How to register your domain

When launching a new website you must register a domain name with an authorized registrar. When Internet was first starting, all domain names and IP addresses were registered through one organization, Internic. Eventually Network Solutions took over the role of "guardian" of the internet domain names. Today, there are hundreds of websites where you can register your domain name but Network Solutions still maintains the main database of domain names. Some websites pay a minimum of $ 2.95 per year per domain name while others charge up to $ 35 per year for the service exactly the same. Some even offer one year free if you register your domain name with them and host your site on their servers. Why pay $ 35 when you can register your domain name for much less in another site?

So why not pay Network Solutions $ 35 a year if you are the keeper of the database and their resellers charge a fraction or even nothing? Who knows and who cares! Register your domain with one of the cheaper providers and you'll be fine. A word caution - be care who you choose to host your web site. Getting a free year of your domain name is not worth it if your webhost is unreliable and your website is down more than what happens.

You pay for your domain on an annual basis. This is a separate charge from the web hosting account. When you register your domain name choose autorenewal if available. This way your domain name will not expire if you forget to renew it. If the domain name expires, it's free for anyone else to register so you need to stay on top when it is due. The domain name registration for a period 3 to 5 years often save money. For example, - GoDaddy charges $ 8.95 a year for the domain name, but only $ 7.25 a year if you register for a period of 5 years.

When you register your domain, you can create different contact names. The three contacts are Administrator, Technical and Billing. Most often the same person is all 3 contacts. If you web designer registers your domain name for you, make sure you are designated as the administrative contact. This allows you to control the domain name and you must be notified if someone is trying to make changes to the record. If you are not one of the contacts then someone can transfer ownership of the domain name without your permission.

To see a record of the domain name, go to networksolutions.com and use their WHOIS utility which is located in the lower left of their home page. Just enter your domain name and click Search. You will see the complete record of the domain name, which is registered and where your site is hosted. -

When you register the domain name will have the opportunity to make it a private registration. I highly recommend paying the extra fee for making your private information. If you leave your registration public anyone can look up your domain information which includes your home or business address and your email address. Many spammers scan public domain registration records to find valid email addresses for spam.

I always use an email account hotmail or yahoo when registering my domains. This way if spammers to find my email address, I can just get a new address of "disposable" e-mail and will not receive spam at my primary email address.

Always check that the domain record remains locked. Lock your domain name is a feature implemented a few years ago. When you want to transfer the domain name to another registrar you must unlock it. Once it's unlocked the new registrar can "pull" your domain name from your current registrar. Once the transfer is complete, the domain name will be locked to prevent anyone else from "pulling" your domain away from you .......