29 Dec How to get a domain name, it’s easier than you think
One of the first things you’ll need to do if you want an online presence is to choose a global address, also known as domain name.
This domain name can be used to secure a personalised email address ie mary@littlelamb.com and/or web address www.littlelamb.com.
Ideally you can also then carry this domain name into things like your twitter handle @littlelamb and facebook (as long as you get 25 likes!) facebook.com/littlelamb as long as it’s available.
So how do you get a domain name? It’s not nearly as difficult or as expensive as you might think.
One of the first things you’ll need to do if you want an online presence is to choose a global address, also known as domain name.
This domain name can be used to secure a personalised email address ie mary@littlelamb.com and/or web address www.littlelamb.com.
Ideally you can also then carry this domain name into things like your twitter handle @littlelamb and facebook (as long as you get 25 likes!) facebook.com/littlelamb as long as it’s available.
So how do you get a domain name? It’s not nearly as difficult or as expensive as you might think.
- Choose a domain name You need to choose a name obviously! Do you want to branded based on the names you were born with or do you want people to look for you blog name, or business name or industry? What will be easy for people to search on the internet to find you quickly? Is it a combination of some of the above? I spent months, no years trying to rebrand myself and in the end I went for a combination of my name and my industry. Try out some of your domain names examples on friends, google what others in your industry are called, check out industry body contacts databases for examples. When you do pick a domain name, ask yourself if it’s easily understood on the phone, otherwise you’ll spend a lot of time spelling it out to people.
- Find out if the domain name you want is available. So you want to register littlelamb.com, you can check if it’s available on one of the many sites that register domains like godaddy.com, crazydomains.com.au and hostgator.com. Check if it’s available by typing it into their domain search bar (located in different places on different sites). If the domain name you want is Australian ie littlelamb.com.au you can do it through american sites like godaddy.com but it is a little bit more fiddly. You can’t go through their simple online process you’ll have to email them directly and sort it out. Easier to go with an australian company if you want to register an australian domain name.
- Register the domain nameTo get the domain name little lamb register it with one of the companies that you have carefully researched. I use godaddy.com but there are lots of others. Ask friends and do your research, you’ll save cash. My first registered domain name cost me more than $100 per year. I didn’t do any research and went with the recommendation from one friend. Now after learning a lot more about it from sites like thecreativepenn.com and www.entrepreneurs-journey.com, I pay around $15 per year to register my domain name. Even less if I register for a number of years in advance.
- Get hosting Now that you have your domain name you need to get online and into cyberspace, to do that you’ll need to get hosting for your website and email. More on that in Part 2!