The Basic Steps to Register a Domain Name
How do you register a domain name? The basic answer is that you pick a domain registrar, search for the domain name you want, choose how many years you want to register it for, add privacy protection, turn on auto renewal, and then pay for it.
That sounds pretty simple.
And in some ways, it is.
But there are a few things that can make the process a little confusing, especially if this is your first website or you are starting a new business. A domain name is one of those things that seems small at first, but it is a big part of your business. It is what people type in to find your website. It can also be used for your email address. It becomes part of your brand.
So it is worth slowing down a bit and getting it right.
What Is a Domain Name?
A domain name is the address people use to get to your website. For us, that domain name is fullscopecreative.com.
A domain name is not the same thing as a website. It is also not the same thing as website hosting.
Think of the domain name like the street address. The website is the building. The hosting is the land the building sits on.
You need all of those things to work together, but they are not all the same thing.
Registering the domain name simply gives you the right to use that name for a certain amount of time. It does not build the website. It does not set up your email. It does not market your business. It just secures that name so you can use it.
Pick a Domain Registrar
The first step is to pick where you want to register the domain name.
You can use a company like GoDaddy, Enom, or another domain registrar. You can also register your domain name through Full Scope Creative. We register domain names for many of our clients and help manage the techy side of it for them.
At Full Scope Creative, domain names are $25 per year for .com, .net, and .biz domains. A .org domain is $27 per year.
We can also help with DNS updates, name servers, and keeping the domain name managed so it does not expire on you. That part can get a little more technical, so if you are not sure what any of that means, don’t worry. That is the kind of thing we help with all the time.
Search for the Domain Name You Want
Once you pick a registrar, the next step is to search for the domain name.
You can go to a site like GoDaddy and type in the domain name you want. The search tool will tell you if that domain is available or not.
If the domain name is available, great. You can move forward.
If it is not available, you may need to get a little creative.
You might add a short word to the start, like “go.” You might add “WI” or “GB” to the end if you are a local business in Wisconsin or Green Bay. You might use a word that is closely tied to your service, product, or industry.
The domain name does not always have to be the exact company name. It should be easy to say, easy to spell, and easy to remember.
But there is one big thing to think about.
If you are starting a new company and thecompanyname.com is already taken, it might be worth thinking about the company name again. There is a good chance another business already has a name that is close to it. That can cause confusion later.
We are working with a client right now where that exact thing came up. They are reworking the company name so they can get the .com that fits better.
That is a smart move.
Choose How Many Years
When you register a domain name, you choose how many years you want to register it for.
This is where the Blockbuster movie rental example comes in.
You are not really buying the domain name forever like buying a car. It is more like renting a movie at Blockbuster. You get to use it for a set amount of time. When that time is almost up, you need to renew it if you want to keep using it.
Yes, I know, some people reading this might not remember Blockbuster.
But the idea still works.
If you do not renew the domain name, it can expire. If it expires, your website can go down. Your email can stop working. In some cases, someone else could register it after it is released.
That is not a fun problem to fix.
Turn On Auto Renewal
Auto renewal is a must.
At Full Scope Creative, we do not register domain names without auto renewal. It is too important.
Your domain name is tied to your website, your email, and your brand. Forgetting to renew it can cause a lot of problems. Turning on auto renewal helps make sure the domain name renews before it expires.
You still want to keep your billing information updated. If the credit card on file is old or closed, auto renewal may fail.
But even with that, auto renewal is still one of the best safety steps you can take.
Add Privacy Protection
Privacy protection is also a must.
When a domain name is registered, contact information can be tied to that registration. Without privacy protection, some of that information may be easier for others to find.
Privacy protection helps shield that information.
It can also help cut down on spam emails and random domain-related sales messages. If you have ever registered a domain name and suddenly started getting emails from companies you have never heard of, that is part of the reason privacy matters.
At Full Scope Creative, we do not register domain names without privacy protection.
It is a simple step, but it is an important one.
Make Sure You Own the Domain Name
This part is very important.
The domain name should be registered to you or your company. You should be the owner of it.
That does not mean you have to manage every technical setting yourself. The registrar or your website company can be listed as the technical contact, billing contact, or admin contact. That is normal.
But the ownership should be yours.
Your domain name is too important to have sitting in someone else’s name. If a former employee, old web designer, or random marketing company owns it, that can become a real problem later.
Before you register a domain name, make sure the ownership is set up correctly.
Set the Name Servers and DNS Records
After the domain name is registered, there may still be a few more steps.
You might need to set the name servers. You might need to add DNS records. These records tell the domain where to send website traffic and email.
This is the part where a lot of business owners start to say, “Okay, I’m out.”
Fair enough.
DNS records can be confusing if you do not work with them often. One wrong record can cause a website or email to stop working. So if this part feels a little too technical, send us a note. We can help get those records set up the right way.
Registering the Domain Is Just the Start
Once the domain name is registered, you have secured the name.
But there is still more to do.
You still need a website. You still need website hosting. You may need email addresses set up with that domain. You may need DNS records added. You will also need to market the website so people can find it.
Registering the domain name is a great first step.
It is just not the last step.
A good domain name gives your business a strong starting point. It gives people a place to find you and gives your business a more professional look.
If you are a bit confused by the process, don’t worry. Registering a domain name sounds simple, but it can be confusing once you start seeing privacy options, auto renewal, DNS records, name servers, and email settings.
Full Scope Creative can help you register your domain name, keep it renewed, protect your information, and make sure it is connected to your website and email the right way.