What is a Domain Registrar?

Before we dive into the companies that we actually suggest you take your business to, we feel we should first explain why registering your domain name is important. To begin with, not registering the domain of your choosing simply isn’t an option. Do you ever wonder how sites like Yahoo! manage to acquire each and every Yahoo! subdirectory, including the main yahoo.com domain name? To put things simply, Yahoo registered each of these points with a certified registrar, solidifying their claim to them.

The idea is relatively simple: When a child is born, the parents saddle the youngster with a name, a name that identifies the individual and also makes it easier for the government to track the little bundle of joy. Perhaps the latter is a bit of paranoia, but it’s much the same idea with the birth of a website. When creating a new website, you must assign a name to it that your viewers can access. And just as new parents submit a name to the State, so will you submit your site’s name to a certified registrar. These are bodies that legally bind and legitimize your claim to that domain name, preventing any other user from obtaining it without your permission—and typically a hefty check! You see, unlike babies, websites cannot have the same name. Otherwise, there’d be no way to access the content your after. This requires places like domain registrars to keep a running tab on all the Web’s domain names, recording who owns what, and what has already been taken.

If you’re still somewhat confused, think about a domain name in terms of real estate. When constructing a new home, you typically must first purchase the land the house will sit on. A domain name is the same concept as that land underneath your foundation. Without putting your name to it, others will have on idea where to go to find your content—or, in this metaphor, your house.

The 5 largest domain name registrars in the world, according to WebHosting.Info, are GoDaddy, Enom, Tucows, Network Solutions, and Schlund+Partner. Check out their numbers below.

All ICANN-Accredited Domain Registrars can be found at http://www.icann.org/en/registrars/accredited-list.html. But lets have a closer look at some of the most popular domain name registrars in the United States.

GoDaddy

http://www.godaddy.com/domains/search.aspx.

GoDaddy is a web host and domain registrar that has been around for almost literally ages. If you haven’t heard of them, or seen their expensively scandalous Super Bowl averts, we’d very much like to know what rock you’ve been hiding under. Essentially, if you’re looking for the most trusted and secure way to register a domain, GoDaddy is your best ticket. The site has suffered some recent controversy concerning the authorship of SOPA, but on the whole, GoDaddy benefits from a superb track record, as well as an expanse of services designed to benefit you and your site. If you’d also like to host with the provider, you’ll be granted discounts as far as domain registration. No to mention the company comes loaded with a heap of additional tools and services that help you in the creation and modification of a new website. All in all, GoDaddy is trusted, large, and budget-oriented.

Enom

http://www.enom.com/domainsearch/default.aspx.

We hesitate to mention Enom, but then again, we just didn’t feel right leaving it out. All in all, this domain registrar handles something like 10 million unique domain names, which is staggering to think about. However, they can only claim about 8 per-cent of the total market share. This is likely because of their slightly cheaper rates (about $35 a month). That being said, if you choose to register your domain name with Enom, you’re guaranteed one of the most secure and impressively solid performances in the business. In essence, you’ll get what you pay for and then some, though the payments will certainly be forthcoming.

Register.com

http://www.register.com/register-domain-names.rcmx.

All together, this registrar has handled something like 2.3 million domains and counting. Their market share is somewhat limited (only about 2 per-cent) but what gets our goat about Register.com is their simply stellar support network. If you have any complications or questions, you can rest assured the provider will work with you to find a solution. The price is on-par with Enom, but if you’re looking for an unbeatably secure and steadfast way to register your choice domain name, there’s no better option.

Moniker

http://www.moniker.com/domainname.jsp.

Have you picked the perfect domain name, only to find the listing taken by some lowly name squatter? If so, you may choose to invest in Moniker. The company is not only a domain registrar, but also a domain broker. This means they’ll work with whomever has your domain name to procure the listing, guaranteeing you the market and Web presence you’ve been looking for. Obviously, their rates will be higher for such services, but if you have to have that one domain name, there’s no better solution.

Domain Name Search

Finding a great domain name is an important part of every web project and the process of registering such domain name is getting harder and harder as many of them are already taken.

Luckily there are dozens of domain search tools that will save your time during this process. One of them is pcnames.com, an online domain search tool that helps finding a domain name in a more organized way. The search results displayed as-you-type, showing the availability of the most popular domain extensions. With the instant domain search feature, pcnames.com makes searching for domain names a breeze. There is no more waiting time on the next page to load to display your results.

Related posts:

• December 19, 2011 – Top 10 Domain Registrars
• March 4, 2009 – Beware of Drop Catchers: Secure Your Domain
• December 18, 2011 – How to Find Web Hosting Service Provider
• December 9, 2011 – NameCheap vs. GoDaddy
• December 4, 2011 – The Truth about Unlimited Webhosting
• September 30, 2011 – What the New User can Learn from the GoDaddy Account Hack
• August 30, 2011 – Top WordPress Hosting Sites Announced
• April 29, 2011 – Web Hosting Companies Censor Websites
• April 28, 2011 – A Review of the Most Affordable Windows Web Hosting Providers
• April 22, 2011 – Becoming a Domain Speculator with No Experience

Conducting Research

The first step in becoming a domain speculator is to conduct the necessary research, and the simplest and cheapest way to do this is to become a member of various Webmaster/Web hosting forums. These forums not only allow you to gather the pre-existing tips provided by experienced webmasters and domain speculators, they also allow you to interact with these individuals on a personal basis, giving you the ability to receive personalized answers to all of your curiosities. Fortunately, all of the information needed to learn how to judge the value of domain names can be found online for free. Alternatively, if your research endeavors are more time intensive and you would rather not expend the effort to find information from various sources, you could purchase a comprehensive guide or training system to expedite the process.

The Basics of Domain Name Value

There are three main factors to consider when judging the value of a domain name – memorability, profitability, and search engine optimization. First of all, the domain name should be memorable enough that site visitors will be able to accurately describe it to their friends or family, thereby increasing the daily traffic levels through word-of-mouth. In addition, the domain name should preferably pertain to a niche or keyword that is profitable, as these websites tend to sell for a higher price tag. Finally, domain names should contain search engine optimization attributes, such as exact match keywords, which will allow the site to instantly begin generating search engine traffic with minimal effort on behalf of the site owner. Websites that are recently expired and still have backlinks, page rank, and other search engine attributes are considered to be most valuable.

Buying and Selling Domain Names

There are three main ways to begin purchasing domain names – domain auctions, registering domains with registrars, and purchasing recently expired domains. While recently expired domains are usually the most profitable, they also tend to cost more than those that are registered with the registrar. Domain registrars offer popular TLDs (top level domains) such as .com, .org, and.net for only $10 per year of registration. Domain auction sites give you the most diverse selection, and most auctions include not only the domain name, but also attached website that contains pre-developed content and design.

Related posts:

• September 23, 2009 – How Search Engine-Friendly is Your Domain Name?
• September 30, 2011 – Picking up Expired Domains – Not Always Fun, but There’s a Way
• September 2, 2011 – Domain Names – Do You Still Need One
• January 19, 2011 – How to Find the Cheapest Domain Names
• September 18, 2010 – .CO Domains – Frequently Asked Questions
• September 8, 2010 – How to Track Search Engine Optimization Progress
• September 7, 2010 – How to Pick the Right Domain Name Extension
• June 25, 2010 – Using FreshDrop.net to Find Domain Names That Already Have a High PR
• April 23, 2010 – SERPs and Backlinks – The Keys to SEO
• February 18, 2010 – The Cost of a Domain Name – Registering Your Domain

Find a Suitable Web Host

The first step in changing web hosting providers is finding a hosting company that offers a selection of services that can accommodate your needs and requirements as a webmaster. It is especially important to review the terms and conditions governing the hosting plan in relation to transferring domain names from one web host to another, as some hosts charge domain transferring fees. If you are unhappy with your current web host for a particular reason, it is best to inquire with any prospective host to avoid similar problems in the future.

Create Backups

After narrowing your list of prospective web hosts, you’ll need to gain a thorough understanding of the hosting transfer process. During the hosting transfer, the data from one web server is transferred to another, thereby causing the websites to be hosted on the new hosting provider’s servers. However, it is possible for data loss to occur during the transfer process if server backups are not created beforehand. Fortunately, within the control panel of your web hosting account you should be able to complete server backups on a scheduled basis, which can quickly and easily be restored within the control panel of your new hosting account.

Transferring Server Data

After you’ve found a suitable web host and created backups of your websites, there are two ways to transfer the server data to your new hosting account – you can utilize FTP (file transfer protocol) client’s to securely transfer the files from one server to another directly, or you can restore the server backup file that you exported from your previous hosting plan. Both methods are equally effective and ultimately accomplish the same goal, however the FTP method may need to be used if the backup module of the control panel offered within the new hosting account is not compatible with your created backup.

Adjusting Domain Registrar Account Settings

After you’ve restored or transferred the data to your new web server, the final step is to adjust the domain settings for each of your websites within the registrar account. To do this you’ll simply need to point the domains to the DNS (domain name system) servers of your new hosting provider, which will be given to you within the control panel of your new hosting plan when you attempt to associate a domain with the account. If your new hosting account includes two IP addresses and allows you to install DNS software on the server root, you may even be able to create your own custom name servers to be used for your websites.

Related posts:

• January 20, 2012 – Data Backup and Recovery Solutions
• January 4, 2012 – Top Domain Registration Services
• July 18, 2011 – Editing DNS Information in cPanel
• June 6, 2011 – Surviving Website Downtime
• April 25, 2011 – Bux4Real Attacked by Hackers
• April 22, 2011 – Becoming a Domain Speculator with No Experience
• April 15, 2011 – Understanding the Difference Between a Primary and Secondary DNS Server
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Dot TK

Dot TK is a domain registrar that offers free domain names in the .TK extension.  Millions of users have being using this TLD since 2001, which makes it more recognizable and powerful than you might think.  There are some advantages to having a .TK domain name, especially if you plan to use it with a short secondary domain.  In addition, it can be used with any type of website you may have, whether it is a blog or e-commerce site.

.CO.NR Free Domain Name

This is another service that offers free domains with a variety of extra features to boot.  Your name comes with the .CO.NR extension, a project designed to help those who are strapped for cash obtain a unqiue domain that can establish a degree independence similar to premium domains.  Some of the features that come along with the service include domain forwarding, URL cloaking and meta tag support, all of which are free with your domain name.

Afraid.org

Afraid.org offers a host of free services.  On the menu are domain names with the .afraid.org extension and several more, sub-domains, URL cloaking, dynamic DNS support and full DNS management.  In order to reap the benefits of Afraid.org, you must first sign up as a member, which can be done for free.  There are also paid packages that provide a greater level of flexibility as more capacity is available to you.

UNI.CC Network

Here you have one of the most popular free domain name services available today. UNI.CC Network allows you to build your web presence with the unique .uni.cc extension.  The service provides a variety of domain registration tools along with a DNS Setup Wizard that makes managing your identity a breeze.  This service is provided at absolutely no cost.  All you are required to do is keep your contact information up to date and abide by the site’s terms and conditions.

Fadlan

Fadlan is another great site that offers a free URL redirection and DNS service.  Domain forwarding is free, so you get a domain such as mysite.fadlan.com as well as path forwarding and three types of directs.  Because it also specializes in free DNS services, if you have dedicated IP address, you have the ability to run your own web server on a sub-domain.  Fadlan isn’t the best looking site, but it has come become very popular and offers a few services you may find useful.

Related posts:

• January 4, 2012 – Top Domain Registration Services
• August 10, 2011 – Ongoing Battle over the new .Music Domain Extension
• April 22, 2011 – Becoming a Domain Speculator with No Experience
• March 7, 2011 – A Step-By-Step Guide for Changing Web Hosts
• September 18, 2010 – .CO Domains – Frequently Asked Questions
• August 26, 2010 – .Co Domains and Shortened URLS
• August 17, 2010 – .CO Domains Gaining Support and Momentum
• August 5, 2010 – .CO Domains Gaining Momentum and Google Support
• July 5, 2010 – Judging the Value of Domain Names
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How Names are Lost

As you probably know, domain names can easily be registered with a service such as GoDaddy.  Although they are in great demand, a domain name can be purchased for around $10 a per.  You generally have the option of registering the name for anywhere from one to ten years.  Nearing the end of the registration period, the registrar sends a renewal notice to the domain owner via email.  If the owner doesn’t respond in a certain amount of time, the name is eventually placed back on the market and can then be purchased by anyone else.  Thousands of domains become available each day because the owners fail to renew them.  Others lose their domain names simply because they didn’t realize they were up for renewal.

Domain Registrars Aid the Process

Per the rules set forth by the ICANN, domain registrars are required to notify the domain owner that their name will be removed from the registry 45 days after the expiration date.  Once the name is dropped, the owner generally has a 30 day grace period to reclaim their domain.  After the time has expired, there is another five day period before the name is dropped entirely and goes back on the market.

Over the past few years, domain registrars have used an auction to sell expired domain names.  These auctions bypass the original process by making domains available within a thirty day period.  GoDaddy is one service that starts an auction before the domain names have officially expired.  The company does however, warn bidders that the domain owner still has the option to renew their name.

Domain service providers that aid in the registering of expired domain names offer tools to make these products much easier to find.  For example, many provide frequent updates on available names, recommend auction services, customized searches and tools for those looking to snag expired domain names.  Some offer free software to help you dig deeper for domains on the brink of expiration.

Get Proactive

Drop catching will continue to be a widely used practice as good domains become more scarce and people look to leach traffic from established links.  You can secure the identity of your website and business by knowing the status of your domain name.  The best way to do this is staying aware of the expiration date or selecting an auto-renewal option.  Relying on a registrar presents the risk of never receiving the notification due to a tricky spam filter and losing everything you worked so hard to build.

Related posts:

• December 9, 2011 – NameCheap vs. GoDaddy
• January 4, 2012 – Top Domain Registration Services
• December 19, 2011 – Top 10 Domain Registrars
• August 10, 2011 – Ongoing Battle over the new .Music Domain Extension
• July 18, 2011 – Domain Name Expansion Expected to Create Major Problems
• April 22, 2011 – Becoming a Domain Speculator with No Experience
• February 15, 2011 – Useful Tips for Buying Multiple Domain Names
• May 20, 2010 – A Comparison of Domain Registrars and Web Hosts
• September 18, 2009 – Acquiring the Domain You Want Through Back-Ordering
• February 26, 2009 – Understanding Domain Name Transfers