How to Buy a Domain Name

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By JPaint25
User-Submitted Article

Article Rating: (6 Ratings)

It seems like more and more people have their own websites. You can choose to have a free blog or a subdomain of another website, or you can buy a domain name and control your entire website yourself. If you are new to website ownership, the following instructions will help you buy a domain name.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Internet access

Step 1

Choose a company where you can purchase the domain name, such as Go Daddy (see the Resources section below for a direct link). Each company offers different prices and packages. Choose a company that you trust and that sells a package that fits your needs.
Step 2

Decide what type of domain you want to purchase (.com, .info, .biz, etc.).
Step 3

Choose a domain name. This could be the name of your company, a short phrase, etc.
Step 4

Search for your domain name to see if it is available and how much it costs. Most companies that sell domain names (such as Go Daddy) have a search box on their site that allows you to see if the name is available and receive a price. If your desired name is not available, most sites will provide a list of available suggestions that are similar to the desired name.
Step 5

Purchase your domain name when you find one that is available and in your price range.

Tips & Warnings

Cost of domain names vary. Domain names ending in .com are typically the most expensive. Domain names that include popular keywords might also cost more.
After purchasing a domain name, you must purchase hosting for your website. Many companies that sell domain names also sell hosting and/or packages that include a domain name and hosting.

Resources