{"id":159205,"date":"2024-01-29T15:53:49","date_gmt":"2024-01-29T15:53:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/?post_type=how-to&#038;p=159205"},"modified":"2024-01-29T15:58:00","modified_gmt":"2024-01-29T15:58:00","slug":"how-to-buy-a-domain-name-for-your-website","status":"publish","type":"how-to","link":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/hosting\/how-to-buy-a-domain-name","title":{"rendered":"How to Buy a Domain Name for Your Website"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Learning how to buy a domain name is an important part of launching your website. A relevant, memorable domain can <strong>drive traffic to your site <\/strong>and help build your brand.<\/p>\n<p>We&rsquo;ve put together this guide to explain <strong>everything you need to know about buying a domain name<\/strong>. We&rsquo;ll cover how to craft a memorable domain, where to purchase it, how to connect it to your site, and what to do if the perfect domain is already owned by someone else.<\/p>\n<div>\n    <section class=\"toc-sticky w-100 bg-white \">\n        <div class=\"toc-sticky__container container\">\n            <div class=\"toc-sticky__open d-flex align-items-end\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" aria-controls=\"multiCollapse1\" data-bs-target=\"#multiCollapse1\">\n                <button class=\"btn btn-primary collapse-action-btn p-1 rounded-circle\" type=\"button\">\n                    <i class=\"icon-chevron-up\"><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <span id=\"toc-current-title\" class=\"d-flex align-items-center\">\n                    Table of Contents\n                <\/span>\n                <span class=\"toc-main-title-permanent\">Table of Contents<\/span>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"collapse my-3\" id=\"multiCollapse1\">\n                <ol class=\"StepProgress\">\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item current\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"key_takeaways\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"key_takeaways\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">Key Takeaways<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"how_does_a_domain_name_work\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"how_does_a_domain_name_work\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">How Does a Domain Name Work?<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"how_to_choose_a_domain_name\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"how_to_choose_a_domain_name\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">How to Choose a Domain Name<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"how_to_buy_a_domain_name\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"how_to_buy_a_domain_name\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">How to Buy a Domain Name<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"how_much_does_a_domain_name_cost\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"how_much_does_a_domain_name_cost\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">How Much Does a Domain Name Cost?<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"what_to_do_if_your_domain_is_already_taken\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"what_to_do_if_your_domain_is_already_taken\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">What To Do If Your Domain Is Already Taken<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"transferring_your_domain_name\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"transferring_your_domain_name\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">Transferring Your Domain Name<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"summary_how_to_buy_a_domain_name\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"summary_how_to_buy_a_domain_name\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">Summary &ndash; How to Buy a Domain Name<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                                                        <li class=\"StepProgress-item\">\n                                                <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                            <a data-id=\"faqs\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"faqs\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">FAQs<\/a>\n                                                    <\/div>\n                                                <\/li>\n                                    <\/ol>\n                <div class=\"toc-sticky__container__disperse\"><\/div>\n                <div class=\"toc-sticky__btn-top justify-content-center\">\n                    <button class=\"btn btn-link d-flex align-items-center\" onclick=\"{btnTop()}\"><p>Show Full Guide<\/p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"\/wp-content\/plugins\/table-of-contents\/assets\/images\/arrow-up-circle.svg\" alt=\"arrow-up-circle\">\n                    <\/button>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n    <div class=\"toc-sticky-list\">\n        <div class=\"toc-sticky__container container\">\n            <div class=\"toc-sticky__open d-flex align-items-end\" data-bs-toggle=\"collapse\" aria-controls=\"multiCollapse2\" data-bs-target=\"#multiCollapse2\">\n                <button class=\"btn btn-primary collapse-action-btn p-1 rounded-circle\" type=\"button\">\n                    <i class=\"icon-chevron-up up\"><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <span id=\"toc-current-title\" class=\"d-flex align-items-center\">\n                    Table of Contents\n                <\/span>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"collapse my-3\" id=\"multiCollapse2\">\n                <ol class=\"StepProgress\">\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t                                                     <li class=\"StepProgress-item current \">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"key_takeaways\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"key_takeaways\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">Key Takeaways<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t                                                     <li class=\"StepProgress-item \">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"how_does_a_domain_name_work\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"how_does_a_domain_name_work\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">How Does a Domain Name Work?<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t                                                     <li class=\"StepProgress-item \">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"how_to_choose_a_domain_name\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"how_to_choose_a_domain_name\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">How to Choose a Domain Name<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t <span class=\"show_moretoc\">Show Full Guide<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"how_to_buy_a_domain_name\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"how_to_buy_a_domain_name\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">How to Buy a Domain Name<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"how_much_does_a_domain_name_cost\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"how_much_does_a_domain_name_cost\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">How Much Does a Domain Name Cost?<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"what_to_do_if_your_domain_is_already_taken\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"what_to_do_if_your_domain_is_already_taken\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">What To Do If Your Domain Is Already Taken<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"transferring_your_domain_name\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"transferring_your_domain_name\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">Transferring Your Domain Name<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"summary_how_to_buy_a_domain_name\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"summary_how_to_buy_a_domain_name\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">Summary &ndash; How to Buy a Domain Name<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t\t  \t\t\t\t\t                                                      <li class=\"StepProgress-item ms_hidetoc\">\n                                                    <div class=\"StepProgress-item__group\">\n                                <a data-id=\"faqs\" onclick='handleScrollToTitle(\"faqs\")' class=\"StepProgress-item__link\" data-level=\"2\">FAQs<\/a>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                                                    <\/li>\n                                    <\/ol>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"toc-sticky__container__disperse\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<script id=\"toc-js\">\n    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When the user clicks on the button, scroll to the top of the document\n    function btnTop() {\n        const pageLegend = document.querySelector('#multiCollapse1');\n        document.querySelector('html').classList.remove('overflow-hidden');\n        pageLegend.classList.remove('overflow-auto');\n        pageLegend.style.height = 'auto';\n        window.scrollTo({\n            top: 0,\n            behavior: 'smooth'\n        });\n    }\n\n    const handleScrollToTitle = (id) => {\n        const el = document.getElementById(id);\n        const headerHeightDifference = window.innerWidth < 992 ? -30 : -15;\n        window.scrollTo({\n            top: el.offsetTop - 60 - headerHeightDifference - 10,\n        });\n    }\n<\/script>\n\n<h2><span id=\"key_takeaways\">Key Takeaways<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>A <strong>domain name<\/strong> is a memorable address that visitors can enter in their browser to reach your website.<\/li>\n<li>When <strong>choosing a domain name<\/strong>, you should ensure it&rsquo;s unique, short, and describes your brand. You also need to check that it&rsquo;s available with the extension you want, such as &ldquo;.com&rdquo; or &ldquo;.org.&rdquo;<\/li>\n<li>You can <strong>purchase your domain<\/strong> from a web host or domain registrar for a period of up to ten years. Make sure to activate auto-renew so your domain registration doesn&rsquo;t lapse.<\/li>\n<li>A <strong>domain name typically costs $10 to $20 per year<\/strong>, although specialty domain names can cost much more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span id=\"how_does_a_domain_name_work\">How Does a Domain Name Work?<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#dddddd;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#f7f7f7;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/1327\/domain-name\"><strong>domain name<\/strong><\/a>&nbsp;is a <strong>unique name<\/strong> that visitors can use to access a website. Examples of domain names include &ldquo;techopedia.com&rdquo; and &ldquo;google.com.&rdquo;<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Behind the scenes, <strong>domain names are shortcuts to a website&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/2435\/internet-protocol-address-ip-address\">IP address<\/a><\/strong>. When a visitor types a domain name into their browser, the domain name is mapped to the website&rsquo;s IP address, and your browser takes you to the address.<\/p>\n<p>Domain names are a lot <strong>easier to remember than IP addresses<\/strong>. For example, it&rsquo;s easier to remember &ldquo;google.com&rdquo; than Google&rsquo;s numeric IP address, 142.251.46.238.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"how_to_choose_a_domain_name\">How to Choose a Domain Name<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Choosing a domain name<\/strong> is one of the most important decisions you&rsquo;ll make when setting up a new website. Your domain name is how customers will remember your site, and it&rsquo;s an important part of your overall brand identity.<\/p>\n<p>There are <strong>a few things to keep in mind<\/strong> when choosing a domain name.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Top-Level Domains<\/strong><\/h3>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#dddddd;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#f7f7f7;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">First, you need to decide what <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/1348\/top-level-domain-tld\"><strong>top-level domain<\/strong><\/a> you want for your website. A top-level domain, also known as a domain extension, is what appears after the period or dot in your domain name.<\/div><\/div>\n<p>The most popular top-level domain by some way is &ldquo;.com,&rdquo; short for &ldquo;commercial.&rdquo; <strong>Internet users expect most sites to have a &ldquo;.com&rdquo; extension<\/strong>, so this is a good choice for any personal or business website. Other common domain extensions include &ldquo;.org,&rdquo; &ldquo;.net,&rdquo; &ldquo;.xyz,&rdquo; &ldquo;.io,&rdquo; and &ldquo;.co.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>There are dozens of other top-level domains available, including options like &ldquo;.shop,&rdquo; &ldquo;.world,&rdquo; &ldquo;.live,&rdquo; and more. However, <strong>these extensions aren&rsquo;t as commonly used<\/strong>, and it may be difficult for visitors to remember them. You may want to avoid them unless they fit with your brand.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Tips for Picking a Domain Name<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The hard work of <strong>choosing a domain name<\/strong> comes when deciding what should precede your extension.&nbsp;Here are a few tips:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Your domain name should <strong>reflect your brand<\/strong> and <strong>be memorable<\/strong>. If your business has a unique name, consider using that as the domain name for your site.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Avoid generic domain names<\/strong> that could apply to any site or any business in your industry.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Keep your domain name as short<\/strong> as possible &ndash; under 15 characters is preferable. Avoid numbers and special symbols.<\/li>\n<li>Make sure your domain name is <strong>easy to understand and spell<\/strong>. It&rsquo;s a good idea to say your potential domain name to a friend and ask them to spell what they heard.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><strong>How to Check if Your Domain Name Is Available<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Once you&rsquo;ve decided on a name and a domain extension, <strong>check whether it&rsquo;s available<\/strong>. Most registrars, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/visit\/godaddy\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">GoDaddy<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/visit\/namecheap\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Namecheap<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/visit\/namecom\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Name.com<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/visit\/domaincom\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Domain.com<\/a>, allow you to search for domains at no cost. Website builders like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/visit\/wix\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Wix<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/visit\/squarespace\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Squarespace<\/a>, which offer domain names, also let you search for domains.<\/p>\n<p>You may find your preferred domain is already taken. In that case, <strong>consider picking an alternative top-level domain<\/strong> or slightly tweaking your name.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If you choose a different domain extension<\/strong>, be sure to check if there is a website using your name and a &ldquo;.com&rdquo; extension, as customers are likely to land there by accident. If it&rsquo;s a competitor&rsquo;s site or a website with offensive content, you may want to choose a different domain name altogether.<\/p>\n<p>Alternatively, you can try to <strong>purchase your preferred name<\/strong> from its current owner. We&rsquo;ll cover how to do that in more detail below.<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-note\" style=\"border-color:#dddddd;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#f7f7f7;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:3px;-moz-border-radius:3px;-webkit-border-radius:3px;\">\n<h2><span id=\"how_to_buy_a_domain_name\">How to Buy a Domain Name<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_159286\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-159286\" style=\"width: 1170px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-159286 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Buying-a-domain.jpg\" alt=\"Buying a domain at Domain.com\" width=\"1170\" height=\"786\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Buying-a-domain.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Buying-a-domain-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Buying-a-domain-1024x688.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Buying-a-domain-768x516.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-159286\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Buying a domain at Domain.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Once you&rsquo;ve settled on a domain name and know that it&rsquo;s available, <strong>you can purchase and connect it to your website<\/strong> by following these four steps.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Step 1. Choose a Registrar<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/2\/28135\/internet\/world-wide-web\/domain-name-registrars-an-essential-cog-in-the-website-industry\"><strong>Domain name registrars<\/strong><\/a> perform the essential tasks of assigning a domain name to your website and protecting your ownership after purchase.<\/p>\n<p>There are <strong>hundreds of registrars to choose from<\/strong>. Some of the biggest include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/visit\/godaddy\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">GoDaddy<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/visit\/namecheap\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Namecheap<\/a>, Tucows, Network Solutions, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/visit\/ionos\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">IONOS<\/a>. Website builders like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/visit\/wix\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Wix<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/visit\/squarespace\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Squarespace<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/visit\/weebly\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\">Weebly<\/a>, and Jimdo are also domain registrars, which means you can buy a domain directly through your site builder platform.<\/p>\n<p>All domain registrars have access to the same pool of available domain names, so you don&rsquo;t have to worry that your desired domain will be available at one registrar but not another. However, different registrars may offer different pricing for the same domain, so <strong>it&rsquo;s worth shopping around<\/strong> before you settle on a registrar.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, <strong>the platform that hosts your website may have a domain registrar business<\/strong>. You can often get discounted pricing when purchasing hosting and a domain from the same company.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Step 2. Purchase Your Domain<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Search for your domain through your chosen registrar and add it to your cart. At this point, you can <strong>choose how long you want to register it for<\/strong>. Most registrars offer plans ranging from a few months up to ten years.<\/p>\n<p>Generally, you&rsquo;ll get a <strong>lower annual price with a longer registration period<\/strong>. However, don&rsquo;t expect a refund if you stop using your domain or want to transfer it to another registrar in the future.<\/p>\n<p>At checkout, you&rsquo;re required to <strong>provide information for a public database<\/strong> managed by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/2425\/internet-corporation-for-assigned-names-and-numbers-icann\">Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN)<\/a>. This nonprofit organization coordinates domain names across registrars to ensure all purchased domains are unique.<\/p>\n<p>You must provide your <strong>name, address, email, and phone number<\/strong>. By default, this information is publicly visible in ICANN&rsquo;s database. However, many registrars allow you to hide your personal information for an additional fee.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Step 3. Turn on Auto-Renew<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>After you purchase your domain, it&rsquo;s a good idea to <strong>turn on auto-renew<\/strong>. This ensures your domain registration won&rsquo;t lapse if you forget about it, potentially enabling someone to buy it before you can renew your subscription.<\/p>\n<p><strong>All major registrars offer an auto-renew option<\/strong> that can be found in your account settings. If your credit card information changes, make sure to update it to keep auto-renew functioning.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Step 4. Connect Your Domain to Your Website<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><strong>To connect your new domain name to your website<\/strong>, you&rsquo;ll need to share information between your domain registrar and web host. The process will vary slightly depending on the specific providers you use, but we&rsquo;ll lay out the basic steps here.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In your <strong>domain registrar account<\/strong>, locate an option labeled &ldquo;DNS Management&rdquo; or &ldquo;Name Server Settings.&rdquo; You&rsquo;ll see two empty boxes labeled &ldquo;Nameserver 1&rdquo; and &ldquo;Nameserver 2&rdquo; or &ldquo;NS1&rdquo; and &ldquo;NS2,&rdquo; respectively.<\/li>\n<li>In your <strong>web hosting account<\/strong>, locate an option titled &ldquo;Domain&rdquo; or similar. You should see two <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/definition\/3186\/name-server\">nameserver<\/a> addresses, which will look like &ldquo;ns1.webhost.com&rdquo; and &ldquo;ns2.webhost.com.&rdquo; Copy these nameserver addresses into the respective nameserver address boxes in your domain registrar account and click &ldquo;Save.&rdquo;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It can take <strong>up to 48 hours<\/strong> for your domain to be connected to your website after completing these steps.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n<h2><span id=\"how_much_does_a_domain_name_cost\">How Much Does a Domain Name Cost?<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_159294\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-159294\" style=\"width: 580px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-159294\" src=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Domain.com-domain-pricing-1024x718.jpg\" alt=\"Domain.com domain pricing\" width=\"580\" height=\"407\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Domain.com-domain-pricing-1024x718.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Domain.com-domain-pricing-300x210.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Domain.com-domain-pricing-768x539.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Domain.com-domain-pricing-1200x842.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Domain.com-domain-pricing.jpg 1212w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-159294\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Domain.com domain pricing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>You can typically <strong>purchase a domain name for $10 to $20 per year<\/strong>. You may be able to get a domain name with a less popular top-level domain, such as &ldquo;.world,&rdquo; for less than $5 per year.<\/p>\n<p>Many web hosts and registrars also have <strong>attractive introductory offers<\/strong>. If you purchase hosting, for example, you may get a free domain for a year. Many registrars charge less than $1 for your first year of registration before increasing the price.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Popular domain names can be more expensive<\/strong>, however. For example, the domain name &ldquo;shopping.store&rdquo; costs $6,500 per year on GoDaddy as it&rsquo;s considered a premium domain. The domain &ldquo;shopping.online&rdquo; costs $16,250 per year.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"what_to_do_if_your_domain_is_already_taken\">What To Do If Your Domain Is Already Taken<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If your perfect domain name has already been taken, there&rsquo;s still hope. You may be able to <strong>buy the domain directly from its current owner<\/strong>. This requires negotiation and can get expensive. You should be prepared to pay a premium for a domain that&rsquo;s already taken.<\/p>\n<p>To get started, you first need to <strong>determine who owns the domain<\/strong> using the <a href=\"https:\/\/lookup.icann.org\/en\" target=\"_blank\">ICANN database<\/a> or information on the website associated with the domain. You can then reach out directly with an offer, or you can hire a broker like Sedo or Name Experts to mediate a deal.<\/p>\n<p>Always <a href=\"https:\/\/dfpi.ca.gov\/escrow-law\/online-escrow-companies\/10-tips-to-avoid-online-escrow-fraud\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>use an escrow service<\/strong><\/a> to pay for a domain you purchase through negotiation, as it&rsquo;s risky to send funds directly to someone on the internet.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"transferring_your_domain_name\">Transferring Your Domain Name<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You can also <strong>transfer your domain name<\/strong> to a different domain registrar if you want. You might do this if another registrar offers better pricing or because a website builder you&rsquo;re using enables you to host your website and domain on the same platform.<\/p>\n<p>Most registrars will <strong>transfer your domain for free<\/strong>. However, you typically won&rsquo;t receive a refund from your current registrar if you transfer your domain before your plan is up. See our guide more advice on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/hosting\/how-to-migrate-a-website\">how to migrate a website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"summary_how_to_buy_a_domain_name\">Summary &ndash; How to Buy a Domain Name<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Choosing the right domain name is essential<\/strong> for driving traffic to your website. It&rsquo;s important to choose a domain that&rsquo;s memorable, easy to type, and descriptive of your brand. Once you pick out a domain and confirm its availability, you can purchase it from a registrar and connect it to your website.<\/p>\n<p><em>Check out our guide to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/hosting\/best-website-hosting\">best website hosting<\/a> to get started building your site today.<\/em><\/p>\n<h2><span id=\"faqs\">FAQs<\/span><\/h2>\n<div class=\"man_faq_sec\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\"><section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \"><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">Can I buy a domain name permanently?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">There&rsquo;s no way to permanently register a domain name. The longest registration period available for any domain is ten years. However, you can turn on auto-renew to make sure that your domain registration never lapses.<\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \"><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">Can I keep my domain name if I switch web hosts?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">You can keep your domain name if you want to switch web hosts. If you purchased your domain from a third-party registrar, you just need to update your domain so it&rsquo;s associated with your new hosting service. If you purchased your domain from your web host, you can transfer it to your new host or a third-party registrar at no cost.<\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<section class=\"ms_faq ms_card \"><div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\"><div class=\"accordionButton\"><h3 itemprop=\"name\">Can I get a free domain name?<\/h3> <\/div>\n<div class=\"accordionContent\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\" style=\"display:none;\"><p itemprop=\"text\">Many web hosts offer a free domain name for one year when you purchase a hosting plan. Remember to turn on auto-renew in your account settings so your registration doesn&rsquo;t lapse after your first year.<\/p>\r\n                <\/div><\/div><\/section>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learning how to buy a domain name is an important part of launching your website. A relevant, memorable domain can drive traffic to your site and help build your brand. We&rsquo;ve put together this guide to explain everything you need to know about buying a domain name. We&rsquo;ll cover how to craft a memorable domain, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":286442,"featured_media":159677,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1524],"class_list":["post-159205","how-to","type-how-to","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-hosting"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.8 (Yoast SEO v23.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How To Buy a Domain Name \u2013 Complete Guide for New Websites<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"We explain how to buy a domain name for your new website and walk you through the process in a few easy steps.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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