Choose and Register a Website Domain
with
Don Schechter
One of the first steps to building your own website is registering a domain name. See how to choose a name, then register it using a web hosting service.
Related Articles
Find and Register A Domain Name For Your Web SiteFind and Register A Domain Name - Register a Domain Name for your Web SiteHow to Register a Domain NameHow to Set Up a Music Website - Set Up a Band Website Step by StepDomain Name Search - Find a Domain Name - Use the Web for Domain Name Search
Transcript: Choose and Register a Website Domain
Hi, I'm Don Schechter for About.com Computing. Today I'll show you how to choose and register a domain for a website.Choose a Domain Name
When you're thinking about a domain try and keep it clear and concise. You might want to avoid long sentences, dashes, and hard to remember acronyms.Check Domain Name Availability
You can type in the address to see if someone else already owns it, but keep in mind that someone may own the domain but not have anything up yet.Your best course of action is to go to one of the many web hosting companies such as bluehost.com or godaddy.com. Today I'll actually go to verio.com and here – like on many other sites- there is a box where I can enter in the name of the site I want.
Test Domain Name Availability
I'll type in "about" and hit go. That domain is obviously unavailable, but I am offered similar domains such as abouts.info. It's generally a good idea to stick with the more popular .com, .org, and .edu. .Com is often used for both business and personal uses, .org for organizations and non-profits, and .edu for educational institutions.I'll click 'try another name,' and now type in my own name. Now I'll hit 'search.'
It's actually available, and for $9.95 a year I can register the domain. Keep in mind that this does not mean I have space to put up the website. I'm just laying a claim to that domain name for as long as I keep paying.
Research Web Hosting Plans
If I click 'order now,' I can buy it. As with many companies I can now add a web hosting plan. Here's one plan (the bottom one) that includes 10 gigabytes of disk space and 200 email accounts for 19.95 a month. Many sites offer many different rates and services, so you may want to shop around before settling on one.Register the Domain Name
Once you purchase your domain and hosting plan you'll receive an email with instructions on how to access your site.Thanks for watching. For more information, please visit us online at computing.about.com.