Buy a Domain Name: Step-By-Step Walkthrough
Regardless of your industry, reaching potential customers has never been easier. With the internet at your disposal, you can get millions of people to hear about you. Even if you don’t need a global following, being present on the web is a must to running a successful business.
Building your online presence is one of the first steps when starting a business. To do that, you need a domain name that matches or represents your business and brand.
In this article, we’ll show you how to buy a domain name and what steps you need to take once you have the name available for use.
| Key Points |
|---|
| – A domain name needs to be memorable, easy to spell, and most importantly, available. – You can get a domain name quickly in four easy steps. – Register a domain name as quickly as possible to not miss out on it. – You can’t buy a domain name, but you can register it for up to 10 years at a time. – It takes 24–72 hours for the name to become visible. |
What to Check Before Buying a Domain
The domain name should be easy to remember, spell, and pronounce. You also want to consider using a recognizable top-level domain, such as .com or .net, to not lose people’s trust with your domain name.
If you don’t have a clear idea of what your domain name should be, you can use our free domain name generator to get thousands of ideas based on your keywords. The generator will automatically check if the domain name is available.
When you have a few ideas marked, it’s important to do some due diligence. Check to see if there are any trademarks with the name. You should also scout your competition and see what domain names (and domain types) they use. While you want to be creative, you shouldn’t break the mold too much for your target market.
For example, the .io extension is widely used in the technology sector, but is less relevant in other markets. And the .ai extension has become linked to AI industries.
Once you have a name in mind, it’s time to check if you can register it. While you don’t technically own a domain name, you have the right to use it once you register it. This means that owners of registered names can sell them, allowing you to buy a taken domain name.
To recap, before you buy a domain name, you must do the following:
- Make sure the name is easy to remember and spell,
- Choose a recognizable top-level domain,
- Check if it infringes on any trademarks,
- Make sure people will understand what your business is about from the name,
- Check if it’s available.
MORE: Find out who owns a domain name
Steps to Buying a Domain Name
If the domain name is available (and doesn’t infringe on any trademarks), it’s time to buy it. The process is quick and simple. All you need to do is:
- Find a registrar: Opt for a trusted service provider, such as GoDaddy or Domain.com.
- Run a domain name search: This will show all the available extensions.
- Pick the most fitting domain name: Choose an extension that will be recognizable and help you better describe your business (for example, if you’re a talent agency, .hr might be a good option).
- Finish the purchasing process: This differs depending on the source; and includes choosing a payment method unless you want to get a free domain.
Congratulations, you’re now a proud domain name owner.
Watch our video to learn more about buying a domain name.
When Should I Buy a Domain Name?
The domain name market never sleeps, and changes happen rapidly. You may miss out on a name that could be the perfect match for your business if you decide to sleep on it.
We suggest you don’t wait for too long, as high-quality names get snapped up quickly. The cost of registering a domain can be low. Even if you decide to rebrand later on, getting a domain name is not an expense that would cripple your business.
Plus, in the future, you can always check out your domain name’s value and sell it for a profit.
MORE: How much will a domain name cost?
Things to Do After Buying a Domain Name
Now that you have a domain name, it’s time to set up your website. The first step to having a website is getting a hosting plan. While domain names and hosting plans are not the same thing, they often go hand in hand, and you can get a plan from your registrar. The hosting service allows you to publish a website that others can access.
With a hosting plan in place, you can crack on with building the website. You can do that by coding manually, hiring a developer, or using a content management system (CMS) solution like WordPress. A popular alternative to these is a website builder. Some of the most popular website builders include:
- Elementor
- Squarespace
- Wix
- Zoho Sites
- Webflow
- Amaze
- Bubble
- Weebly
- UENI
- Weebly
With a website builder, you can visually add (drag and drop) elements into your website page without using any coding. The software comes with various templates that can help you out with a design.
Once that’s done, it’s time to work on your website visibility. According to Statista, there were about 1.88 billion new websites in 2021 alone. If you want yours to stand out, you need to use SEO optimization techniques and social media.
You should also consider using domain email accounts to appear more professional.
MORE: Trending domain names
Key Takeaways
Buying a domain name is a straightforward process that requires only a few minutes. The cost can be low, and depending on the registrar, the purchase can last anywhere from 1 to 10 years.
When you complete the process, it can take from 24 to 72 hours to become visible in the domain name system.
The issue with buying a domain name is that the demand is huge. You need to be quick about it if you want to get a name that’s still available. If you’re late to the party, you’ll need to buy it from someone, and the price, in that case, is significantly higher.
To get a memorable, original name that will stand out, use our domain name generator, and it will automatically check the availability for you.