on their site. Usually you can see these information under a category like "domain name" or "DNS" or "domain name transfer" and the like. If you cannot find nameserver information in these places email them ask. You'll need the information to point your domain name to your website after you buy your domain
  4. If you do not have a web host, you can always allow the registrar to you to park your domain name at a temporary website specially set up for you. This way you can quickly secure your domain name before it's too late and still take your time to set up the other aspects of your site.

List of Domain Name Registrars

Here are the few best domain name registrars according to various sources of ratings.

Godaddy – The most rated and the best according to most of the people. Domain name is available for $9.99/year or lower, and the customer care support is always good and on.

Domainsite – A very decent, non complicated domain name registrar with very easy procedure of registering a domain name, with payments directly accepted from paypal too, without the requirement of a credit card. A .com domain name with google apps included costs from $6.99/year.

NameCheap.com – One more good one, with good customer satisfaction and no glitches in registering a domain name. A .com domain name costs $9.29. It is also an ICANN accredited registrar. You can also purchase SSL certificate and WhoisGuard along with the domain name.

Yahoo! Domains – A domain name costs $9.95 and its the most trusted, but a bit complicated when compared to other registrars. 24-Hour Toll-Free Support, private domain name registration and complete DNS control is allowed in Yahoo domain registration service. If you are new to the websites world, then Yahoo also provides a starter page to keep your website on till you make an actual website for the domain.

Network Solutions – $11.99/year for domain name registration. I hear few people suggesting this registrar but still i am away from it, as i already am too suspicious about it after i reported that it front runs domain names.

RegFly – Was RegisterFly, one of the well known one time, but then if you check the wikipedia page of it, you would see how many fraud reports of it were made and sent to ICANN. People claimed that Registerfly used to play and change the Whois data of the member’s domain names.