Updated: March 4, 2024
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It is finally time to purchase a web domain for your business. Hopefully, you have done your homework and you have chosen the appropriate business name. You have also read our article on important things to know before purchasing a web domain. Welcome to the next step in getting your business up and running: purchasing a web domain.
This article is an overview of the whole process. If you would like an article that is more specific, check out our article on purchasing a web domain through GoDaddy. The article is a how-to with details on GoDaddy itself. We go through the process step by step until you have your domain.
Check availability of domain name
Before you buy a domain name, you need to know if the domain name you want is available. All domain name registrars will have a free tool to allow you to check the availability of the domain name. Cross your fingers and hope your business name is available as a domain name. If you miss out on the name you wanted, the domain name world is competitive and it happens to the best. You will now need to be that more creative to find a name that is available.
You might want to consider other options If your domain name is unavailable. You could decide to approach the current owner and see if they would be willing to sell. This method means you will end up paying a higher price for the name. You also need to be flexible. You don’t have to own the .com TLD, you can own another TLD which may serve you and your clients. There are over 1500 options, one of them may be a better replacement.
Confirm domain name price
The registrar’s availability checker has a price quote for the domain names available. The tool will usually give you a list of available options and prices to the side. Prices vary depending on the registrar you choose. We advise you to check at least three domain name registrars and the prices they offer.
Keep in mind, the price listed is for the current year. At checkout, you will see how much it renews for. There are domain name sellers whose initial price is lower than their competitors but the renewal fees are higher. You end up paying a higher amount in the long run with such domain name sellers.
Choose a domain registrar
The process of choosing a domain registrar is cumbersome. There are so many of them out there and each with their pros and cons. We have bought a lot of domain names but we can’t say that we have tested all of them. We have written about the ones who worked out for us and our experiences. It might seem too hectic to compare for a purchase decision that is a few dollars.
Eventually, something will come up. Having a domain name registrar who is supportive will save you from frustration. Transparency and trustworthiness are also virtues you have to be on the lookout for. A simple choice of a few dollars, if wrongly made, will cost you a lot more.
Signup
The process of signing up is easy. You have done it a dozen other times in other websites and web apps. It is how you create an account. Your account needs a unique email as identification. By unique, we mean no one has used it on that website before. You will also set a password with the email. After signing up, the registrar will verify the email belongs to you by sending a verification message to the email. So ensure you can access emails sent to the email you used.
Make sure you set a safe password. Hackers could transfer your domain name to another entity if they get access to your account. Your business will be in a whole pile of scat if that happens.
A better security precaution you should set up is a two factor authentication (2FA). A two factor authentication creates another step in the login process. When you login, the website will text a number to a device which you choose. You then enter the number texted as a second login. It protects you should someone get your email and password right. They will need the number which only you can access because it is on your phone. This precaution is a best practice. Whenever you are signing up and a website offers you the option of 2FA, take it.
No one is restricting you on the number of domain registrar websites in which you can sign up. If you have a shortlist, pick your top three domain registrars and sign up. Get a feel for how seamless the process is. Cut out the one who you feel is making it difficult for you to sign up. You need your credentials later on so store them safely. Once you have signed in, it is time to move into the next step.
Add to cart
You are almost there. The page should redirect you to the dashboard after successfully signing up or logging in. The dashboard is where everything will happen moving forward. You are now about to purchase your domain name. There is a search bar on your dashboard that will help you find the domain. Similar to what you did when you were confirming the availability of the domain name you want.
You will see the price and an option to add to cart. Click add to cart for the domain name you are interested in.
Go to cart
For a standard website, the cart icon is at the navigation bar at the top of the page. When you go to your shopping cart page, you will see the domain name with the payment details. It is at this point that any business worth its salt will try to upsell you a few things. No need to purchase anything you don’t need.
The website will prompt you to enter your payment details. It could be your credit/debit card credentials or your paypal. Enter the one you would prefer to pay with.
Complete your purchase
Click purchase or buy or checkout, the one down there or to the side of your screen. You know the one I’m talking about. It has a unique color. Yes, that one.
Once you have clicked on the button to confirm your order, you may now see a loading icon. It should take a short time for the success message to display. If the payment goes through successfully, you’ll redirect to a page showing that the order is complete.
Congratulations! You are the proud owner of a domain name.
The process you just read through is vendor neutral. These are the steps to expect with any vendor. Our goal was to provide you with enough information to navigate and work with any domain registrar out there. If you want something more specific, then you’ll love our articles on the process of buying a domain name with GoDaddy.
See you there.
