Registering a Domain Name
Registering a domain name is not difficult for anybody who has smattering hands-on internet experience. If you can point and click the mouse, you can register a domain name. The first step for doing a meaningful online business is by registering a domain name, building a website for the domain name and hosting it.
What is a Domain Name?
A domain name is an online identity that differentiates every website, blog or forum from one another. For example, www.QuickCashFocus.com is a domain name. Domain names have various extensions called top level domains (TLDs). TLDs are many and they are increasing by the day. It includes .com, .net, .org, .biz, .info, etc. There are also ccTLDs, which are country code top level domains. These are domains registered and are specific to each country.
But note that registering a domain name with a chosen .com extension will not preclude another internet entrepreneur from registering the same domain name with .net or any other extensions if it is available. The only exception or restriction is if it is a trademark name you have registered.
However, it is always advised that you register a domain name with .com extension in preference to other TLDs because surfers tend to type .com extensions into their browsers more than other available extensions. In this case, an entrepreneur who registers the same domain name with yours but with the .com extension will see you loosing customers to him (and he may be your business competitor, who knows!)
Registering a domain name can be done through a domain name registrar. Domain name registrars are ICANN-approved companies who provide domain name online registration services. Registering a domain name is a simple process. First, open the website of your favorite registrar on the browser. Second, input the domain name into the search box provided on the registrar?s interface. Third, click on the search button to determine if the name is available or not.
If it is available, you can continue with the following steps:
Open an account with the domain name registrar if you don?t have one already. It is usually free to open an account. This is the account you will be using to manage your domain names from time to time.
After opening an account as in (1) above, you can proceed to registering a domain name by filling out your debit or credit card information.
Registering a domain name is usually for a year. It means on expiration of this period, you are expected to renew it for another one year. Registrars, however, offer incentives and discounts to domain name registrants (i.e. you, who is registering a domain name) if you register a domain name for two to ten years at one time. When you fail to renew your domain name on time you stand to loose it to domain entrepreneurs or domain speculators who are scouting for names to grab.
Information filled out by you at the registrar’s website with regard to registration details is available to the public through the “Whois” database. In case, you are not comfortable exposing your personal information, namely, your names, email address, phone numbers and so on, you can do private domain name registration by paying additional fee to your registrar. That is if your registrar offers private registration services.
Remember you cannot have a brand name online without registering a domain name. As you can see, it is simple registering a domain name. You can even take it a step further by registering domain names as a business. This Domain Name Flipping Guide will help you.
