I bought my first domain name in 2016. I didn’t spell it right, and I never created a website to go along with it. The domain name I purchased was a complete waste of money. You could also say the fifty or so domain names I bought after made me a domain junkie.
I’d snag the domain name every time I had a fresh idea for a website. Yes, 90% of the time, the domains I registered lead to failure. Yet I can’t say I regret it, because each failed attempt leads me to this to you. Where I get to share my know-how about domains. This way, you don’t have to make the same mistakes I did.
Ok, so what is a domain name? A domain name is how we find a specific location on a global computer network (internet). Everything located on the internet is detected using an IP address. An IP Address is a series of numbers with periods between them, for example: (162.241.30.65). Instead of having to remember an IP address that is periodically changing, text and other characters make up domain names that can be purchased from a domain registrar.
Simply put, a domain name is just a name linked to an IP address, which makes it more memorable for the human brain.
Now that we know what a domain name is, I have some questions for you! Would you like to find the perfect domain for your blog, brand, or niche website? What do you do if your ideal domain name is taken? And how do you turn that domain into a beautiful and profitable website? Then don’t you worry because in this article I got you covered, so you don’t have to waste time on a domain name let’s dive in!
Domain Name Hierarchy
Within a domain name, there’s a hierarchical structure. We’ll quickly discuss this structure so you can choose a quality domain name. At the top of the hierarchy, there is the Top Level Domain. For example, in the URL www.onlinefreedomformula.com, the top-level domain or TLD would be the .com.
The TLD doesn’t have to be a .com, it could be a .org or (.net); it’s the last segment right after the dot in a domain name.
The second part of a domain name is the “Second Level Domain or SLD. This is the part of a domain where you can let all your creativity out. It’s basically the text and charters being giving to a domain name.
When coming up with the SLD, you’ll want to pick something that will be and brandable. An example of this would be if you and a buddy wanted to start a yoga blog. You might choose the URL www.TwoDudesDoYoga.com. The SLD would be Two Dudes Do Yoga— it’s easy to remember and quickly defines the blog to your viewers.
The third domain in the hierarchy of domain names is known as the hostname. The best-known hostname is www, which stands for the World Wide Web. But there are all kinds of hostnames such as FTP which means file transfer protocol written-out. File transfer protocol is a standard way to exchange data between devices over IP connections.
Other examples of hostnames could be images.google.com or products.microsoft.com, both images and products are the hostnames.
Note: you should consider the restrictions on what you are allowed to use in your second-level domains. Know that there is no difference being made between capital and lowercase letters so your domain name will appear only in lower.
Also, I know that only some characters are allowed, such as letters numbers and dashes. You can’t use any other signs; additionally, a dash is not allowed to be used in the beginning or end of your domain name.
When buying a domain name, you usually choose the top-level domain name. Then pick a second-level domain name that’s still available and fits the purpose of your website. You won’t really have to worry about the hostname as www. is commonly assigned and preferred when registering a domain name. I highly recommend .com as your TLD.
Domains VS Websites
The difference between a domain and a website and a domain name is a common misconception that has to be covered before explaining how to choose the right domain name. When starting your own website, people often switch up the term website and domain, but there is actually an easy way to visualize the difference between the two.
The best way to separate website and domain is to think of a house and a home address. The site, in this case, would be your house: you can set it up however you want to. You can build it yourself if you know how to code, or you can use website builders. Website builders(website building software) are like having a contractor do the heavy lifting for you.
The most common website builder (and my favorite) happens to be WordPress, but there are plenty of other platforms and services where you can set up your own site. Find out what website builder is best for you by clicking here.
If you want the contractor (website building software) or any other guest at your house, you need a home address. The home address is how visitors can locate your home (website). The visitors that bring traffic to your site are only able to find your website if you have a web address, which is your domain.
In most cases, it’s not a good idea to take the first name that comes to your mind, but don’t get stuck on choosing a domain name; you’ll know it when it’s the right one: trust your gut.
Find the Perfect Domain Name
So now we have covered the basics of how a domain name is built, the next step would be registering a domain. In most countries, anyone is allowed to register a domain. It’s important to know that it’s impossible to have two domains with the exact same name, so the domain name you desire is probably already taken.
There are plenty of websites where you can check if a domain name has been taken or not. My favorite place to check if a domain name is still available is namemesh.com.
Name Mesh is a domain name generator that allows you to:
- Check domains availability
- Find keywords that are related to your domain
- Look at categories of domains like common, fun, and seo
- Link to popular domain registrars like Bluehost, Godaddy, and Hostgator
What to Consider when Choosing a Domain Name
Length really does matter. Your domain name shouldn’t be too long, because you want it to be more memorable. I would recommend no more than four words and definitely less than 64 characters long. Look at big sites such as Google, Facebook, and eBay, they all have one thing in common, and that is they only have two syllables. It is easier to remember a short name than remembering a domain name consisting of multiple long words/terms.
Avoid using dashes and numbers within your domain name; it looks tacky and ain’t nobody got time for that.
Consider message to market match when choosing your domain name. You’ll want the content you provide to your audience to be aligned with your domain name. You’ll look like a big phony if you have an article about the best gaming computers on a website called wedesignyourgarden.com.
Have some foresight and think about the content that you’re going to produce before giving your site a name. People really don’t need any more trust issues, so make a content plan and stick to it!
Registering Your Domain
The registration process for a domain is actually pretty simple and can be done through various websites. I list a few of my favorites at the end of this article. To take part in the sacred domain registration process, just do this: Google Bluehost or Greengeek, then sign up for one of their hosting packages. It’s a few bucks a month (you’ll pay annually), and you’ll get a free domain.
If you take this route, not only will you have reliable and fast hosting, but you’ll have your domain name and be well on your what to building your first website.
Maybe you’re not ready to dive headfirst into hosting and website building? That’s fine, go to Dynodot or Name Cheap and get a domain for fifteen bucks tops. Finding amazing hosting companies that give you a free domain that you vibe with is how I started, and I haven’t looked back since.
Keep in mind when registering your domain, you have to give your address and other personal information about yourself. You’ll provide the hosting company your date of birth, full name, and email address, so make sure the company you choose is legit.
When buying a domain name, you’ll pay a specific price for every year, if you want to own that particular domain name. Most providers will also let you buy a domain name for a longer time, like up to ten years, but usually not longer. I like to commit to a three-year purchase, yes it’s more expensive, but then I know that it’s a domain name I really want.
Connecting the domain to your website
The last step would be to connect your domain to your website. A domain by itself doesn’t make any sense— it’s like owning an address without having a house. So you’ll have to connect your domain to a website builder unless you know how to code.
Almost all website builders like Wix, Weebly, and SquareSpace allow you to pick a domain before building a drag and drop site. With these options, website building is super easy, and you can have an active website the same day, but you might be limited if your website really blows up.
If you go the web hosting route to get a domain, you’ll be able to install WordPress usually with one click. This method is a little more technical, but not much. Trust me, if I can do it, you can too!
A web-hosting company is a company that will give your site access to their servers 24/7, so your website will always have an Internet connection. Therefore, having a legit web hosting is a must; otherwise, you’re not going to be able to connect your own domain to your website.
Click here to find out which web hosting is right for you.
Once you have a web hosting account and a domain name, you can link your website to your domain name. Connecting your domain to your site varies, depending on the web host service and where you bought your domain name from. If you want to find out how to connect your domain name to your website, the easiest way is to look it up on your web hosting service.
Related Questions
How to Make Money with Domains
Domain Flipping
As domain names tend to be an essential factor for the success of a business or website, a market for domains has been developed. Domain flipping is the act of buying and selling domains without having the intent of keeping a name for a long time. The aim in domain flipping is to purchase upcoming and high-quality domain names in their early stages or buy domains in bulk. The goal is to buy a domain whose price is likely to increase or acquire a group of domain names that have hot keywords. You might notice an increase in the cost of the domain name you aim to sell for a higher price. It’s a great side hustle if you know what you’re doing and it has similarities to making money with stock exchanges.
My Recommendations
Best place to get cheap domains:
- PorkBun
- Dynadot
Domain Registrar with fantastic Customer Service:
- Name Cheap
Get Fast, Reliable Web Hosting and a Free Domain:
- Blue Host
- Green Geek
