Domain Name Registration Process - Basic Guide

You may miss important information regarding domain name registration if you stall. Although there are many articles available on the subject, this article is simple to read and understand. This article contains great information about domain name registration Domain Name Registration.

What's a domain name anyway?

Domain names are the web addresses that you know (e.g. Domain names are the web addresses (i.e. somename.com), that web browsers use in order to find a website. Domain names are actually pointers to an IP address (Internet Protocol). It is the address servers use to find each other. We use domain names for one simple reason. They are easier to remember and more descriptive than IP addresses that are just a collection of numbers.

Registration

First, you must find a registrar that will process your domain name registration. There are currently hundreds of domain name registrars that you can choose from. To see the full list of accredited domain name registrars visit the InterNIC website (www.internic.com/regist.html). You can check if the domain name you are interested in buying is available on the website of the registrar that you have chosen. You can register it if it is available.

You can now proceed with the registration. There are 3 steps left to complete the purchase. Although the domain name registration process might differ slightly from one registrar, the next three steps should be the same for most.

Decide the length of time you would like to keep your domain name registered.

You can choose between public or private registration

Enter domain name contact information

Let me now go over the steps in greater detail.

1. You can select the time period for your domain name registration. This can be from one year up to ten years. However, you can always extend it before it expires so it doesn't go away. For certain domain names, some registrars may require a minimum of two years.

How long should the domain name be registered? It depends on the purpose of the domain. If the domain is needed for your business, and you plan to remain in business for at most five years, then I would recommend that it be registered for five years or more. If you are unsure about the future of your site, you can extend your registration for up to two years. Many domain registrars offer the option to have your domain name automatically renewed so that you don't have any worries. This option will help you avoid losing your domain name if you forget to renew it.

2. You will also need to choose between public and private registrations. However, some domain registrars might not allow this option. The public registration allows you to use your personal information for the domain name contact. This type of registration is easier but less secure than private. Your contact details, including your address and phone number, are widely available and easily accessible. You could be a target for fraudsters and spammers.

Private registration, on the other side, gives you security but could also cost you extra over time. It works like this: Your registrar registers your domain name for you. You are not the domain name's owner, but you have the right and permission to use it. The domain name will have the contact information of the registrar and not yours. Mail sent to an address under your domain will be forward to you. This is why most registrars charge extra. Private registration is a good option. I recommend that you carefully read the service agreement before proceeding with registration. This could save you a lot of headaches.

3. This is the last step. It's quite simple. This step is not necessary if you have chosen private domain registration. For public registration, all you have to do is enter your contact information. The ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), records four types of contact information for each domain name. 1.Owner's Contact 2.Administrator 3.Tech Person 4.Billing Person's Contact You cannot have different contact information for each of the four except if you have other people who manage different aspects of your domain.

That's all. You can now complete the checkout process. The domain name registration may take up 48 hours. After the registration is completed, you will be able to purchase a domain name. You will need to register your domain name in order to put your website online with the domain name that you just bought. These topics are beyond the scope this article.