How to Choose a Domain Name
Before deciding on a domain name, you should decide what type of domain name you want. You can go the traditional route or .com, .net, and .org. Purchasing a domain name with these extensions will be the most affordable, as their prices are more regulated and they must get approval before raising their rates. Recently, private top-level-domains (TLDs) such as .shop, .video, and .online have entered the scene. There are a lot more options available when finding a domain verses a .com, but it’s also more expensive per year.
Search for a Domain Name
The easiest way to search for a domain name is to click here to use the free search tool from NameCheap. It also allows you to use ‘beast mode’ to search for multiple domain names as we as multiple top-level-domains (.com, .org, etc.) at the same time.
Domain Name Registration
There are multiple ways to register a domain name on the Internet. Here are some of the most popular registrars and how their price compares each each time of top-level domain.
| Registrar | .com | .net | .org | .shop |
| NameCheap.com | $14.98/yr | $14.98/yr | $12.98/yr | $30.98 |
| GoDaddy.com | $21.99/yr | $24.99/yr | $22.99/yr | $47.99/yr |
| IONOS | $17/yr | $20/yr | $20/yr | $50/yr |
Each registrar will usually have an introductory offer – GoDaddy and IONOS have domain names available for $.99 for the first year, but keep in mind when it comes to renewal you will be paying nearly double of NameCheap.
Domain Privacy Protection
By default, when you purchase a domain name, your name and address are tied to the domain name – and anyone can look up this information. NameCheap.com offers FREE privacy protection for the domain name extensions that allow it. Opting for domain name privacy helps prevent spam mail from coming to your physical mailbox as well as email. Sometimes mailings can be deceptful in looking like a bill for your domain name, but are actually just a scam to get you to pay money for “marketing services” such as getting your domain listing in an online directory that provides no benefit to your site.
Do I need hosting where I purchase my domain?
You do NOT need to purchase hosting from where you purchase your domain name. There’s no added benefit in terms of speed. We’ve encountered many clients who have purchased hosting wherever they purchased a domain name out of convenience and because the price seemed good, but the cheap hosting and cost of convenience literally cost them sales. You can read a cautionary tale about a client’s decision to purchase cheap hosting and how, just by switching their site to our server, we were able to increase their site conversations by clicking here.
Higgens Media has been designing websites since 2004. If you have questions about registering a domain name or how to launch a website, contact us today.