How to Register a Domain Name
The first step you must take so that others can find you on the Internet is to find an affordable domain registration service to purchase your domain name. There are many places where you can get your domain registered at a cost ranging from $2.99 per year up to $25 per year, and it doesn't really matter who does the registering anymore. However, most domain registrars do offer additional services that you might find useful, and it is these services offered that will typically drive the decision to choose one registrar over another.
Every web site is hosted somewhere and the hosting service typically runs a machine that makes it possible for other machines around the Internet to find you using the Domain Name System. This means that most hosting companies today also provide domain registration services. However, you may find it advantageous to keep domain registration separate from hosting your web site simply so you can easily move your web site to a different hosting company should you not be satisfied with their service, and without interrupting your domain services.
Keep your domain registration separate from your hosting. This approach allows you to remain in control of your domain name. Your domain manager software that is provided to you when a domain name is registered will allow you to point the domain name to any server that is hosting your web site. If the hosting entity controls your domain name, you will some day sweat bullets if your business relationship goes down the tubes with the hosting company.
I register many domain names for my clients simply because they don't want the hassle of doing it themselves. I chose GoDaddy because of their superior domain registration administration panel which easily allows me to add new domain names, renew them, register domain names anonymously, set auto forwarding of multiple domain names to a single domain, or sell a domain name if I no longer want it. I normally recommend that my clients signup for Godaddy so they can learn how to control their own domain name. Signing up for Godaddy doesn't mean you have to host your web site with them, and hosting with Godaddy doesn't mean you need to register your domain name through them.
The idea is simple. Don't let hosting companies register your domain name. Learn how to do it yourself and always stay in control of managing your domain names.
Sign up with GoDaddy, login, and get familiar with some of the services GoDaddy offers. After you login, you can search for domain names you would like to register and GoDaddy will tell you if the domain name is available. If the domain name is available, go ahead and buy it. Domain names are cheap at a few bucks a year.
Here are the steps for setting your domain name servers:
1Log into your GoDaddy account
2Click Domains->My Domains
3Click the domain name checkbox and then click Nameservers
4On the set nameservers page, click the Default Nameservers Tab and select Custom Nameservers
5In the custom nameservers fields enter the following: NS1.WEST-DATACENTER.NET for Nameserver 1 and NS2.WEST-DATACENTER.NET for Nameserver 2 (or whatever the IP addresses are that your hosting provider sent you).
6Click the OK button
It can take as long as 12 hours for DNS to propagate and you will not be able to reach your website through a browser. After some time has passed, open your browser and enter your domain name in the location field. If DNS has propagated correctly, you should end up on the starting default page of your hosting account. If after a minimum of 12 hours your site is not reachable, double check that you've entered the correct IP addresses that your hosting provider gave you. If that still doesn't work, contact your domain manager support person.
Orangetree Internet Service LLC, located in Santa Cruz, CA., provides technical assistance to small and medium sized businesses with Domain Registration Services, including domain portfolio management. Contact us at 830-212-1884 for more information.