Setting up a website – Advice on buying domain names

A domain name is very important if you want to draw people to your website. You'll want to pick something easy to remember and spell. So... Think long and hard, consult your family, colleagues, and friends. When you come up with a shortlist, go to a reputable registrar's website. Good options are Register.com, Network Solutions, and Godaddy. These sites will all have domain name search fields on their main page. Just plug in your desired domain and hit the search button to see if it's available.

If it is available, you will be offered the option to buy it. Typically you will be offered lower annual rates if you purchase the domain for several years. Expect to pay anywhere from $8 to $30 a year. At Thirdsite.com, we have used Network Solutions and Register.com in the past... But after recently discovering Godaddy – we'll be using them from now on. Much cheaper and still well respected.

Buying the domain will involve providing your real name, company name (if applicable), and other personal details. You will need to provide a credit card for payment. Don't worry – if you are using a reputable registrar, your credit card information is safe. Your personal details however (name, address, phone number, etc) will be made available to anyone who is interested. Many registrars now offer an added fee privacy service $8+/per year) which will hide your details from the prying eyes of spammers and other bad people.

Once you purchase your domain, there may be some confirmation emails sent to you to verify that you have provided a real email address. Once you have confirmed your identity – you own the domain.