The first step in launching a Web site is to create a domain name for it. But, with the Internet growing so fast, it's hard to find a domain name that isn't already registered and taken. Here are the steps for registering a domain name - the address of your site on the internet - and securing it for your personal or business use.

Research your domain name

Once you come up with a prospective name for your Web site, you will want to make sure that the name of the site, along with its suffix (.com, .net, .biz) is available in the combination that you are looking for. One of the easiest ways to do this is just to type the name into your web browser and see if anything comes up. But that won't uncover all of the sites. Some have been registered but aren't active. Another tip is to go to whois.net, which allows you to search for specific keyword and suffix combinations, along with keyword domain searches, in case you still haven't come up with your idea.

Shop for a registration site

There are many sites on the internet to use to register your site, so you want to take some time to shop for your best deal. Web site registration, depending on its length and extra services offered by the domain registration site, can range in cost from under $10 to more than $20. Some domain registration sites offer Web site building and email services, so those are considerations to take into account. Some of the more popular sites for registration are Godaddy.com and Register.com. You can also register domain names through Yahoo and Google as well. If you are a blogger with an existing site through Google's Blogspot platform, Google will give you the option of registering that site as its own URL, assuming it is available. Whois.net also offers domain registration, which you can do in one click after your initial research.

Register your domain name

Once you have decided on your domain's name and find the site you want to use, your purchase of a domain name is just a few clicks away. The domain registration site will want your credit card information, but you will also need to make some important decisions. The first will be whether you want any of the extras that the web sites are offering as part of your registration package. These will include choices to register your domain with different suffixes (.net, .biz, etc.) or build and host your site. The other important choice to make is the length of your domain registration and whether you want to automatically renew your domain from year-to-year. For businesses, this is a vital decision when it comes to protecting your brand.

Source:

Go Daddy

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Google Blogspot domain registration