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Step 5: How to purchase your own domain
Before you learn how to create a website, you'll need to learn first how to purchase a domain. Simbla blog gives you some tips on how to do it the right way
What is a domain?
A domain is the name of your website (www.domain.com), or in other, more specific words, it is the address of your business online. Whenever someone tries to reach you on the web they will get on this page.
A domain is being supplied by various service providers, which offer you the ownership of a domain (for a given time, so it is actually a rental contract) and domain hosting services.
Note! Do not be confused - domain hosting and website hosting are not the same kind of services. Your domain may be hosted at one place, where your website can be hosted elsewhere.
If you will ever choose to change your web hosting, your domain will keep going with you and your users will never feel any difference, when going to your web address.
Nevertheless, some suppliers may offer both services.
Why is it so important for me to choose the right domain name?
It may sound like a joke, but having your own domain is one of the most important things you'll have to do, before creating your website.
For example, lots of Pizzerias dream about the opportunity to have their website on www.pizza.com, but there is only one site which will acquire this.
Domain services prices are varied (starting from ten to thousands of dollars), according to the popularity of a given name,
so, try to think of a name that suits your business but also not taken yet.
Moreover, some say a domain may have a positive effect on your site's SEO, even if it is insignificant. It also has a positive effect on the site's credibility and reputation.
From technological point of view, changing a domain later on in the middle of the process, may cause a lot of issues on your website, such as broken links.
How do I actually do it?
As stated above, we recommend on this action prior to your website building.
Here is a checklist to get you started:
- Go to one of the leading domain providers. We recommend on godaddy & domain.com
- Brainstorm with your collegues - try to think on a proper domain name for your business
- Insert the name in the main search box and make sure it is not taken
- If it is taken you can always check out who the owner is, using who.is. Barry in mind that taken domains are much more expensive, since you will have to convince somebody to drop it.
- Complete the registration and payment (using credit card or paypal) with few simple steps. Don't forget your password, you will need it later on to refer your domain to your website.
- Be carefull! Do not acquire a domain from esoteric suppliers, just to cut the price. Scams, unsecured information and even low quality of service is highly common in the internet world.