It looks so simple when you see that you can get a web host and your name registered at the same time. Many web hosting companies offer to register your domain name for you when you do business with their company. It might sound like a good idea at the time because of the convenience of getting everything done at once but is it really?

Own Your Domain Name, No Questions Asked

While convenience is a good thing, you should register your domain name on your own. When you register your own name, it is a clear-cut case of who owns the name. The reason why this is important is that when you get a web hosting company to register your domain name for you, you have not actually seen the registration form so you do not know whose name is on it. Sure, your domain name is registered, but is it registered to you? There might be strings attached to the domain name and it can become fuzzy over who owns the name if your domain name is not registered by you personally. At the least, you could get a hassle if you decide to leave the web hosting company for another web host.

Registering a Domain Name is Easy

Registering your own domain name is essential to avoiding any hassle over who has the registration rights to your domain name. Besides, it is easy to register your own domain name. You can do the entire process online. The longest thing about it will be checking to make sure that the name is not already taken. If the name is taken, you will have to spend time coming up with alternatives. The smartest thing to do would be to have a list of desired names and alternatives before you try to register your domain name.

Find a Reputable Registrar

All you need to do is find a reputable Domain Name Registrar and start the process with them. There are many registrars so you will be able to choose a registrar that has been around for a while so you know the company will stay in business for as long as you need them. After checking your domain name by doing a “whois” search and finding that it is now owned by anyone, you can proceed with the online domain name registration. Registering a domain name is inexpensive, ranging in price from $1 to $35 for a year from the expensive registrars. You will have to choose how many years that you want to have the domain name registered to you and you can pay for the entire time at once or pay the fee every year.

You can register a name before you have a web site and park it meaning it is on hold for you. The registration takes about 24 hours before your site shows up online. You will probably have to pay for your domain name registration with a credit card.

When you register your domain name, you can be sure that the content and domain name is completely under your control.