How to register a domain name with 4 easy steps

What is a domain name?

A domain name is your website’s address, acting as a recognizable string of characters to chauffeur users to your site. It usually comprises a name, followed by an extension, such as .com, .net, or .org. For example, fortune.com is our domain name. It both establishes our online identity and makes it accessible to visitors from all over.

Steps on how to register a domain name for your website 

Step 1: Choose a domain name and domain name registrar 

Your domain name should be easy to remember, relevant to your brand, and free of any trademarks. 

Seth Geftic, vice president of product marketing at Huntress Labs, cautions against using numbers and hyphens. “Numbers and hyphens can be confusing and are often misremembered. They can complicate the domain name, making it harder for users to type it correctly.”

Tom Leach, director at Norsu Media Group, says to “use Wayback Machine (the internet archives) to check if the domain was used previously—and ensure it wasn’t used for adult or nefarious purposes.” This could potentially damage your site’s reputation before it’s even off the ground.

Once you have a list of potential names, search for them at a domain name registrar, such as GoDaddy or Namecheap.

Step 2: Purchase and register the domain name 

Now that you’ve narrowed down your domain name and registrar, it’s time to purchase and register your domain name. Search for the name on your chosen registrar’s website to see if it’s available. If it isn’t, most registrars will suggest alternatives. 

After adding the name to your cart, you’ll have to provide your contact details. Some registrars provide free privacy while others require you to pay for WHOIS privacy. This is a database that lists your information publicly, so should someone need to reach out to you about your website and its contents, they can get in touch. 

Complete your purchase by selecting how long you want to register your name for as well as any additional services, then proceed to make your payment. There are other web hosting costs you should make yourself aware of)

Step 3: Verify your domain ownership 

Registrars will send you an email asking you to confirm your ownership by clicking on a link sent to your email address. This complies with ICANN regulations and allows you to have control over your domain. Failure to verify your ownership may result in the suspension of your registration.

Step 4: Connect your domain to your website 

The most time-consuming part of registering a domain name is connecting it to your website. It looks complicated, but the process itself is still relatively simple. From the dashboard of your registrar, access your domain name server (DNS) settings. You’ll need to input the nameservers provided by your hosting service.

If you can’t locate your nameservers through your web host, contact them via email or chat to point you in the right direction as this is the only way to get your domain name tied to your website. All web hosts offer walkthroughs of where to find this. 

For example, if you’re using DreamHost, your DNS settings might look like this:

Once you’ve input your nameservers into your DNS settings, it takes a few hours to propagate. 

The takeaway 

By registering a domain name, you’ve taken the first step to building your online presence. It’s simple to do—pick a memorable and relevant domain name, buy it from a domain registrar, and then configure your DNS settings. After that, verify your ownership, and you’re good to go.