In order to start a website, you first must have a domain name. But what exactly is a domain name? And what is domain registration? It can all be so confusing!
For those who are new to website building, “domain name” may sound like a phrase in a foreign language. Often, people think that they can just log onto a service, create a website, and – presto! – they’re good to go. But that’s not exactly how it works.
There are actually many steps that must be completed before creating your new website and acquiring your domain name is the very first one. Here’s what you need to know:
What is a Domain Name?
A domain name is the address where Internet users can access your website. To say that it is the name of your website would be misleading, because the title you put on your homepage may be something completely different . . . although, that is not advisable.
Your domain name should make it as easy as possible for people to find your business on the web. Ideally, it should be the name of your actual business; for instance, our domain name is www.inmotionhosting.com. It takes out all the guesswork, and people know exactly where to look when they want to find us.
If your chosen name is already taken, try keeping it as close as possible by adding on a numeric qualifier or some punctuation (like www.yourbusinessname1.com).
What is Domain Name Registration?
Domain name registration is the act of reserving that name on the Internet for a certain period of time. Typically, it’s for one year, although some hosting companies offer special rates if you reserve your name for longer periods. It’s important to note that there is no way to reserve a domain name forever, so if you forget to renew, someone else may snatch yours up.
Domain name registration is the first step in creating a website, as you can run any sort of web service without one. However, many hosting services will allow you to use a subdomain of their main domain name for a website, such as www.yourbusinessname.wordpress.com
Do I Have to Register My Own Domain Name?
No. Many hosting companies, such as InMotion, provide a free domain and domain registration with the purchase of a hosting plan and will take care of everything for you. This is the ideal option for those who want to limit steps and do everything in one place.
How Do I Launch My Website?
Once you have a domain name, you can get started on the process of building your new website. Website Creator make it easy to get started, even if you have no previous experience. With an easy drag-and-drop editor and tons of customization options, you have complete control of your own site.
Here’s how to get going:
Get Website Creator
Getting Website Creator is super easy. Just go to THIS page and add it to your cart. Follow all the prompts and you’re ready to start the first step to design and launch your website. Here are a few things that you can do right off.
- Custom site title and logo
- Branded colors
- Unique fonts
- Original headers and footers
- Custom JS and CSS
As an added bonus, you can work on your new website in a staging environment before you go live, and if you don’t like what you’ve created a quick “Start Over” feature lets you hop right back to square one.
Get Your Domain Registration
Domain registration is just one step in creating a unique, professional-looking website. When you sign up for a Website Creator, you’re on your way to building a beautiful website. It truly is your one-stop website building shop!