| Registering a domain name is seen by many | | | | both dashes and numbers. |
| newcomers to the web as a really complicated, highly | | | | Lets say, that you find is available. |
| technical task that the average mortal cannot do. | | | | So you move to the next page. Generally this asks |
| Nothing could be further from the truth. | | | | you for the details of the person that is going to be |
| You only need to bits of information on hand when | | | | the owner of this domain. Generally this will be your |
| you register your domain name: | | | | name, address, phone number etc. |
| - What you are going to call this domain | | | | Next the system will ask you for how long you want |
| - and your web hosting DNS values, these are give | | | | to register your domain for, the minimum period is 1 |
| to you by your hosting company and look something | | | | year and the maximum I have seen is 10 years. Most |
| like: | | | | people go for the 1 year period, only because it |
| and | | | | costs the least. |
| They are almost always provided to you in pairs. | | | | On the screen and the page, you will see a link that |
| So first go to a reputable domain name registrar. | | | | says: |
| I suggest using either or | | | | "If hosting your site elsewhere, please click here to |
| These may not be the cheapest registrars currently | | | | set name servers" |
| on the web but their service, and reliability are | | | | Please set your name servers now (using the name |
| incredible. I generally work on the principle "You get | | | | server values given to you by your hosting |
| what you pay for", and never a truer thing can be | | | | company), otherwise if you have to come back and |
| said about domain name registrars. | | | | change the default name servers at a later date. the |
| OK, lets walk through the process of registering a | | | | problem is that it generally takes a long time for the |
| domain name: | | | | name servers to propagate around the net and you |
| Using your web browser, visit a domain registrar. | | | | could wait several days for this to happen. But if you |
| Usually on the front page there is a search option to | | | | set them now, they should propagate within a few |
| check if the domain name you want is available. | | | | minutes, maybe half an hour at the most. |
| Lets say for example, that you are trying to register | | | | Once you have keyed in *both* name servers |
| a domain name for your Dog Training website. | | | | values, you then move onto the payment screen |
| So you type in press enter, and it comes back that | | | | where you key in your credit card details. |
| that domain is already take. | | | | Here you may see an option called "Auto Renew". |
| Now, I would suggest that you place prefix and or | | | | Check this box! |
| suffix words to the domain name you are after. | | | | This allows you to renew the domain automatically |
| So you could You could also try placing dashes "-" in | | | | when its term expires. Any good domain name |
| your domain names to separate words. | | | | registrar should send you an multiple emails before |
| Admittedly, there are a group of search engine | | | | the domain is set to expire, and if you take no action |
| optimization people who currently believe that the | | | | on these emails, then the domain will get |
| search engines are now starting to penalize sites with | | | | automatically renewed. |
| 'dashes" in them. | | | | If you don't set this "Auto renew" option, then |
| Another thing, sites that do not contain dashes and | | | | system will let the domain lapse and it becomes |
| do not have any numbers in them, generally seller for | | | | available for some else to purchase. |
| a higher price. | | | | Once you press the "submit" button, it will take just |
| So if you think you might sell your domain sometime | | | | a few seconds for that new domain name to be |
| in the future, then it may be advisable to avoid using | | | | yours. |