{"id":60081,"date":"2022-05-03T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-05-03T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/helpdeskgeek.com\/?p=60081"},"modified":"2024-04-19T01:46:53","modified_gmt":"2024-04-19T05:46:53","slug":"how-to-buy-a-domain-name-a-quick-and-easy-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/helpdeskgeek.com\/how-to-buy-a-domain-name-a-quick-and-easy-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Buy a Domain Name: A Quick and Easy Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Your domain name is at the heart of your website. It determines how readers find the site, and it even influences search engine results. Just think about how much traffic a fan website with the domain EldenRing.com<\/em> gets versus EldenRingFans.com.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several steps to buying a domain name, but once it’s yours, you can keep it as long as you want (though there might be yearly renewal fees.) If you score a particularly valuable domain name, you can flip it down the line to someone willing to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t

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What Is a Domain Name?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The internet is a collection of different domain names. All of your favorite sites \u2013 Reddit.com, ESPN.com, even Online-Tech-Tips.com \u2013 have a domain name. Domain names are broken down into different types and categories, but there are two main kinds: top-level domains (TLD) and secondary-level domains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A second-level domain is typically what people think of when they think of a URL. It\u2019s the unique identifier that separates a website from every other site on the web. The top-level domain is better known as the website extension. This is the .com, .net, or any other variation you can think of. There are more than 1,500 different top-level domains to choose from, although some are restricted for specific purposes \u2013 by country or governmental division, for instance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you purchase a new domain name, you pick both the secondary and top-level domains. Some domain registrars sell multiple top-level domains as package deals; for example, a person with a website about baking pies might want pies.com and pies.net for marketing purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How Much Does a Domain Name Cost?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Domain name costs vary depending on the name, the domain extension, and the domain registrar you purchase from. On average, you can expect to pay around $15 per year for the base domain name \u2013 however, you can add other purchases to your domain, such as an SSL (secure socket layer) certificate or WHOIS privacy. The costs can rise if your domain has greater bandwidth, too. For example, many GoDaddy and Bluehost domains cost $17.99 per year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t

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Most of the time, you can purchase a domain name from your hosting company. However, there are some companies like GoDaddy that specialize in offering low-cost domain names. If you have a site hosted elsewhere (like a WordPress blog<\/a>) that you want to make your own, you can pay for the rights to a domain name without buying hosting.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep in mind that popular domain names will be more expensive than a run-of-the-mill domain. This is especially true for premium domains; these are domain names that people buy for the sake of investments. If the domain name contains popular keywords, the price will also be significantly higher. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are There Free Domain Names?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re on a tight budget, it\u2019s technically possible to get a domain name for free \u2013 but it\u2019s not recommended. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

WordPress and website builders like Wix, Weebly, or Squarespace offer free domain names, but these tend to be limited in scope. While you can make a professional-looking website, it loses something if it comes out as website.wix.com\/website.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are also domain name registrars that offer completely free domains, but they are limited in the extensions you can choose from. You\u2019ll often end up with a domain like .tk or .mf \u2013 in other words, domain extensions that don\u2019t generate a huge amount of trust. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re trying to build an eCommerce site, it\u2019s better to wait until you can afford a domain name that comes across as more trustworthy. Wait to buy domains until you can choose the best domain name for your business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Are the Best Domain Registrars?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A domain registrar is a service that sells available domain names and domain name extensions. You can often get better deals for the first year, and domain registrars also offer services like professional email accounts for small businesses. Some will even provide social media tie-ins for your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\t\t\t

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These are some of your best options for buying a domain name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n