So, you’re ready to get your business on the internet and explore all the cool possibilities online. First you need a domain name. It is like your home address but on the internet. For example, our domain name is clubunbrick.com. Without it, we would have to use the site’s internet protocol (IP) address. Memorizing a bunch of numbers just to find a website sounds too tedious. Getting a domain name is as easy as entering your Gmail login. Let’s begin.
Also Read: What is a Domain Name (Hostinger)
Why do I need a domain name?
Here are 3 good reasons why you need a domain name for online success:
- Brand Identity – It is your unique brand name and helps your clients find you and remember you on the internet. For instance, it could be your personal name, business name or pseudonym. You can get as creative as you want.
- Business email – You can create custom email accounts with your domain name for you and your team to have professional presentation when sending emails to your prospects and clients. For that reason, you can say goodbye to your @gmail.com extension.
- Trust – You establish yourself as a trusted source of information, goods or services and differentiate yourself from free domain holders such as mydomain.wordpress.com or mydomain.blogspot.com.
How do I register a domain name
Brainstorm some ideas for your domain name. Maybe you already have one in mind. If you need some ideas to spark your creativity, you can use the logo.com AI business name generator to come up with some ideas based on keywords that describe your business or product. Additionally, they also help you generate quick logos you can use on the fly!
After you settle on a name, you can do a domain name search to confirm availability of your chosen name. You can use a service such as Truehost domain search for doing a domain name and extension search.
What extension should I use for my domain?
Generic top-level domains (gTLDs) are the usually the best and default choice, such as .com, .net, .co or the newer .io extension. If the .com extension for your name is not available, you may also use any of the aforementioned extensions. These are easily recognizable and memorable. It should be noted that all domain extensions are generally equal when it comes to search engine optimization.
If you offer goods or services limited to your country, you can use Country code top level domains (ccTLDs) such as .co.ke or .ke (for Kenya). There are plenty of other extensions. Generally, your extension should also reflect your brand identity. For example, if your run an educational site, you can use the .edu extension; e-commerce sites can use .shop; and if you are a blogger, you can use .blog. According to SemRush, your domain extension could influence your audience’s perception of your brand, in turn affecting how many clicks you get (click-through rate).
How much does it cost to register a domain name?
On average, registration for a top-level domain costs about $10. Even so, it could be more or less depending on the extension you choose. This usually gives you ownership of the domain for a period of 1 year. It is a small price to pay for salvation, considering what you can do with your domain. Renewal costs are also the same or higher, depending on your registrar and any features you may include, such as a premium SSL certificate, which is just a way to secure your website and give confidence to your visitors.
Web Hosting
Additionally, in order to post your website online, you need to pay for web hosting. Web hosting allows you to create, store and maintain your website code and files. This is what keeps your website visible to your potential clients and visitors. Just like paying rent for your house so you can keep your furniture and use other utilities. The cost depends on your hosting provider and your site performance needs, but you can choose to pay for it on a monthly or yearly basis, just like your domain name.
Most hosting providers will offer you shared hosting plans, which means that you will be sharing a server with other websites. It is like having roommates; very cost effective and you share resources. For flexible hosting plans that fit your budget, we recommend Truehost. If you are not ready for your own domain just yet, you can get a free landing page with convertkit, where you can market your products/services and send marketing messages with no additional cost.
Web Development
Finally, you need to build your website or landing page. You can do this with no code website builders. Most hosting plans come with content management systems like WordPress or Joomla for free. They have plenty of free themes and templates you can use to get you started.
If you want more flexibility with your designs, you might considerer building your website with tools such as webflow. Alternatively, if you require more custom features and capabilities unique to you, you can code your own website from scratch if you are skilled enough or hire a web developer to handle your specifications. After you build your site’s pages according to your requirements, you can upload your files to your server platform you are ready to go live!
Talk to us today for custom web design, development and management services. Join the club!
