Page 2 of 2 Domain Registration 1 | 2 Tutorial on Website Domain Name Registration
If you haven't seen the Tips for Choosing a Domain Name yet and want to know how to do so, go back to Domain Names.
Decided on your domain name? Now you need to register it.
Actually, you would probably have to think of several alternative names, because, as said earlier, most good ones are already taken. The way to find whether a name is available, is to go to a domain name registrar site (see How to Register a Domain Name below) and key in the name that you want. You'll be told whether it's available or not. If you find one you really like, secure it - before it gets taken too!
There are lots of registrars to pick from, but whichever you choose, make sure it gives you full admin rights and allows you to edit your own domain preferences and nameservers.
To protect your privacy, registrars usually offer a privacy protection option for a small additional cost. This means that your owner information (name, address, phone number, email address) will be hidden from people on the internet, which will minimise spamming of your mailbox.
Cost of domain registration differs among registrars, ranging from $9 to $35 per .com name per year (payable by credit card). That gives you ownership of that name for a year. You need to renew it annually. If you forget, the registrar will normally email to remind you.
There are cheap domain names, as low as $2.99, for the less popular extensions such as .info. A number of web hosts provide free domain names in their web hosting plans.
If you do choose a package deal, read the fine print to ensure that you own the domain, and can bring it with you if you're unhappy with your web host and want to change, so you won't lose your traffic. It can be a very frustrating and painful experience otherwise.
If that's OK, get your web host first. Then register your domain with it. It is actually a good idea to do this; since you are going to need a web host anyway, you might as well save some money by picking a good quality web host that provides free website domain name registration.
To see top-rated web hosts that give free domain names (with you owning the domain), go to Get Web Host. (If you're not sure what web hosting is all about, and what features to look for, first see Website Hosting.)
But if you want to do domain registration independently, perhaps to quickly reserve a name you like before someone else takes it, continue here...
How to Register a Domain Name
You register through one of the ICANN-accredited domain name registrars. Below are some which allow you full control of your domain and free transfer of ownership out when you want to.
The domain registration process is simple: select a registrar, click on its link to go to its page (which opens in a new window) for checking domain name availability, then follow the steps as it guides you along.
NetworkSolutions.com One of the oldest registrars. It offers 24-hour customer support. It is also one of the most expensive, charging $35 per domain name per year for the popular extensions. Privacy protection costs another $9 per domain per year.
I generally just use one of the cheaper registrars below.
Dotster.com Popular registrar with a web interface to manage your domain. It lets you check the availability of up to 50 domain names at a time.
It has an additional domain discovery feature: just enter the name you want, and the domain name generator will suggest alternative names that are available. It even includes recently expired domain names (those previously owned, but not renewed).
Costs US$15.25 plus 20 cents per .com domain per year. Adding privacy protection (Private Registration) is another $4.99.
Omnis.com Omnis Network offers web hosting as well as domain registration. It provides the usual features to manage your domain, as well as 24-hour phone support. One of the cheapest around at $7.95 per domain name per year. (Domain name is free if you sign up for their web hosting.)
GoDaddy.com The most popular and largest of the registrars. Has all the usual features such as full admin rights with a web interface to manage your domain, free starter page, free "for sale" page, free transfer of ownership. Cost again depends on extension: $9.99 for .com domain registration, $8.99 for .org, $2.99 for .info. Privacy protection is another $6.99 per domain per year.
Yahoo.com Provides a domain management tool to let you manage your owner profile, settings, preferences, etc. Offers 24-hour toll-free customer support.
Cost of domain registration is $9.95. Privacy protection (private domain registration) is another $9 per domain name per year. Offers advantage of being a well-known brand, coupled with a reasonable price.
Just proceed to register your chosen domain name at one of the registrars above.
Done that? You've completed the first step to creating your website! Now we move on to the next step... Get Web Hosting
Domain Registration 
