There is a lot that goes into creating an online presence. One step that should not be overlooked is the creation of your domain name. Your domain name is like the front door to your website. It is the address at which users will find and enter your site while browsing the web. A good domain name is simple and effective, and closely associated with your brand.
In addition to the domain itself, it is also important to consider all of the domain providers available to you. Securing a domain name is not as simple as creating a website and adding your desired name to it. Domain names need to be registered, secured, and paid for. This is where domain providers, or registrars, come into play. To help you choose the best domain and provider, here is a look at some best practices.
What is a Domain Name?
First, let’s answer the question, “What is a domain name?”
Domain names are often confused with URLs (Uniform Resource Locator). While domain names and URLs are similar, they are distinct from one another. Your website’s domain is simply the alphanumeric text name at which users can find your website (graphem.com). The URL is the full string of text containing all of the components required to direct users to the correct page on the web. URLs contain the domain, as well additional information and pathways (https, “/about”, etc.).
Simply put, your domain name is your address on the web. URLs are used to ensure that users access the correct pages within your website without error.
Why Are Domain Name Providers Needed?
The process of managing domains across the web is fairly complicated. Domain providers act as intermediaries between website creators (registrants) and the domain name registry.
The domain registry is managed by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA), which itself is a branch of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). The IANA is responsible for assigning and managing all registrations. Domain registrars are accredited companies that process requests between registrants and the IANA.
So what exactly do domain providers, or registrars, actually do? The simple explanation is that domain names are tied to IP (Internet Protocol) addresses. IP addresses are long, unique strings of numbers that are assigned to all devices and domains online. Memorizing IP addresses would be a clunky way for users to access the web, so the registered domain name is used to provide users access to your site’s assigned IP address. Domain providers process user requests for their desired domain name(s) and help them find the best available domain, and register it with an IP address.
Many domain providers also offer other related domain services along with registration. As such, it can actually be very important to research the best domain providers before making your choice. Here is a look at some of the best practices to help you determine which domain providers are right for you.
What to Look for in Domain Name Services
Price
Price should be a prominent factor in any business decision. Different providers might have different price points for their services. Oftentimes this is because providers offer a different package of services in addition to their domain services. Be sure to consider precisely which services you require when determining which provider offers you the best options at the best price point.
Security
Strong security is essential to protecting the information of your website and its users. Domain security ensures that only the proper people have access to your domain. WHOIS privacy protection is also necessary to help keep domain registrants’ personal information out of public view.
All domain providers offer some level of security protection. But registrants should still take time to look into the strength and history of security services.
Domain Transfer
A domain transfer is when a domain is transferred from one registrar to another. This may seem like an odd factor to consider when choosing your current registrar. But sometimes your needs can change, or other domain providers might offer better services for you down the road.
Some domain name providers make it easier for registrants to transfer their domains to new registrars than others. If you think this may be necessary for you in the future, be sure to factor it into your decision when choosing an initial provider.
Web Hosting
Domain registration can often be confused with web hosting, but these are two separate things. As mentioned above, your domain name is what enables users to access your website online. But web hosting is what enables you to build your website the way you want it.
Web hosting services provide a secure server on which to store your website’s code and data. Not all domain name providers offer web hosting services, and it’s entirely possible to use separate providers for these two services. But some domain providers also offer web hosting services. In many cases, it can be very practical to bundle each of these two essential services together under one roof.
Domain Extension Offers
A domain extension is the short suffix at the end of any domain (.com, .net, .edu, etc.). While most websites use the standard .com extension, many require or simply prefer other options. If this is important to you, be sure to look into all available domain extensions when browsing domain services.
Additional Services
There are several other services that may be important to you when choosing your domain name service provider. Things like customer support, SEO and traffic data analysis, and custom email accounts tied to your domain are covered by many domain name providers. As you build your website, you may have different and unique needs that can’t be met by all domain providers. Make a list of what possible services are most important to you, and research which providers offer the best access to those services.
Best Domain Name Providers
There are dozens of domain providers, including many who include domain services as part of larger service bundles. But when it comes to strictly registering domains here are some of the best domain providers available.
Amazon Web Services (AWS)
Amazon is ubiquitous online, including highly affordable domain name services. Amazon Route 53, provided by AWS, offers inexpensive domain name registration as well as other basic domain services.
GoDaddy
GoDaddy.com is one of the most established names in domain registration, and for good reason. They offer excellent customer support, easy domain transfer, and affordable domain name registration.
Namecheap
Namecheap strives to do exactly what its name implies: providing affordable domain names. Namecheap is user friendly, offers simple transfers, with .com domains starting at $6.49 per year.
Name.com
Another site with a simple name, Name.com is a popular marketplace to register and purchase cheap domain names.
Once you’ve chosen the right domain name provider for you, you can focus on growing your online presence. If you have further questions about domain names, web hosting, or any other online services, contact Graphem Solutions today.
