| The registration of a domain name is a simple | | | | Signing up with a domain registration service |
| process, even if you are doing it for the very first | | | | Go to a service like Godaddy, and register yourself. |
| time. The process for the first-time domain buyer | | | | This means you will have to enter your name and |
| can be broken down into the following steps: | | | | contact address, so that any domain names you buy |
| 1. You decide on the name you want to buy. | | | | are registered to you. You also have to enter your |
| 2. You sign up with a domain registration service (this | | | | credit card details. There is no cost to you for signing |
| is free). | | | | up, and you can get an overview of the process of |
| 3. You buy the domain you want using your credit | | | | registering a domain and read a FAQ about it before |
| card (this takes a few minutes). | | | | going any further. |
| 4. You leave the domain name parked with the | | | | Buy the domain you want |
| registrar (as an investment for later, or until you | | | | After you have registered, you can buy any domain |
| decide what to do with it); or you develop a web | | | | name you want, as long as it is still free. Note that |
| site for the domain. | | | | the .com name extension is still the most popular one, |
| Let's look at these steps in detail. | | | | though you could buy .net, .info, .org, .tv, or .biz |
| Deciding on your name | | | | versions of the name if the .com is taken. Expect to |
| You may know the domain name you want already, | | | | pay about $10 for the registration, and then the |
| and know it is still free - if you don't, just type the | | | | same every year you want to keep the name |
| name in a browser to see if it is already taken. If it | | | | registered. |
| isn't taken, then you can buy it. | | | | Park the name, or build a site |
| If you are not sure about the name you want, you | | | | Services like Godaddy allow you to simply 'park' the |
| need to do some brainstorming. Short, generic names | | | | domain with them. You own the domain, and no-one |
| are the most valuable, but they are in very short | | | | else can buy it, unless they make you an acceptable |
| supply now. If you need ideas, go to a domain name | | | | offer of course. Or, you can find a host and build a |
| registrar like Godaddy and use their tools to suggest | | | | website for the domain, which is the next step in |
| a free (unregistered) name based on the theme or | | | | making the domain a valuable asset. |
| subject you have in mind. | | | | |