Register a Domain Name for Free

Domain names can have a range of costs depending on where you get them and whether they are part of a website hosting package. It is possible to register a domain name for free, but you may need to be willing to deal with trade-offs. In order to register any domain name, free or not, you have to work with a domain name registrar--and not all domain name registrars are created equal. Here's how to decide which one to use.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Search on the Internet for "free domain name registration" if you do not already know which registrar you would like to use to register your domain name. This list is a good starting point in choosing a registrar.

2. Examine the offerings of the different free domain name registrars on your list and look at the fine print for why they are advertising free domain name registration. Some may require you to buy something else in order to get the free domain name, such as a website hosting package. Others may have require you to use a specific free web hosting package that will result in ads being displayed prominently on your website. Still others may allow free domain name registration if you are not yet ready to put your site up, in which case the registrar displays it as an "under construction" page with ads if someone types your URL into a browser.

3. Decide which terms for free domain registration best suit your needs, such as whether you want to buy a website hosting package in order to get the free domain name or whether you are willing to have ads on your site. Make a list of options for companies that you may wish to use for your domain name registration, which you can do by browsing your search results from Step 1 and reading each company's terms or FAQ.

4. Read the fine print carefully for the terms and conditions offered by each of the options on your short list. You may wish to verify, for example, that you will be the actual owner of the domain name in the event that you decide to move your site to another hosting company (if you are getting the domain name as a part of a website package) or that you will be allowed to move your site to another host if you are getting a free package with the stipulation of displaying ads.

5. Select a free domain registrar and then follow the instructions available on that registrar's website to register your free domain name and set up your website.

Tips & Warnings

• Note that there likely always will be some kind of tradeoff in getting anything for free and domain names are no exception, so be sure to identify exactly why the domain is being offered for free before committing to anything (if the specific domain name you are registering is important to you).
• If you are not sure about any particular web hosting company or free domain registrar, try searching in Google on the company name and "reviews" in order to find past users' experiences with that company. This can be a really helpful tactic in making decisions about any website host or registrar.

[jamesbonddesign]

on 6/28/2009 If you are looking for a Business Website designer to design your business website professionally for $25.00 & Get you to the Top of Google - MSN - Yahoo- see my website at: http://jamesbondwebsitedesigns.angelfire.com