| More and more ordinary people want to own their | | | | versions, .info (which are very cheap for the first |
| own domain online. Not just businesses, but individuals | | | | year), or the newer options of .me or .name - being |
| want their own domain names - and most people | | | | newer it may be easier to get the name you want. |
| seem to want their own name. Although people | | | | If you don't live in the US look for your local country |
| often start with free blogs at places like blogger.com, | | | | domain name e.g. JohnSmith.ca or JohnSmith.ie |
| the next step is that they want to own their own | | | | In contrast if you have a name that can be |
| little piece of real estate, their own domain name. | | | | commonly spelt different ways e.g. Elisabeth |
| Having your own FaceBook page may be cool - but | | | | Elizabeth, Debra/Deborah then you may want to buy |
| owning your own site is much, much cooler. | | | | both variations (if they are available) and simply |
| So how do you go about buying a domain name for | | | | redirect one domain to the other. |
| either your own name or maybe your family's name? | | | | Buying Your Family's Domain Name |
| The first thing to do is to check whether the name is | | | | If you want to buy a name for family history |
| available. Do not log onto a domain registrar such as | | | | purposes or maybe a reunion then usually people will |
| GoDaddy to do this though - unless you are prepared | | | | look for a the name with - family tacked on the end |
| to buy right now - if you leave it and come back | | | | e.g. or JonesFamily.name Other options include adding |
| tomorrow you will find the domain has curiously just | | | | "The" as a prefix or hyphens - but use these with |
| got registered but is available for sale at special i.e. | | | | caution as they make it harder for people to |
| inflated price. Instead use a third party website and | | | | remember the name. Other options are suffixes of |
| see if your first option is available. Of course if you | | | | "clan","mob","reunion","tree" or even "background". |
| name is Smith it will be harder to get your domain | | | | Whatever reason you want to buy a domain name |
| name than it was for those of us with unusual | | | | remember that you don't actually buy a domain name |
| names. | | | | - you rent it by the year from the domain registrar. |
| Buying A Personal Domain Name | | | | If you forget to renew it you may lose the domain |
| If you can't get your first choice e.g. Try variations | | | | name. So make sure that your domain registrar has a |
| which include names you are known by e.g. or even | | | | valid email address for you which you check regularly |
| your locality If the domain is purely for vanity or | | | | - they will send you regular notices if your domain is |
| personal use there is no real need to stick with the | | | | due to expire. |
| familiar .com domain name. Try the .net or .org | | | | |