How to Select a Domain Name

Find availability - The first thing you'll want to do is to check on the availability of the domain in question. There are many ways to obtain a domain name, you can get names through a hosting company or purchase an existing domain from an end-user or a reseller. If a domain name is available, the best way is to go through a domain name registrar.  

Purchase from the current owner - If the domain is already owned (parked or not in use), it is possible to try to purchase the domain from its current owner. Many parking pages provide the owner's contact information, and some even state that the page is for sale. If there's no contact information, you can do a WHOIS search to get the owner's contact information.

Need access - You'll need access to two name servers, or at least the address of two DNS servers you are entitled to use. Most domain registration companies include name server access as part of their overall service - but a few charge extra.

Provide information - You must provide accurate contact information for the Contact section of the domain name registration form.

Email address - Use a stable email address when registering a domain name, rather than a free email account. Most registrars rely on authenticating modification and transfer transactions by email.

Fee - When a domain name is registered, a fee is due to the Registry. This is the base cost of a domain name. Each registrar adds a margin to pay their costs and make a profit (depends on the level of automation of the registrar and their additional services).

Which Registration Companies to Use for Domain Name? The service offered by each registrar can vary:

Some provide tools to help you research the domain name you want to buy or expect you to have the exact domain you want to buy; Some process registrations in real time, within a few seconds or can take 24 hours or longer to process a registration; Some accept payment by check; most only take credit cards; Some allow you to pay for registrations for periods between 1 and 10 years or restrict you to paying for 2 years registration; Some let you edit the information associated with your domain name or insist on a legally notarized document before they make any changes.

If you have registered a domain name for a specific period, make sure you renew it in time. You can be surprised at the number of cases, where site owners have let a domain name slip by if they have not renewed in time.

Make sure the registration company provides you with facilities (usually free) for you to have control over your domain name so that you can: Point it at your existing web site and forward email to your existing email account. Reliable registration companies will let you do this via a password-protected online control panel, so that you can use your browser to change the routing of web and email addresses whenever you like.