Domain names are more important than ever in the digital age. By investing in the right domain name, you can give your business or personal brand a major boost. But how do you choose the right domain name? And once you’ve chosen it, how do you get started using it?
In this complete guide to investing in domain names, we’ll answer all of those questions and more. By the end, you’ll know everything you need to about this important aspect of online branding.
What is a Domain Name?
A domain name is the address of a website. It’s what people type into their browser to visit your site. For example, the domain name for this website is “blog.example.com”.
Domain names are made up of two parts: the “www” part and the “example.com” part. The www part is known as a subdomain, and the example.com part is known as the root domain.
You can have multiple subdomains for a single root domain. For example, you could have “blog.example.com”, “shop.example.com”, and “support.example.com” all under the same root domain of “example.com”.
Domain names are registered with registrars. Registrars are organizations that manage the availability of domain names. When you register a domain name, you’re reserving the right to use that domain name for a period of time, usually one year.
You can register a domain name for multiple years, but you’ll have to pay for each year upfront. Domain names must be renewed every year, or they’ll expire and become available for someone else to register.
Why Invest in Domain Names?
Investing in domain names can be a great way to make money. You can buy domains that are already popular and resell them for a profit, or you can buy domains that you think will become popular in the future and hold on to them until they increase in value.
Domain name investing can also be a great way to protect your brand. By buying multiple domain names, you can make sure that no one else can register a domain that’s similar to your brand and use it to confuse your customers or redirect them to their own site.
Domain name investing is also a good way to get started with building a website. If you’re not sure what you want your website to be about, you can buy a bunch of domain names and see which one you like the best. Then you can build your website on that domain and launch it to the world.
How to Choose a Domain Name
Choosing the right domain name is essential to the success of your website. Your domain name is how people will find your site, so it’s important to choose one that’s easy to remember and pronounce.
Here are a few tips for choosing a great domain name:
1. Keep it short and sweet
The shorter your domain name is, the easier it will be for people to remember it. Try to keep your domain name under 15 characters.
2. Make it easy to spell
If your domain name is too difficult to spell, people will have a hard time finding your site. Avoid using abbreviations or made-up words.
3. Use keywords
If you want people to find your site through search engines, you should use keywords in your domain name. For example, if you’re a plumber in Los Angeles, you might want to use the domain name “plumberlosangeles.com”.
4. Avoid numbers and hyphens
Numbers and hyphens can be confusing in a domain name. If you use them, make sure they’re easy to remember.
5. Be original
There are millions of websites on the internet, so it’s important to choose a domain name that’s unique. Avoid using common words or phrases that are already taken.
6. Check for trademark violations
Before you register your domain name, you should do a trademark search to make sure you’re not violating any trademarks.
7. Get creative
Don’t be afraid to be creative with your domain name. A great domain name can be the difference between a successful website and a flop.
8. Brainstorm with friends
If you’re having trouble coming up with a domain name, try brainstorming with friends or family. They might have some great ideas that you hadn’t thought of.
9. Use a domain name generator
If you’re still stuck, you can use a domain name generator to help you find a great domain name.
10. Do your research
Before you register your domain name, make sure you do your research. Check to see if the domain name is available on social media, search engines, and other websites.
How to Register a Domain Name
Once you’ve chosen the perfect domain name, it’s time to register it. You can register your domain name through a registrar.
There are many registrars to choose from, but we recommend using Namecheap, Hover, or GoDaddy. They’re all reputable companies that offer competitive prices.
Once you’ve chosen a registrar, you can register your domain name by following these steps:
1. Go to the registrar’s website and search for your domain name.
2. If the domain name is available, select it and add it to your cart.
3. Choose how many years you want to register the domain name for.
4. Enter your personal information and billing information.
5. Review your order and submit it.
6. Congrats! You’ve successfully registered your domain name.
Now that you’ve registered your domain name, you need to set it up so people can actually visit your website. In the next section, we’ll show you how to do that.
How to Set Up Your Domain Name
Once you’ve registered your domain name, you need to set it up so people can visit your website. To do that, you need to point your domain name to a web hosting account.
A web hosting account is where your website’s files are stored. When someone types your domain name into their browser, they’re directed to your web hosting account, which then loads your website.
You can buy web hosting from a variety of providers, but we recommend using SiteGround, Bluehost, or InMotion Hosting. They’re all reputable companies that offer great features at a reasonable price.
Once you’ve chosen a web hosting provider, you can set up your domain name by following these steps:
1. Log in to your web hosting account and find the DNS settings.
2. Add a new DNS record and type in your domain name.
3. Save your changes and wait for the DNS to propagate.
4. That’s it! Your domain name is now set up and ready to use.
Now that your domain name is set up, you can start building your website. In the next section, we’ll show you how to do that.
How to Build Your Website
Now that your domain name is set up and pointing to your web hosting account, it’s time to start building your website.
If you’re not a web developer, don’t worry. You can still build a great website without any coding knowledge. There are many website builders that allow you to create a website without writing any code.
Weebly, Wix, and Squarespace are all great website builders that are easy to use. They offer beautiful templates that you can use to create a professional website in minutes.
If you’re not sure which website builder to use, we recommend trying out a few of them. They all offer free plans that you can use to test them out.
Once you’ve chosen a website builder, you can start building your website by following these steps:
1. Sign up for a free account with the website builder.
2. Choose a template for your website.
3. Customize the template to match your brand.
4. Add your own content, images, and videos.
5. Publish your website and start promoting it.
That’s it! You’ve successfully built your website and it’s now live for the world to see.
