In this article, we will take a closer look at domain names. We will address the common misunderstandings, suggest alternatives and answer underlying questions you might have on domain names.
A domain name is the address that you type into a web browser address bar to get to a website. An example of a domain name is www.google.com
A domain name is unique to a website and cannot be shared between different websites.
No, a domain name is not the same as a URL. A domain name is part of a URL.
An example of a URL is www.yourdomain.com/products/product_A
As you can see, a URL goes into much more detail than a domain name, providing much more information, such as specific page address, folder name, file name, etc.
In other words, a URL is the actual address of a specific page on a website.
Yes, domain names and websites are separate things.
While a free sub-domain is free, it is not always the best option.
Why? Simply because you don't own the sub-domain.
Take WordPress.com as an example, your free sub-domain would be userID.WordPress.com. The main domain name, WordPress.com, is the property of WordPress and subsequently all sub-domains and sub-directories it creates.
So, free is not always best.
One of the benefits of having your own domain name is you can setup custom email addresses, ie. contact@yourdomain.com.
Note that in order to create custom @yourdomain.com email address, you will need email hosting services from your website builder or web host. Many website builders, such as Weebly and Wix, charge extra for this service.
A domain name generally cost around $10 to $20 per year.
Let's take a look at the domain registration pricing of the most popular domain registrars:
| Domain registrar | Cost for a 1 yr .com registration |
|---|---|
| Domain.com | $9.99 |
| NameCheap | $14.48 + $0.18 |
| GoDaddy | $14.99* |
| iPage | $8.99* |
| HostGator | $12.95* |
| BlueHost | $11.99 |
| Name.com | $10.99 |
| Doteasy | $5.00* |
These prices are for the 1-year registration of a new .com domain name. Prices are for domain registration only, hosting services not included. Please contact individual registrars for lower domain registration rates with purchase of hosting packages. Prices effective as of March 1, 2016.
* Price reflects the registrar promotions and specials at the time of price comparison. Please refer to the registrar's website for regular domain registration pricing and/or subsequent domain term renewal fees.
Definitely.
Many website builders, such as Wix, Weebly or Website.com even includes a free 1-year custom domain name as part of their annual plans.
It's a good idea to get a custom domain name from a website builder because:
Yes, you can!
Because you own your domain name, you can take it to any website builder or web host you wish, as long as the domain is active (ie. you keep paying the annual fee). All you need to do is contact your domain registrar for instructions on how to change web hosts.
You can even transfer your domain from one registrar to another. For instance, transfer your domain from GoDaddy to Doteasy. Both GoDaddy and Doteasy have step-by-step tutorials showing you how to change domain registrars.
Ideally, your domain name should be:
Shorter domains are easier to remember. They are also easier to type and less susceptible to mistakes. However, keep in mind that long domain names that have your site keywords in them have an advantage when it comes to search engine ranking – search engines give preferences to keywords that also found in your domain name.
.COM, .NET, etc. are called domain suffix or domain extensions. They are also called a top-level domain, TLD. In addition to the .com and .net, there are hundreds of other domain extensions, the most common being the .com.
People tend to prefer the more popular TLDs, such as .com, .org, .net. There is an undeniable familiarity with .com that you will not find with any other TLDs.
TLDs that are country specific (such as .ca for Canada, or .jp for Japan) is always good for businesses that are targeting local customers. It raises the confidence of users visiting your website, especially when they come from the country of the TLD.
Do keep in mind that it can be difficult to find a preferred TLD that is still available. This is especially true for the .com and .net domain names.
If the .com domain name that you want is already taken, you have a few other options:
Domain hacking is not hacking someone's domain name or stealing it. The idea of a domain hack is to take a word and use the domain extension as part of the word.
So instead of thisismyname.com, a domain hacker would go with thisismyna.me (using the .ME domain extension) or thisismy.name (using the .NAME domain extension).
Examples of domain hacks include YouTu.be and Ma.tt.
Unfortunately, you won't be able to purchase a domain with embedded spaces.
Workaround ways to separate words in a domain name:
That is actually not a good idea.
When you develop a website on a domain, the search engines will begin indexing it so it will show up on the search results. If your website has useful content, other websites might also start linking to it.
If after some time you get the domain you've been waiting for and move your website to that domain, search engines will treat it as a new website and it takes time to have the site indexed and not to mention you will lose all the search ranking results and linking you have attained.
Unfortunately, you cannot reserve a domain name. If there is a domain name that you want to use, whether it is now or in the future, you will need to register the name first. You are not required to associate the domain name to a website until you are ready.
A website is a separate thing from a domain name. A domain name is just a name. When you register a domain name, you are simply getting the right to associate it to a website. It is like getting a business name – you can register a business name before renting premises for your shop.
When you register a domain name, ICANN requires that your email address, mailing address and phone number are accurate and made publicly available. This means anyone can look up the ownership and contact information of a domain name owner.
How does a private domain work?
Private domain registration protects you by hiding your registration information. Instead of listing your personal/contact information, the domain registrar will replace it will their contact information. You will still be the owner of the domain name, but your contact details will not be accessible publicly.
Private registration fee differs from one registrar to another:
| Domain registrar | Cost for a 1 yr private registration (USD) |
|---|---|
| Domain.com | $8.99 |
| NameCheap | $2.88 |
| GoDaddy | $7.99 |
| iPage | $9.99 |
| HostGator | $9.95 |
| BlueHost | $11.88 |
| Name.com | $3.99 |
| Doteasy | Included |
Prices effective as of March 1, 2016.