Domain Name Registration

Even though most of us spend a lot of time on the Web, the “how-to” of creating a website is still shrouded in mystery for many of us. Setting up a website doesn’t need to be a frustrating experience. If you know what to do, it can be a relatively easy process. The first two things you need to do are:

1. Register a domain name
2. Purchase a web hosting plan

Registering a domain name will provide the address, commonly called the URL, for your website. This is where the public can find your website. You may want to purchase your name (unless of course you have a common name like Kelly Smith, then you will need to come up with something else.) You can check the availability of a domain name on most web hosting company sites. Notice the “Find a Domain” search on the Network Solutions home page.

I have provided the following information for people interested in registering a domain name.

• I recommend you register your domain name with an ICANN-Accredited Registrar. If you don’t want to sift through the hundreds of companies, I would recommend Network Solutions or Go Daddy.
• Price and service is the big difference between Network Solutions and Go Daddy.
• To register a domain name with Network Solutions is $34.95 for one year. (Or free if you sign up for a year of web hosting. A one year basic hosting plan is around $120). Network Solutions has excellent customer service and has been around a long time.
• GoDaddy is more economical. You can register a domain name for $1.99 for one year with the purchase of a 2 month plan (Two months is the minimum purchase length and costs $3.99 a month) GoDaddy’s customer service has been impressive recently. (I’ve been told they send both a follow-up email and call new customers to answer questions.)
• Feel free to register your domain name at a different company than the two given above. I would recommend you check to see that the registrar you’ve chosen is ICANN-Accredited and you know someone who has had a good experience with the company.

Here are some additional, very reputable companies for domain registration (and web hosting).

Dreamhost
http://www.dreamhost.com/
Media Temple
http://mediatemple.net/

What company do you recommend for domain registration — and why?