Buying a Domain Name: A Comprehensive Guide 2022

Do you want to acquire a domain name? This guide will walk you through various steps.

We can help you create a website for your business, a website for your hobby, or a website for your marketing campaign.

If you’ve never registered a domain, it can be confusing. But it’s shockingly simple, given the internet’s 1.9 billion webpages.

Learn how to acquire a domain name and compare the best domain registrars in this post (where you can buy and register the domain names easily).

Table of Contents

1. What Exactly Is a Domain Name?
2. When Should You Purchase a Domain Name?
3. How to Purchase a Pre-Owned Domain Name.
4. How to Buy a Domain Name Forever.
5. Is it possible to get the domain name for free?
6. Best Places to Purchase a Domain Name

Let’s start with the first point,

What Exactly Does a Domain Name Mean?

The domain name is a one type of digital address that visitors use to find your website. Domain name, for example, is “wordpress .com.”

Your domain name is critical to your online visibility. It’s a simple technique to identify who owns which website.

Although we currently utilise domains on a daily basis, they were not always a part of the internet. IP addresses (“191.268.1.43”) were used to navigate to websites before 1983. Each internet-connected device is identified by an IP address.

Because it is difficult to memorise an IP address, the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) created the Domain Name System (DNS) in 1983. To purchase a domain, you do not need to understand how DNS works.

When purchasing a domain, there are a few essential phrases you should be aware of. These are some examples:

A domain registrar is an organisation that registers and manages domain names. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names & Nos has accredited domain registrars (ICANN).

Domain Checker: A tool for determining who owns a domain and how long the owner has had it. The ICANN data lookup is one of the most common checkers.

TLDs (Top-Level Domains): The suffix at the end of a domain name (for example, “www.name.tld”). These are classified into four types: TLDs with country codes (such as.au or.us), sponsored TLDs (such as.gov and.edu), generic TLDs (such as.com and.org), and new generic TLDs (like .io)

The donut chart below shows a breakdown of the percentage of websites that use each form of TLD.

When Should You Purchase a Domain Name?

According to Verisign, as of the second quarter of 2021, there were over 367 million domain registrations, a 0.7 percent (2.8 million) decline from the previous year.

While domain name purchases are slowing, this should not deter you. Buying a domain from its owner is far more difficult than registering it yourself. As a result, you should purchase your preferred domain name as soon as you become aware of it, as you do not want someone else to steal it.

If you already have an idea for your domain, you are well on your way to deciding on a domain name.

Consider purchasing any additional names you desire when purchasing your domain name. This covers domains such as your:

• Lines of products
• Services
• Customer service program
• Customer retention program

If you wish to use a name in the future but not right away, you can use a WordPress extension like SeedProd to put a coming soon page on your domain. Your domain can also be “parked.” Domain parking is common, with ICANN estimating that 52.95 percent of domains are now parked.

See also: Qualities of the Best Custom WordPress Development

How to Purchase a Pre-Owned Domain Name

Consider this: you have a fantastic new company concept and the ideal domain name to go with it. However, when you enter the address into Google, you learn that the domain is already owned by someone else.

In case you still need the domain, you can reach the person using the contact form and purchase it from him/her, who currently owns it. Here’s how.

Step 1: Find the broker and the owner

First, browse to the website and get the owner’s contact information. In general, there are three possibilities here:

• The domain is owned by a domain dealer. A domain trader is someone who buys and sells domain names for a profit.
• The domain is owned by someone, however they do not utilise it or have it parked.
• Someone owns and is actively utilising the domain.

Once you’ve determined which circumstance you’re in, it’s time to think about employing a broker. A broker will represent you and ensure that the vendor does not take advantage of you. Some brokers charge a portion of the domain’s purchase price, while others charge a fixed or hourly cost.

If you don’t know who is the owner of the domain or if someone else is using it, you’ll probably need a broker (since convincing the owner to sell will be more difficult if they are actively using the name).

Step 2. Show your interest

Following that, you should approach the domain owner and declare your interest in the domain. They could:

If you refuse to sell, you may have to back out of the deal and find another domain name.

Request an offer, and if you receive one, move on to the next phase.

If it doesn’t work and you need to get the new domain, don’t go with an identical or similar domain with a different TLD. According to research, consumers trust.com,.co, and.org domains the most and.biz domains the least.

Step 3. Making an offer

In the event that the owner of the domain is willing to sell it, make a formal written offer. This offer should include the following:

• The desired domain
• The price you’re proposing
• Your name and contact information
• When the domain will be transferred to you if the seller accepts your offer
• Contract terms and conditions

If you work with a broker, they may provide you with an offer letter template or conduct this step for you.

Be sure to follow these steps if you want the best results:

• Decide on a price range and set an upper limit (a “walk away price”) for yourself.
• Offer less than you can afford in order to barter.
• Be ready for a counter-offer.

Never make a mistake to offer verbally over the phone call that is not followed up on in writing.

The domain owner may choose to negotiate the price and contract terms with you until both of you are satisfied. Always get a written confirmation of the final pricing.

Step 4. Execute the contract

Once you and the seller have agreed on the price of the domain, you must sign a contract to finalise the transaction. A contract protects both parties and ensures that the transaction remains mutually beneficial.

You must also pay for your domain. Some sellers might rather:

• Payment in full up front
• When the contract is signed, a deposit is required, and the total cost is due following the domain transfer.
• Payment is made in accordance with the broker’s instructions.

Unfortunately, some domain owners may attempt to defraud you. To protect yourself, use a secure payment platform or an escrow provider.

You should also avoid paying for the domain with cryptocurrencies. If the seller does not keep their half of the bargain, it may be difficult to challenge the transaction.

Step 5. Take ownership of the domain

Finally, you must locate an ICANN-accredited registrar for your new domain in order to transfer ownership of your name. You can use the same registrar that the previous domain owner did.

While many registrars have their own internal transfer process, most need you to certify that the name was sold to you by the previous owner and that you are the new owner of the domain. The registrar will then proceed with the transfer and notify both parties when it is finished. The domain transfer process might take up to 60 days, and there may be a charge involved.

If the previous owner purchased the name within the last 60 days, the domain may be subject to a Change of Registrant lock. To shift ownership, you must wait until this period expires.

How to Buy a Domain Name Forever

If the domain you desire is available for free, obtaining it is simple. We’ll lead you through the process step by step.

Step 1. Select the domain registrar

To begin, you must choose an ICANN-accredited registrar to register your name with. This is not the same as your web hosting provider.

Your DNS host connects users to your site via your specific domain name, whereas your website host provides you with a physical location for your website. Your DNS host is analogous to a phone directory, whereas your website host is analogous to your landlord.

Consider the following while choosing a registrar:

Cost structure: Each registrar has their unique fee schedule. The average domain name costs between $10 and $20 per year (though this will be higher for highly sought-after TLDs).

Any other services provided by your registrar: Domain parking and domain privacy are two examples. Domain privacy (or “Whois privacy”) conceals your name, contact information, and business information from the public listing of your website.

The registrar’s expiration policy: You must ensure that you can secure your domain for the long term.

The transfer policy of the registrar: You may want the ability to change registrars or sell your domain later.

The registrar’s availability of a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificate: This digital certificate encrypts the connection to your website and protects visitors.

Step 2. Completing the Registrar’s Checkout

Then, use the registrar’s tool to determine if it can offer you the domain and TLD you want.

If you are able to purchase your domain, choose a plan and proceed through the registrar’s checkout process. Some registrars will provide a basic package with add-ons such as a professional email address associated with your domain. Others provide approaches that can be scaled to meet your specific requirements.

Many registrars will also provide you with a package purchase that includes numerous TLDs (for example, “contacttree.com,” “contacttree.net,” and “contacttree.org”). These solutions are ideal for anyone concerned about visitors being unable to locate the correct address or competitors purchasing the domain.

Once you’ve completed the checkout procedure, you’ll need to provide your registrar with the following information:

• Name, address, and organisation name
• Contact information (email and phone number).
• Payment specifics.

If you don’t want your contact info to be visible publicly, make sure to purchase domain privacy.

You should also check twice the terms of your registration. The majority of domain registrars allow you to buy your name for many years at a time, but if you have never used that registrar before, you may wish to choose a shorter plan.

Starting with a shorter plan will allow you to switch if you are dissatisfied with your registrar’s speed, security, service, or anything else.

Step 3. Obtain your domain’s ownership details and register it

The next stage is to register the domain. The majority of the heavy lifting will be done behind the scenes by your registrar, and the process may take several days.

To guarantee that your registration is complete, you must confirm your information. You may be required to validate your email address or phone number, depending on your registrar.

In addition, you may need to provide proof when purchasing TLDs such as.edu. If this is the case, you must authenticate your identity by following the registrar’s instructions.

Step 4. Host your website

Finally, if you want someone else to do it for you, you’ll need to choose a website host. There are many web hosting companies there for the best services like Bluehost, HostGator, Hostinger, InMotion Hosting, Hostwinds, and many more.

Is it possible to get the domain name for free of cost?

So far, we’ve discussed two methods for purchasing a domain name. Can you, however, acquire one for free? “Yes,” is the answer. There are three options for obtaining a free domain:

Sign up with a hosting company that includes a free domain name with your website.

Make your website using a site builder such as WordPress, Squarespace, Tumblr (these domains will carry a TLD like .wordpress, .squarespace, .tumblr)

Get a free domain name with a TLD that provides free domain names (these will have a TLD like .cf, .gq, .ml, .ga)

While it is possible to obtain a nice domain name for free, you should evaluate how professional your domain makes your website appear. Visitors will perceive your TLD as legitimate, authoritative, and trustworthy.

People place the greatest trust in familiar TLDs, and over 37% of domains currently use the TLD.com. Thus, while you may be able to obtain a.ml or.tumblr site for free, investing in a.com domain may prove to be more beneficial in the long run.

Best Places to Purchase a Domain Name

If you are going to purchase the domain name for the first time, choosing a domain registrar may seem intimidating. To guide you in making your choice perfect, we’ve compiled a list below of the best domain registrars.

1. Domain.com

Domain.com was founded in 1998 and is one of the most well-known website registrars. As of 2021, it powers about 1.2 million websites. Domain.com is an excellent choice for personal or corporate websites, as it is used by a large number of website owners.

Domain.com provides domain registration, website design, email hosting, and digital marketing services.

2. Google Domains

Google Domains, founded in January 2015, is a domain hosting service ideal for those looking for domain registration without the need for web hosting.

Google Domains is a fantastic product since it connects with Google Workspace — formerly known as G-suite — as well as Google Search Console and other Google services. At the moment, Google Domains hosts 2% of all domains.

3. BlueHost

BlueHost was established in 2003 and is a popular domain and web hosting provider among bloggers and small companies who use WordPress.

BlueHost is a DNS hosting company that also provides web hosting, email, a website builder, and marketing tools. Bluehost presently hosts over two million websites. It is a WordPress affiliate.

4. Enom

Enom is a white-label domain platform that provides domain registration, SSL certificate management, and email services.

Enom has over 6.5 million domains registered and works with over 22,000 domain resellers. Tucows, a provider of Internet services and telecommunications, acquired Enom in 2016.

5. Name.com

Name.com, founded in 2003 in Colorado, is a user-friendly domain hosting service.

Name.com provides email hosting, domain name registration, website hosting, a website builder, and digital marketing services. Additionally, Name.com operates Name.gives, a charitable giving platform that supports non-profit organisations. Name.com is a subsidiary of Donuts Inc. and is currently home to 1% of all websites.

Wrapping Up Here,

Purchasing a domain name may appear to be one of the most onerous aspects of starting a new business, blogging, or digital marketing endeavour. However, do not panic. If you follow the steps & process outlined in this blog post, the domain registration process will be a snap.

Please comment if you have any related questions or concerns, and share it maximum on the social media platforms, thank you!