Do you want to start a blog or a new online business in 2022? If you do, then you’ll need to register a domain name

The first step towards building a website is to find a good domain name and register it. In this article, we will show you how to register a domain name, step by step. We will also share a tip on how you can register a domain name for free

Since this is a comprehensive guide on how to register a domain name, we have created a table of content, so you can easily skip to the section that you’re most interested in:
- What is a domain name?
- When is the right time to register a domain name?
- How to choose the best domain name?
- How to register a domain name (for free)
- How to register a domain with Domain.com (25% off)
- How to register a domain name with Network Solutions
- How to register a domain with GoDaddy
Before we get started, let’s cover the basics so we’re on the same page

 What is a Domain Name?
A domain name is the address of your website that people type in the browser to visit your website. For example, wpbeginner.com

In simple terms, if your website was a house, then your domain name will be its address

The whole internet is a giant network of computers. Each computer is assigned a number which is called an IP address, and it looks like this:
66.249.66.1
Now, this address is not easy to remember or memorize. Imagine if you had to use this kind of address to visit your favorite websites

To fix this problem, domain names were invented

Domain names can have alphabets and numbers, which helps business owners create brandable names for their website’s address

To learn more about domain names, see our beginner’s guide on domain names and how do they work

 When Do You Need to Register a Domain Name?
On average, 56500+ .com domain names were registered every day in 2020

Currently, there are over 151.8 million .com domain names already registered. 366.3 million domain names are registered in all TLD

This means that all the good domain names are being registered as we speak. Chances are that someone may register a domain name that you’re thinking of, so it’s smart to register a domain name as soon as you think of an idea

This is why all smart entrepreneurs proactively register domain names even before launching a business


Domain names are cheap, and you can register them for a year. If you decide to not pursue the online business idea, then you can let them expire

The bottom line is, if you are serious about building a business, then you should register a domain name right away

It will help you protect your brand’s identity, business name, and even future business ideas

**How much does a domain name cost
Normally, a .com domain name costs $14.99 / year. The cost of a domain varies based on each different extension or TLD (top-level-domain). Some are even more expensive than this

We don’t recommend using anything but .com domains because everybody remembers a .com domain, and your smartphone keyboards have a pre-built key for .com

**Do I Need a Website to Register a Domain Name
No, you do not need a website to register a domain name. You can register a domain name and make a website later. You can also register a domain name and setup a temporary website or coming soon page with SeedProd

A lot of entrepreneurs treat domain names like digital real-estate, so they register a good domain name and hold it for the right buyer to purchase it from them for profit

 How to Choose The Best Domain Name?
Domain names play a very important role in your website’s identity and success. This is why it’s important for you to carefully think about the domain name you choose

However, it’s also important to not overthink it otherwise you will never get past the research phase

Following are some general tips to keep in mind when searching for a domain name

- Make sure that your domain name is easy to pronounce, spell, and as short as possible

- Stick with the .com extension because most users find them easier to remember than any other domain extensions

- Use your keywords and brand name in the domain name search. For example, stargardeninghouston.com is more SEO friendly, than stargardeningcompany.com
- Do not use numbers or hyphens in your domain name. It makes them harder to pronounce and difficult to remember

Need more advice? See our expert tips on finding the best domain name for your website

You can also use a domain name generator like Nameboy to speed up your search

 Video Tutorial
If you’d prefer written instructions, just keep reading

 How to Register a Domain Name (Step by Step)
You can register a domain name from any of the top domain registrars that are authorized by ICANN to register domain names


Since there are so many different registrars, we will cover the three most popular ways to register a domain name, and you can choose the one that best fits your need

- How to register a domain name for free
- How to register a domain with Domain.com
- How to register a domain name with GoDaddy
- How to register a domain name with Network Solutions
 1. How to Register a Domain Name for Free
If you want to register a domain name to start a blog or make a website, then this is the best option for you

Normally, a domain name costs $14.99 / year and website hosting plans start from $7.99 / month. This is a lot of money if you are just starting out

Luckily, Bluehost has agreed to offer our users a
**free domain name SSL Certificate, and 60% discount on web hosting

Basically, you can pay $2.75 per month for web hosting, and you will get a domain name for free, so you can start your website without a lot of money

→ Click Here to Get Free Domain with Bluehost ←
Bluehost is one of the biggest web hosting companies in the world. They are in business since 2003 and host more than 2 million websites. Not to mention, they’re officially recommended by WordPress

To get started, you need to visit the Bluehost website and click on the Get Started button

This will bring you to the pricing page. Their Basic and Plus plans are popular among our users

Click on the ‘Select’ button below a plan to continue

On the next page, you will be asked to choose a domain name. Simply type the domain name in the “New Domain” box because that will get you a free domain name

If the domain name you entered is available, then you will be taken to the signup page. From here you need to enter your account information like name, address, email, etc

Below the account information, you will notice some hosting extras. We don’t recommend buying them, so you can safely uncheck them for now. If you feel that you need them, then you can always add them later

After that, you can enter your payment information to finish the purchase

Bluehost will now register your domain name, set up your hosting account and send you an email with a link to your hosting control panel

Since you need both a domain name and web hosting to start any type of website, it makes a lot of sense to purchase them together, so you can get the domain name for free


If for some reason you don’t want to use Bluehost to get a free domain name, then you can use HostGator, Dreamhost, GreenGeeks or InMotion Hosting. All of these companies are also offering our readers a free domain name with web hosting

Related: See the difference between domain and web hosting to understand why you need both to build a website

 2. How to Register a Domain Name with Domain.com
If you only want to register a domain name at the moment without creating a website, then Domain.com is your best option

It offers an easy way to manage your domain name without creating a website

Once you are ready, you can just point the domain name to your preferred WordPress hosting company

First, you need to visit the Domain.com website and search for your desired domain name

If your desired domain name is available, then it will be automatically added to your cart

You can adjust the registration period to 1 year. You can either choose to keep or remove the privacy protection. Removing it will reduce your domain registration cost

Domain.com is offering WPBeginner readers a 25% discount, and our domain.com coupon should be automatically applied

Click on the continue button to check out

On the checkout page, you can review your order and click on the ‘Proceed to billing’ button

Next, you need will be asked to enter your account and payment information to finish the domain purchase

Domain.com will now register your domain name, and it will send you an email with the link to your domain control panel

 How to Register a Domain Name with Network Solution
Network Solutions is one of the oldest names in the domain name business. They have been registering domain names since 1993 and at that time were the only registrar for all common domain name extensions

Today, they are one of the largest domain registrars with over 7 million domains registered with them

They offer domain name registrations with a much simpler control panel and easy tools to manage your domain names

WPBeginner users can get a 25% discount on new domain names by using our Network Solutions Coupon

Here is how to register a domain name with network solutions

Fits, you need to visit the Network Solutions website. From here, you need to enter the domain name you wish to register in the search box

If the domain name you are looking for is available, then it will be automatically added to your cart. You’ll see a success message and continue to the check out by clicking on the checkout button

During the checkout you’ll be asked to sign in if you are a returning customer or continue as Guest

Next, you’ll be offers to turn on domain privacy addon. We recommend skipping it as of now and add it later if you need

After that, you will be offered to add other products to your cart as well. Skip them by clicking on continue under the ‘Domain Only’ box

Finally, you’ll be offered to enable domain protections such as premium DNS and malware protection add-ons. You can skip them for you now and later add them if needed

Finally, you will reach the check out page. From here you can redeem our Network Solutions coupon to claim your 25% discount and then make a purchase

Aftet that, you can continue check out to make payment and complete the domain registration

 3. How to Register a Domain Name with GoDaddy
Godaddy is the largest domain name registrar in the world. They currently manage over 77 million domain names for 18 million users from around the world

They offer an easy domain control panel, which allows you to point your domain to any hosting provider when you are ready to build a website

Here is how to register a domain name with GoDaddy (step by step)

First, you need to visit the GoDaddy website and enter the domain name you want to register in the search box

If your domain name is available, then you will see a success message with your domain name listed on top. You can now go ahead and add it to the cart

Next, click on the continue to cart button to checkout

GoDaddy will now show you some additional services that you can purchase with your domain name. You can skip those by selecting ‘No thanks’ and click on the continue button

On the next page, you will see your domain name and its registration period. You can change the registration period to up to 10 years if you want

However, we don’t recommend that. You can always renew your domain name before it expires, so if you want to save money, then you can select just 1 year registration period

You will need to create a Godaddy account to proceed

After you have created an account, you will be able to enter your billing address and make a payment for your domain name

GoDaddy will now register your domain name, and they will send you an email with a link to your domain control panel

**Pro Tip You should make sure that auto-renew on your domain is turned on, so Godaddy can automatically bill your account and renew your domain name. This way you won’t lose your domain if you forget to renew it. **Related See 7 best GoDaddy alternatives that are cheaper and more reliable


 Domain Name Registration FAQs
Since we have helped over 200,000 people start a website, we have gotten just about every question you can possibly think of. Below are the answers to some of the top domain name questions:
**Which is the best domain name registrar
We believe that Domain.com is the best registrar right now because they have the features you need, and they’re offering a 25% off discount

However it’s a smarter money decision to get a free domain with web hosting like Bluehost because it saves you time and money

You can always transfer your domain name to another popular domain name registrar if you’re not happy with your existing provider

**Which domain extension I should buy
You should always stick to .com domain names. They are the easiest to remember, and most mobile devices have a dedicated .com key in their keyboards. For more details, see our article on the difference between domain name extensions

**Should I register new domain name extensions
Apart from the most common .com, .net, and .org, there are dozens more domain name extensions available. However, these new domain extensions are hard to remember and difficult to brand. To learn more, see our article on choosing a new domain extension for your website

**How can I buy a domain name permanently
You cannot buy a domain name permanently. Domain name registration is done on a yearly basis. However, you can pre-pay for up to 10 years which guarantees that you will have a domain name for 10 years

**What happens to my domain name once its registration expires
Unless you renew your domain name, it will automatically expire after the registration period you have paid for. Some domain name companies offer a grace period to renew your registration, but it is not guaranteed, and you can lose control of your domain name if you let it expire

**How do I renew my domain name
You can renew your domain name from your domain control panel. We strongly recommend that you turn on auto-renew feature to automatically renew your domain name. You can always turn it off if you decide not to keep a domain name

Even though your domain registrar would remind you to renew your domain registration before it expires, you may miss those emails and lose control of your domain name

**How can I reserve a domain name without buying it

There is no way to reserve a domain name without purchasing it. You have to buy it if you want to reserve it. Considering the low cost of a domain name, it’s a small investment for a business

**Is there a way to buy an existing domain name
Yes, you can use brokerage like Sedo.com to potentially acquire an existing domain name. However, it’s not guaranteed that you will get the domain name that you want because the seller may not want to sell it or ask for an outrageous price

You can also purchase premium domains from a premium domain broker like BuyDomains

**Can someone steal my domain name
Yes, domain name theft can be devastating for small business owners. This is why it’s important that you choose a well-known domain registrar with a good reputation

The way hackers can steal your domain name is by obtaining access to your domain registrar account. It’s important that you use a strong password and setup 2-factor authentication

Furthermore, we always recommend small business owners to use an identity theft protection service to get near-real time alerts of identitybecause generally domain theft and ransomware is a byproduct of another hack

We hope this article helped you learn how to register a domain name for your website. You may also want to see our tips on how to make money online with your new domain name and/or how to create a professional email address with your domain

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