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

There are lots of domain hosting websites to choose from which makes it difficult to decide which one you will use for your personal website. However, there are quite a few domain registrars that take the lead over all the other domain registrars on the Internet. These domain websites also accept a variety of payments including PayPal, which is definitely convenient and safe.

Below is a list of some of the top domain registrars on the Internet today:

GoDaddy

This Company has been around for such a long time and own just about 30 percent of the market share. This website is reputable and trusted; it is a company that you know will do the right job and never scam you. During the first year of services, you will be charged around $11 a month. This amount seems quite affordable when you think of all that the domain registrars will do for you. They have handled over 34 million domain names in the past and present and will continue to handle more domain names in the future as more and more people build their own websites. GoDaddy offers so much more than just a domain name to the customers that they provide service to. GoDaddy also offers email accounts, web hosting, online security products and website builders. All of these important tools have been helping people do better in business which also enables them to have more success with their website and, in return, make more money with it as well.

Enom

Enom is a good website for domain hosting but it has a long way to go to catch up to GoDaddy in the market share. Enom only owns about 8 percent of the market share. Customers who use Enom will typically have to pay around $35 a month which is just too much to some people. This is the main reason why many people prefer other domain registrars that are much more affordable. That is not to say that Enom does not provide excellent service, because it surely does. Enom has handled only a little after 10 million domain names.

TuCows

The only way to get domain names from TuCows is by going to their affiliate sites. They only own about 6 percent of the market share. TuCows has handled close to 8 million domain names which is still a long way to go to even come close to catching up with GoDaddy. TuCows charges $15 a month for the first year of service. The cost of service is definitely cheaper than Enom but is still more expensive than GoDaddy. TuCows also sell other types of internet services on their website.

NetworkSolutions

NetworkSolutions offer domain service solutions like no other. They only have 5 percent of the market share and have handled over 6 million domain names. Much like Enom, they charge about $35 per month for the first year of service.

Schlund+Partner

Schlund are the leader of the most Europe domain registrar names. They currently own over 5 million of the Europe domain names. Their domain services are only for people with 1&1 internet which is why they only own about 4 percent of the market share. For the first year of services, you will be charged about $16 per month.

MelbourneIt

This site offers domain names in various spaces which includes com, org, biz, info and edu. As of right now, their market share is 3.5 percent. They’ve handled over 4 million domain names and charge $35 for service.

Wildwestdomains

Wildwestdomains only owns about 3 percent of the market share. They have handled over 3 million domain names. The website also offers wholesales during their first year to new customers who want to use their services.

Resellerclub

This website has some competitive prices which is why they are slowly gaining popularity. As of right now, they own 2.1 percent of the market. They have handled over 2.4 million domain names and offer wholesale prices for customers who are interested in signing up for several domain names with them.

Register

This website offers a support system that is quite amazing and is the best thing that they seem to have going for them. They only have 2 percent of the market share. They have handled 2.3 million domain names and charge nearly $35 for the first year of service.

Moniker

This website can help you choose the right name for your own website, even if it was already registered before. They also provide auctions on domains and a domain brokerage. They currently have 2.4 percent of the market share. They have handled almost 3 million domain names and charge $8 for the first year of service.

Conclusion

Bellow are the market share stats of the top domain registrars by Webhosting.info:

It can be hard choosing a domain registrar due to the expansive providers. However, these are just some of the domain hosts that are currently on the market. Amongst these ten different domain hosts, there are a bunch of other domain registrars as well.

Most people would probably advise you to go with GoDaddy because it has been around for such a long time and is also cheaper than all of the other websites. Affordability and dependability are two things that many people look for when they are putting their website in the hands of someone else. It is ultimately your decision as to which domain registrar you will go with. Just make sure that you make the right decision and choose one that will have a lot to offer you.

Related posts:

• November 26, 2008 – Finding a Domain for Your Business
• November 14, 2008 – Someone Registered My Domain – What Now?
• January 4, 2012 – Top Domain Registration Services
• July 18, 2011 – Domain Name Expansion Expected to Create Major Problems
• October 28, 2010 – The Difference Between Private and Business Domain Registrations
• July 28, 2010 – Knowing the Value of Your Domain
• June 18, 2010 – The Benefits of Buying an Existing Domain Name
• February 18, 2010 – The Cost of a Domain Name – Registering Your Domain
• October 23, 2009 – How to Incorporate a Domain into Your Blogger Account
• September 9, 2009 – Shielding Your Online Identity from Domain Name Thieves

There are many factors to consider during he registration process, leaving many people confused about the simplest options. Business and private domain registration are two prominent features offered by registrars during the checkout process. The following information can help you understand the difference between private domain registration and business domain registration.

What is Private Registration?

Private registration is a service offered by registrars, which keeps all of the information that you provide to the registrar private. If you do not purchase private registration, all of the information you give the registrar (except for payment details) will be available in a publicly viewable free database known as the WHOis database.  Private registration protects you from annoying and aggressive marketers that can find your phone number, address and email address within the WHOis database.

Private registration also protects you from lawyers, competitors and predators that could use your information for nefarious purposes. Considering the low cost of private registration,  (anywhere from $8-$10, depending on the registrar and whether or not an applicable coupon code can be found) it is easy to see why many people choose the option when registering their domain.

What is Business Registration?

In a sense, business registration is the complete opposite of private registration. Whereas private registration is meant to conceal your registration details, business registration is meant to to promote them. When you opt for business registration during checkout with your domain registrar, you’ll be placing your domain and the DNS records (registration information) into a business WHOis database that is picked up by various business directories online.

Business registration is another way to promote your business and build immediate exposure by putting yourself in an openly viewable database that can be viewed by your clients and competitors alike. Having your registration information available in the business database automatically instills trust in many people that want to know more about your company and your online business. Ideally, you should provide all business information when opting for business registration. For example, you would want your support line phone number to be the default phone number in the database, and you would want the address of your office to be the registration address.

Related posts:

• November 14, 2008 – Someone Registered My Domain – What Now?
• December 19, 2011 – Top 10 Domain Registrars
• January 27, 2011 – Little Known Truths about Domain Privacy
• September 9, 2009 – Shielding Your Online Identity from Domain Name Thieves
• March 13, 2009 – Backordering Domain Names
• February 26, 2009 – Understanding Domain Name Transfers
• November 26, 2008 – Finding a Domain for Your Business
• January 4, 2012 – Top Domain Registration Services
• December 9, 2011 – NameCheap vs. GoDaddy
• September 9, 2011 – Multiple domains – When Will This Benefit Your Endeavors?

When domain registration began, only one source offered this service, NSI. Despite the monopoly of selling top-level domain names, they remained in place until the late ‘90’s. Around this time there was an influx of domain registration companies that began to directly compete with NSI.

Currently, there are hundreds of domain registrars that are accredited by the International Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Over the years two types of domain registrars have emerged, domain registrar only services and web hosting providers.

Domain Registrar Only Services

Domain registrar only providers simply offer domain registration without any type of hosting package. There are still several available, but are seen as a dying breed. Clients want convenience so many find it a hassle to register the domain name at one site and find storage at another.

Domain registrar providers are more catered to advanced users. This method is often utilized so domain name registration and maintenance can be separated between storage space and domains. This is helpful for those that are building a large domain network.

Web Hosting Providers

On the other hand, web hosts offer the convenience of domain registration as well as hosting plans and packages in an all inclusive deal. Clients usually need both so this adds the extra ease of use function to their business model. There are many more web hosts than domain registrars.

Also, web host clients can search for available domain names directly from the hosting provider’s website. Once selected, within a day or two the domain name and hosting package are automatically setup; all in a few easy steps.

Redirection of Domains and Servers

Those that have an all inclusive plan may want to create a redirect to separate space from the domain name. This can be manually accomplished by redirecting domains to website content hosted servers. This is offered by web hosting providers so customer service can walk the client along, step-by-step.

Comparison Summary

Generally, domain registrars offer lower prices for each registered name. Also, depending on the need, separating domain name and server space can be beneficial. Those looking for an all inclusive, easy-to-use system should look toward web hosting providers. This will allow them to spend more time on developing content and creating the actual website.

As the internet expands and technology progresses, domain registrars will become a thing of the past. Web hosting providers are making the registration, creation and maintenance so easy that this is the most appealing option to most users. Due to an easy to use interface and excellent customer support, web hosting providers are at the forefront of website development technology.

Related posts:

• September 30, 2011 – Picking up Expired Domains – Not Always Fun, but There’s a Way
• July 18, 2011 – Domain Name Expansion Expected to Create Major Problems
• March 4, 2009 – Beware of Drop Catchers: Secure Your Domain
• November 26, 2008 – Finding a Domain for Your Business
• January 4, 2012 – Top Domain Registration Services
• December 19, 2011 – Top 10 Domain Registrars
• December 9, 2011 – NameCheap vs. GoDaddy
• September 2, 2011 – Domain Names – Do You Still Need One
• August 30, 2011 – Additional Branding Woes in the Domain Name Game
• August 12, 2011 – ICANN Defends New Domain Name Procedure

Shady Business Partners

More and more, we are seeing business professionals lose ownership of their domain name to a partner or co owner.  In many cases, the name is initially registered in one person’s name and with access to the account, the other partner redirects the domain to another website, a move that essentially puts the original company out of business.  More often than not, the co owner demands money or other type of collateral in exchange for the domain, using it as leverage to get something in return for something that could not be obtained in the context of a partnership.  Surprisingly enough, this is one of the most common examples of theft as domain names are stolen in this manner at a staggering rate of about 25%.

Disgruntled Employees

It is very rare for management figures to be involved in the domain name registration process.  This part is typically handled by a member of the IT department but may also be designated to lower level employees.  When this occurs, domain name theft becomes a much more probable crime.  Should an employee leave the company on bad terms, they just might take that valuable information with them.  This could lead to a nasty dispute between the ex employee and their former employer.  While there is a possibility of getting the domain back, retrieving it is quite difficult when the important registration details have been stolen.

Third-Party Partners

There have been cases involving developers supplying their own information when registering domain names for customers.  Some have even gone as far as to list the name of their company as the legitimate registrant of the customer’s trademark.  Should there ever be a billing dispute down the road, the developer then leverages the domain you thought was registered in your name to get their demands met.  More common is the vendor that registers a domain name on behalf of the customer only to go out of business, leaving the customer with no idea of how to renew the name or regain control of it in any form.  These are two very crucial examples because if the vendor folds or the developer becomes irrate, you could find yourself in the middle of web-based extortion and fighting an uphill battle for your online identity.

Domain theft is on the rise and occurring far more frequently than one would expect.   As an online business owner, you must keep in mind that your domain name is a piece of intellectual property and secure this vital intangible just as you would tangible assets.  Fortunately, this is pretty easy to do.  Do business with a reliable registrar, obtain the necessary security features, maintain control of your account details and you will be much less susceptible to domain theft.

Related posts:

• December 19, 2011 – Top 10 Domain Registrars
• October 28, 2010 – The Difference Between Private and Business Domain Registrations
• November 26, 2008 – Finding a Domain for Your Business
• November 14, 2008 – Someone Registered My Domain – What Now?
• January 4, 2012 – Top Domain Registration Services
• December 9, 2011 – NameCheap vs. GoDaddy
• September 9, 2011 – Multiple domains – When Will This Benefit Your Endeavors?
• August 10, 2011 – Ongoing Battle over the new .Music Domain Extension
• July 18, 2011 – Domain Name Expansion Expected to Create Major Problems
• June 10, 2011 – How to Prevent Domain Hijacking

The price for domain name registrations have dropped significantly, although there are still a few companies that will charge more than $20 per year if you are not careful.  Before signing up with the first registrar you run across, do a little research and find out what is available.  By doing so, you will know more about the domain game and what is acceptable and what is completely ridiculous.

Where to Look

The ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) is the body that accredits companies as official domain name registrars.  This organization makes a great resource as it lists the names for all accredited registrars on the website.  These companies are generally trust worthy as they are required to follow the rules and regulation set forth by the ICANN.  While this lists makes a good place to start, it will not provide you with any price comparisons on domain names.

Comparing Prices

You could easily spend hours searching through dozens of registrars looking for one that offers a decent price.  There are however, several companies well known for their affordable price on domains and associated services.  One name you are sure to run across is GoDaddy.com, a global leader in domain names.  GoDaddy has some of the best deals on the market, frequently offering bargains on relative extensions when making your initial purchase.  This registrar also allows you to transfer existing domains from another service, letting you to take advantage of a lower price and extend the current registration.  Aside from domain names, GoDaddy offers a number of services and options that you may find very useful.

Additionally, there are several comparison sites that will chart several domains so you can see what’s available.  If comparing multiple registrars is something you want to do, you will find  RegSelect.com as a great resource for comparative domain shopping.  The website is simple to navigate and allows you to view the cheapest or largest domain registrars.  RegSelct provides you with a full list of ICANN-accredited services and makes it easy to find one that meets your needs.  This service is free of charge and quite valuable as it gives you side-by-side comparisons of prices as well as features such as domain parking, forwarding and other services.

Shopzilla is known for its comparisons of various consumer products, but also allows you to find domain name registrars.  While the results are not as extensive as what you’ll find on RegSelect, the site still makes a good source and does pull up a few of the top companies.

Conclusion

Domain registrars are plentiful so there is no need to settle for steep prices.  A simple domain name will likely have implications on your business for as long as you own the website.  By spending a little time to find a reputable service, you can get a great bargain along with some extra perks that benefit your business.

Related posts:

• December 19, 2011 – Top 10 Domain Registrars
• July 18, 2011 – Domain Name Expansion Expected to Create Major Problems
• November 14, 2008 – Someone Registered My Domain – What Now?
• August 30, 2011 – Additional Branding Woes in the Domain Name Game
• August 10, 2011 – Ongoing Battle over the new .Music Domain Extension
• October 28, 2010 – The Difference Between Private and Business Domain Registrations
• July 28, 2010 – Knowing the Value of Your Domain
• June 18, 2010 – The Benefits of Buying an Existing Domain Name
• May 20, 2010 – A Comparison of Domain Registrars and Web Hosts
• September 9, 2009 – Shielding Your Online Identity from Domain Name Thieves

So what can you do if someone already registered the domain name you want?  You generally have two options: come up with another name or try to purchase the domain from the owner.  The results you get with the latter largely depends on why the domain name was registered.  Domain speculators, more commonly known as cyber squatters, often purchase domains for the sole purpose of selling them off to the highest bidder.  Believe it or not, some have made a lucrative business out of this practice.  Companies have paid hundreds to millions of dollars for hot domain names.  One example is Pizza.com which sold for $2.6 million this past April.

In some cases, domain names are purchased because a company or individual wants to establish a legitimate online business.  The cold hard facts are that if someone has registered your ideal domain name, you may have no other choice but to go with something else.  There are however, instances where a third option can be exercised.  United States courts have mandated that trademark holders are able to claim specific domains even if someone else registered the name first.  Assuming Toys R Us has their name trademarked for instance, if they run across a site using this for a domain name, they would be able to take legal action and seize control of it.  If you experience something similar, you may be able to claim your domain which will also depend on what type of name it is and how its is being used by current owner.

Because .com reigns supreme on the internet, there is a good chance that your preferred name may not be available with this extension.  In this instance, you might want to consider another top-level domain such as .org or .net.  While these extensions don’t have the familiarity of .com, they still make solid alternatives.  You also have other options as several alternative TLDs have been approved over the last few years.  If you have to choose another TLD, be sure to read the accompanying explanations so you know just who qualifies for what extension.

Another option you have for registering your domain is to use an extension that associates with your country.  Two of the most popular extensions are .de in Germany and .ca in Canada.  The country of Montserrat sells its .ms domain for around $50 per year while domains in the United States can be registered with the .us extension at no cost.  These domains are more likely to be available yet are not well known.  Furthermore, domains with a us. extension are also required to include city and state extensions such as mycompany.detroit.michigan.us.  If you are looking for a catchy name that is easy to remember, this obviously wouldn’t be the way to go.

To find out if your domain has already been purchased, visit whois.com or a major registrar and perform a search.  If its still available, don’t hesitate to secure it.

Related posts:

• February 26, 2009 – Understanding Domain Name Transfers
• October 31, 2008 – Do You Really Need a .Com Domain?
• December 19, 2011 – Top 10 Domain Registrars
• July 18, 2011 – Domain Name Expansion Expected to Create Major Problems
• October 28, 2010 – The Difference Between Private and Business Domain Registrations
• February 18, 2010 – The Cost of a Domain Name – Registering Your Domain
• July 7, 2009 – Choosing a Keyword-rich Domain for Your PPC Campaign
• November 26, 2008 – Finding a Domain for Your Business
• September 5, 2011 – Premium Domain Names: What Are They?
• September 7, 2010 – How to Pick the Right Domain Name Extension