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When you run a large business, a small home business, or just want a personal website, you need two things: web hosting and a website address. Without web hosting, you can’t share your data online. Learn how to register a website address with these simple steps.
Registering a website address is easy, but choosing the right URL can be challenging. Many businesses struggle with this step. Common mistakes include URL errors, nonsensical phrases, overly long addresses, and other issues.
If you’re looking to register a website address, keep these tips in mind.
What Is a Website Address?
A domain name, or web address, is the string of text in your browser that directs you to a website. For example, www.google.com leads to the Google homepage. When registering a domain, ignore the “www” and “http.” These are protocols used by web browsers and don’t need to be included in the URL.
Without a website address, you’d have to know the server’s IP address, which is hard to remember. A website address makes it easy for people to find your site.
The Importance of a Good Website Address
A good URL is easy to find, memorable, and short. Avoid close names to existing popular sites or random strings of characters. For example:
- www.googles.com – Too similar to Google’s official domain.
- www.google.net – Competing with google.com for traffic.
- www.myawesomecleaningbusiness.com – Too long and potentially confusing.
- www.mldftyg.com – Hard to remember and type accurately.
- www.penisland.com – Unfortunate wordplay that misguides visitors.
Picking a Domain
Your top-level domain (TLD) impacts SEO and recognition. Most people choose .com, .org, or .net. You might also select a .gov, .info, or country code like .ca or .co.uk, depending on your needs. While .com is the most recognized, consider your business type when selecting the TLD.
Contacting a Registrar
After choosing a URL, contact a domain registrar to purchase it. Most website addresses cost around $25 per year. If you already have web hosting, ask your provider about domain registration. They may offer discounts or recommendations.
If you don’t have hosting, consider popular registrars like GoDaddy, Register.com, or Dotster. Be cautious about “parked” domains, where someone buys the URL you want and demands a higher price. If this happens, it’s often not worth paying.
Build a Website
Once you’ve registered your domain, start building your website. You can find online tutorials or hire a web design firm to create a professional site tailored to your needs.rk. Once your website is up and running, all you need to do is hand out your website address to potential fans and customers.