Registering a domain name

[JTH]

I was reading in today's PC Mech tip of the day that it might be a good idea to register my name as a domain. It's an idea that very much interests me, but unfortunately I know very little about this process. I went on to the website it recommended, Go Daddy, and was disappointed to see that (my name).com was registered until 2009. (My name).net was available for $8.95 a year though, and that would be my second choice.

So my first question is has anyone any experience with that particular website and would they recommend it? Also can you specify how many years you would like to buy your address for and what would be a recommended period? Finally, what would I need in terms of software to then actually make your website? Sadly I know nothing about website design either, but I am willing to learn!

Thank in advance for any help, and hopefully it won't be a problem that I'm from outside the U.S., I think Go Daddy take customers from anywhere, right? Anyways, thanks again - JTH.

[Byte 2.0]

Buying the domain name is one thing. Then to use it, you would need someone to host it.

One company I have used has been totalchoice.com they have various packages.

As for software, I may be confused with another place, but i think they had an online website builder, or if you can write your own code you could even build the site yourself and upload with an FTP program.

There are many different options available.

Also, I am pretty sure godaddy hosts sites as well, but I have never used them. But I bet someone else here has.

[JTH]

Okay thanks for explaining that. How much approx would hosting cost each year if I did go ahead and buy the domain? Also, which hosting package would you recommend (I believe there are a few different ones)?

[12twelve12]

I have used Godaddy for about 2 years now. There is a reason they are highly recommended. Not only can you buy your domain there, for cheap by the way, but then they also have hosting and web building options available. They make building a website easy with their pre-made templates and easy step by steb instructions. They also have email accounts available and it's a very good email client. You can apply your newly bought domain name to your email account. So if you buy johndoe.net then your email addy can be john@johndoe.net or any thing you can think of @johndoe.net

With Godaddy there is no need to buy a domain name at one place, have to host it at another place, use another service to build your website and then even another service for email. It's a very good service, cheap, easy to use and learn and they have tons of options available. I would recommend getting your domain name for just one year to start. See what you are going to with it, how you are going to use it then you can always renew it for a longer period of time.

By the way you can buy your domain name there and park it for free. So if your not sure what you are going to do with your newly purchased domain, godaddy will have a page set up for it that says something like, "johndoe.net coming soon", and like I said this is free. I have several domains stored/parked this way until a buyer comes along or I decide what I am going to do with it. That reminds me...you can put up a for sale page for any of your domain names for free also. Godaddy rocks!

Warning: It's hard to stop with just buying one domain name.

[JTH]

Thanks for that info, I had a look at their hosting pacakages just there.

Hmmm... I'm really undecided now on whether I'll go for it. On one hand it's quite cheap, on the other though I'm not sure if I'd ever have use for my own site! Ah decisions, decisions.

[12twelve12]

Well it's not like your spending a $100. Spend the 8 or 9 bucks for your domain name, park it untill you figure out what you want to do with it....you have a year to decide before you have to re-register or lose it.

If you decide not to do anything with it's not like your going to bang your head on the wall thinking about all the other cool things you could have bought with your hard earned $8.95....or would you?

[Byte 2.0]

I own one domain name, that I am current not using. I am keeping up with and maintaining my contact information in the hopes that one day someone will decide they want it i get offered something nice for it.

Every now and then I will actually have it hosted for a few months.

[faulkner132]

I use Go Daddy for all my domain registrations, they are great for that. I have never hosted a site with them, so I can't comment.

One piece of advice though:
Make sure you buy your domain separate from a hosting package!

I can't stress this enough. This is how "bargain hosts" get you. They promise free domain registration as long as you are a customer of theirs, so they own the domain, not you. As soon as you are no longer a customer, you cannot transfer your domain because it is registered (hence belongs) to them.

I had this happen to me once and learned my lesson.

[GuitarHero]

I prefer mydomain.com to godaddy.com