Forum

[simonslade]

Finding domain names

If you're brainstorming for domain names, a good tool is http://www.nameboy.com . You can enter two words and NameBoy will generate a whole bunch of synonymous domain names, and show you their availability. A word of warning, though: Sometimes NameBoy gets it wrong and tells you a domain is available when it's not. So once you've got a few options, take them a domain register, plug them in there to check whether they're available.

Registering a domain name

You generally have two options when registering your domain name.

(1) You can buy your domain name through your web host. A lot of hosting providers will offer special discounts on domain names, or they might even offer you a free domain "for life". Buying your domain through the same company as you get your hosting can simplify things considerably if it's your first time, since the company will hook everything together for you.

Take care, though, because some hosting companies will register a domain name in their own name. This means that if you ever try to leave your hosting provider, they might make it very difficult for you to get your domain name released as well. They could, essentially, hold your domain name to ransom. Companies that offer a "free domain for life" will typically offer this "lifetime" domain name only as long as you stay with them for your hosting.

(2) You can also buy your domain name and hosting separately. This is a good option if you want to be sure you have control over your domain names. This requires a bit more fiddling, since you'll need to point your domain at your hosting manually, so if you're new to this it's a good idea to choose a domain name seller who offers good customer service!

One that we use, and that we highly recommend, is our own domain registrar. Regardless of whether you have your hosting with them or not, they offer extremely good customer service for their domains, and an easy-to-use administration panel. And, if you ask, they'll be able to explain the whole process to you.

If you have any technical questions about setting up your hosting, registering domain names or pointing your domain name to your hosting, generally the first place you should look is in the help pages for your chosen providers. Because the exact process differs from provider to provider, it's a little hard to provide exact instruction here on the forum. Plus your hosting provider and your domain name registrar will get asked these questions all the time, so they're bound to have an FAQ in there somewhere!

 

[laurux]

I personally use GoDaddy to buy my domains, because I like one great option they provide- When you register the domain, then there is a small link that says "Click here to set nameservers" and there I can put the data that my hosting company HostGator gave me when setting up account with them.
So next I go to my hosting account at HostGator and just find- addon domains in cpanel and add the domain that I just purchased with Godaddy!
U-la-la-la, my domain is already live! It takes me about 5 minutes altogether. And then about in another 5 minutes or less I can use Fantastico in cpanel and install Wordpress blog!

It is easy and fast! But I know how diffucult it was for me the first time, so if anyone having problems with this, I would love to help you :-)

 

[Aletta]

Yup, it is pretty easy. But you left out the part where you have to wait for the information to propagate. If you try to access your site through your domain name immediately after setting your nameservers you probably won't be able to get to it because the information hasn't spread through the internet yet. It can take between 2 and 24 hours for this to happen.

 

[saxjohnny]

I also use Godaddy but for Hosting. The cheapest regestrar I've found is NetFirms, they have a .ca and .com. The .ca is in canadian funds and they cost around $7. Godaddy sometimes has a sale for about that price but are usualy in the 10-11 dollar range.

 

[mitchpowell]

I've always had great service with 1and1 They cost $3.99 a year and throw in private registration for free.


Mitch

 

[wollowra]

If your after privacy on the who is info...you can use
dynadot.com very good domain name registrar.
Regards
Troy

 

[JasonDodd]

If you're doing the bum marketing thing there's also .co.cc domain names you can get for free.

 

[jasonwest]

For actually coming up with a domain name you may find this site very useful and it's free to use: http://www.easydomainfinder.com.

To buy domain names try http://www.gonetnames.com as they often send their users voucher codes.

 

[167168]

Thank you everybody for the great hints and ideas for domains. I personally have all domains at goDaddy for the ease of their domain management. I also have a hosting plan there, which is great for some applications - namely wordpress, joomla, etc.. If you need brute force php programming sites, hostgator is the best I have found.
Wishing you success.
Kim

 

[velightful]

I use GoDaddy for all of mine, as well. Don't host your domain though. It's easy to set up your DNS and they're usually really fast about it.

 

[CamMK2]

Yep Godaddy takes too long to resolve the nameservers. I usually use name.com. They have great service and also
provide coupons every month so a lot of time .com registration costs you around 7.99 and they provide free privacy
for the domain name. I aso use SiberDomains.com as well they are usually cheaper than Godaddy and sometimes have sale for $7 and change. and provide good service as well.

 

[jpastorizo]

CamMK2,

I have to diagree with you with regarding godaddy. I've been with them for more than a year and all my domains is with them except for 1 that is with Hostgator. Whenever I buy a new domain and add it on my Hostgator account, it takes a few minutes for the domain to point to my hosting after I change the name servers. But I guess it really depends on people's experiences. =)


Regards,
Renato

 

[hostdaidy]

Hi , i buy my site to hostdaidy.com , it is new and have competitive price about other register domain . And them i use for hosting a new site domain4hosting.com

Bye

 

[elogic0007]

Hi ...
I research domain names on godaddy then purchase from namecheap.com then host with hostgator, I have recently come across another call mattieblazehosting.com ... I will be trying them out over the next few weeks and give you all feedback...

 

[SteadyMike]

Hi,
DomainCheapsters.com for domains.

BustaName.com is good for domain name searches.

http://www.FarmvillePlayerSecrets.com

 

[TCWW44]

Since everyone is putting their two cents. I used to use Go Daddy but got exhausted with the hype and constant ad on purchases.

For affiliate marketing I wish I had started with IPower. They really cut out the non since and are a lot cheaper for full builds.
Great for mutible account management. They really get affiliate marketing.
http://tinyurl.com/yhfkcwx

 

[ryansjones]

I actually got my sites through Global Domains International. I've checked out other companies, but I do like the cheap hosting GDI offers and so I've built all 3 sites through them. I also used to have an account at Network Solutions, but someone scammed me by hacking into my paypal account and I ended up losing my site there.

 

[segnus]

Thanks, I will look there.
Sueg

 

[agraj2]

You can buy Domain name from Domain host provider for this you can search over the internet and choose right domain for your website.

 

[bowmagg]

Go to www.bowmagg.ws

 

[referee]

hello
I am using www.lonex.com
If you go to clickbank and sign up you can Buy it
with your account and pay yourself!
mark

 

[sowmika]

Hi,you can buy your domain name here ,in before i got my domain name with this http://www.tucktail.com/ site,here provide very best service with various free options.

 

[mikeantiga]

Affilorama now offers domain registration via http://www.affilorama.com/domains starting at $9.99. Domains purchased via this page include 1 mailbox, DNS management feature and more.