Domain Name Registration

Thinking about registering a Domain name? Find out why you should.

One of the most important things you can do for your Web site to ensure higher placement in the search engines and an easier way for people to find you is to register a domain name.

What this means is that instead of using someone else's domain name, like you do when you join a free hosting service, you will use your own. When you register a domain name you can choose any word or series of words that you like and use it after the http:// in the URL with a .com or .net, or something else, at the end as long as it is still available.

 

You can also purchase and register a domain name for someone else which means that you can use them as gifts. If you know someone who has a Web site that they are really involved in and you want to get them something for their birthday, anniversary, holiday or just to say "I love you" then register a domain name for them as a gift.

Picking A Domain Name For Your Web Site

Choosing a domain name for your Web site is one of the most important things you can do for it. Not only should the name you choose be descriptive of what your Web site entails but it should also be easy for people to remember so they can come back to it easily.

If possible choose a domain name that will also serve as a keyword for your Web site so the domain name will show up higher in search engines when people are looking for Web sites like yours. For example, if your Web site is about cats then you could choose to register a domain name like cats.com, but if that one is taken you might want to try allaboutcats.com, ilovecats.com, catscatscats or something like that.

When you register a domain, you do not have to create and upload a Web site. You can also:

Sell it. Domains can be a great investment. If you have registered a domain that you are not using, maybe someone else can. Log in to your Account Manager and set up a For Sale parked page for your domain. Don't forget to include your contact information.

Protect your brand online. The more domains you register, the better. Prevent others from registering a similar domain to yours—just to steal away your customers. What to do with all these names? Forward them to your main domain.

Hold on to it. Maybe you haven’t decided what to do with your new domain. Don’t worry – there’s no rush. You can leave it parked with us for the length of your registration.

For new .COM and .NET domains and updates, it may take up to eight hours for changes to become effective. It may take up to 48 hours for changes made to all other domain extensions to become effective. This is because of the number of networks and agencies involved. Delays apply to all domains and registrars. Please allow for this delay when planning Web sites or configuring a domain to work with your email.

If you're thinking about registering more than one domain name, you've got the right idea. Registering and using multiple domains names is great for building your business and can help you create a dynamic online identity.

When you register multiple domain names, you can:

  • Keep your competition from registering a domain name that draws customers to them instead of you.
  • Promote the different products and services you offer.
  • Drive more traffic to your Web site.
  • Enjoy more opportunities to market to — and be listed in — search engines.
  • Create distinct advertising strategies that reach different target markets.
  • Provide customers more ways to find you when searching the Internet.
  • Capture common misspellings of your domain name, instead of sending visitors to an error page.
  • Protect your brand and online identity from those who may have unsavory purposes.