Launching a Successful Blog with a Great Domain Name

Have you finally come to terms with developing your own website? In the past, creating websites took a lot of effort and technical knowledge. Programmers had to work day and night just to make a structure to build the layout. Maintaining, updating was a hassle on its own; The design was crappy; it was challenging even to match the site with your brand…

A lot has happened since then. Yes, the codes are still there, some new ones joined with the previous ones. However, nowdays there is Content Management Systems (CMS) and Website Framework Software. With the CMS, even a person with zero coding language can develop a fascinating website. Everything is drag and drop.

When building your own website, you should spend some time thinking about the purpose of your blog and how you are going to do it.

You would need three things for starting your website journey:

Steps to create a website

One needs only 3 essential elements to create a website.

1. A Registered Domain.
2. A Web Host.
3. A Web Developer or a Websites’ builders platform.

The first and foremost element is the domain address. The address that people will type in to visit your website. Now, you can’t just choose a name for your website or register one name by yourself, only a domain registrar with the help of a web registry can do such.

There are all kinds of domain registrars, some are overwhelming, some average, some are there to just take your money away and provide meagre support – so the best thing to do is proper research before choosing a domain registrar.

How Does Domain Registration work?

The primary Domains always ends with “.com”, “.net” or “.org” – these are known as top-level domains. Secondary level domain, which is often the name you selected, dependent on the TLD. Now, these TLD’s are managed by the “registries.” Note registry and registrar are not the same. The registries give the task of distribution and registration to the registrars.

So, the registrant, you, who has to have a domain name for the website, needs to register the website through the registrar. On top of all these sits the regulatory body, ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). That is, the registrars are mediatory in the whole setup.

Qualities of the Best Domain Registrar

1. They do not put Hidden or Extra Charges

Just like other intermediaries, domain registrars often find new ways to charge the registrant extra money. The registrar already makes a good profit in registration and renewals, so you are bound to some services from them.

For example, a good registrar will never ask for extra fees or charges if you want to modify your WHOIS or RDAP listing. They shall not be reluctant or charge extra even if you request them to make yours a private listing or change the DNS.

Some registrars go out of their way and charge you out of the blue. Only upon confronting them you will learn that these costs were mentioned in terms of services. No ethical company shall ever do so. Read the terms of services, and steer away from those who have shady terms.

2. Search around for past Reputation

Reputation goes a long way to trust. While you might get carried away with glamorous ads and offers, don’t just go and press in your desired domain address.

When you type in an address on the browser to check its availability, have you instead found that the website features a registrar and asks you to buy that Domain from them? Well, two situations might have happened.

Either someone previously registered the Domain and later on didn’t renew, which the registrar took control of. The other is that seeing you hit up the domain address, the registrar bought it only to force you into buying it from them, that too at a higher price. Both of these actions are unethical, and you should steer away from such resellers.

Both the situation is surprisingly common. After a domain holding expires, the previous registrar can auction off the Domain. Now, to strongarm the previous owner, they set high prices for renewals.

Another disappointing practice by some of the registrar is changing information. There have been several reports and conflicts over how the registrar changed private domains’ registration information and took control of those.

You shall check that the registrar has no control after you have bought the Domain. Also, it is better that you do not opt for private domains if you fear such situations. Make sure the WHOIS has your data as a registrant.

When you choose a domain, think that you choose an address for building your house, then the domain name is going to be your house’s address.