The Best Ways to Get a Domain Name
When starting a website, whether for personal or business use, the domain name is one of your primary considerations. A domain name is proprietary in more than one sense of the word -- it belongs to your site, but it also defines the site up front. A domain name that clearly communicates to your audience can be obtained in a number of ways; some ways of obtaining a domain name might involve a small fee, but others may be free. Domain names must be renewed every year in most instances. If they aren't, someone else may be able to register the name.
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Free Domains
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Some customers may be able to obtain a free domain name when they purchase Web-hosting services. Many times, when you sign a contract with a Web-hosting service, the service will include free domain registration. This means you can pick a domain name and, if it's available, the company you use to host your website will assign the domain to your website. This is the easiest way to get a domain name, because you don't have to register yourself, "point" or direct the domain at the site, or pay for it. Usually, when you renew your Web hosting, you have the option to renew the domain registration, although it may not be free forever.
Domain Registration Service
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Most people register the domain of their choosing with a domain registration service online. This involves choosing a registration provider, like GoDaddy.com or NetworkSolutions.com, and visiting their website. The site lets you search available names and, once you find one you like, you claim it as your own. This involves a small fee, usually charged monthly or yearly.
Using a domain registration service lets you use the Web host of your choice, including sites like Blogger or Tumblr. You can then point the domain to the site by following the instructions of the registration service. This requires a little more work than having a free domain attended to by your Web host, but domain registration services have benefits, too.
If the domain you want is unavailable, the registration service often recommends similar domains or domains with alternative extensions, like .org or .info. You may also protect your name and address from being public information by paying extra to hide it with a domain registration service.
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Sub-Domains
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A simple and free way to obtain a domain name is to register a name on a site that offers sub-domains. Examples of sites that offer this are Blogger, Flickr, Tumblr, Facebook, MySpace, and other similar sites. These sites are usually communities of sites that connect to one another via the platform or channel through which they are delivered to the audience. That is, Flickr is a photography community with a unique format, while Blogger is a multimedia expression platform with a narrative focus.
The obvious drawback to a sub-domain is that it may not have the polish of a traditional domain. For this reason, businesses probably want to register domains that are wholly proprietary, but a webmaster who can benefit from the contemporary panache of Tumblr might prefer a Tumblr domain name.
Webmasters might also like sub-domains because it allows the audience to find his or her site more easily. Searching Facebook for a business might be easier than searching Google for the same business if the business is in a competitive industry. Filters for geography or associated email addresses might give someone the needed visibility to make a larger impact with his or her Web presence.
Private Sale
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Some people buy up domain names in bulk or they buy up names they think are clever and marketable; this is sometimes referred to as domain parking and buying. These sites will display a box that explains the site may appear someday or that you can contact an owner to inquire about the availability of the domain. The people who own these domains hope you want the domain so badly, you'll make an offer to them for much more than they paid to have the name. This is considered a "black hat" or unethical tactic on the Internet, but it does happen and there is nothing illegal about buying a name if you really want it.
Should you choose this route, be very careful with the agreement to transfer the domain name. The other party in such an agreement is not acting ethically, so there is no reason to trust that they will act ethically during your agreement.
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References
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