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How To
Register A
New
Domain
Name
This
page tells how to register a new domain name and transfer it to your
web
host.
First you need to
choose the
best domain
name for your website. A good domain name lets visitors and
search engines know what your
site is about and it helps get more targeted traffic and more clients.
Side Note: If you're
going to buy Site Build It! the domain name
(and
hosting) is part of your subscription so don't purchase it except
through Site Build It!. SBI will lead you through a number of steps
before you choose your domain name to make sure you get the best one.
After
you have a good idea of your ideal domain name go to a domain name
registrar. There are a lot around so just do a search. I've been
using namecheap which is currently
charging less than $10 for one
year's
domain registration, and they have been fine. Other well known
registrars are godaddy and 1and1.
Check
with the registrar that your domain name is available. Most of the best
names have been snapped up already, so you may have to try a few
variations to get one that hasn't gone.
Follow the
registrar's instructions to register the new domain name. You'll
usually
need to register with the registrar and log in to actually do the
purchase. You'll need to give name, address, phone number etc.
Check
the shopping cart carefully. Make sure the registrar hasn't added
anything without you asking for it. Also make sure you are named as the
registrant.
Linking the Domain Name To
Your
Website
Once you have register a new domain name and have
a web
host you can link them together.
When you sign up
with a web host they will email you domain name servers (DNS) which
will be something like
ns1.nameserver.com
ns2.nameserver.com
You'll
be given at least 2 different name servers.
You have
to change the domain servers from the ones your registrar currently has
listed
to the ones that your web host has sent you. That will link your domain
name and your website IP address together so that people can find your
website.
Every registrar does things a bit
differently, but the procedure will be roughly as
follows:
Go to your domain name registrar,
log in and select the domain name you want to change the DNS on. Then
look for a link that mentions domain name servers or DNS. You'll be
taken to a page that lists your current domain name servers. (If not,
look for another link). Type in
the domain name servers that your web host gave you where you are told
to. Save the changes.
It takes 24-72 hours
for the domain name to propagate across the internet so that your site
is up and live. During that 24-72 hours your site will be up and down
randomly while routers around the world update their cache.
Once
the domain name has propagated across the Internet your site will be
live, probably with a placeholder web page that the web host puts up
until you upload your own pages.
This is a fairly
broad description of what to do. Make sure you follow the instructions
given to you by your domain name registrar and your web host to be sure
everything works properly.
Renewing Your
Domain Name Registration
Keep track of the registration date
of your domain
name, so you can renew it before it is due. If you
let your domain name lapse, someone else can buy it and you'll have to
start building traffic all over again with a new website name.
Your
domain name registrar might send you an email letting you know your
name
needs renewing. Other registrars may renew the domain name
automatically. (SBIers, your domain name will be
renewed when you renew your Site Build It! subscription.)
You
might get a letter in the mail from a totally unrelated domain name
registrar that is trying to get your business, and maybe even trying to
scare/fool you into registering with them. I get these letters
sometimes, and
I actually got one yesterday for an expiring domain
that I have. The price they quoted is four times what I pay at
namecheap, so be careful.
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