Registering Domain Names

When you are entering the domaining industry, you are surely, at some stage in your career, going to register a new domain name with a domain registrar. This section will provide more information on domain name registrations and how you, as domainer, can save even more on domain registrations.

 

 

The first thing you will need in order to register a domain name is an account with an ICANN registered service provider. We recommend ICANN accredited service providers as they are generally the safest to deal with and you can have peace of mind over your domain names registered through them.


TIP: When choosing a registrar ensure that you conduct proper research on a registrar. You need to determine if the registrar is reliable. A good way to conduct research is to use Google and do a search on the registrars’ name. Alternatively you can visit webmasters and domain related forums and read through posts made regarding registrars.


The majority of domain name registrars allow users to sign up for free accounts. Simply visit the registrars’ website and sign up for an account.


TIP: If you plan to actively take part in domain name trading, it is suggested that you sign up with as many registrars as you can. Often you will find when buying domain names that they are registered with a variety of different service providers. This will save you time when acquiring a new domain name from other traders.


When registering an account or domain name, always ensure that you provide true and accurate personal information. This information is used by the registrar in case they need to contact you or send urgent notifications.
After you have signed up for your account, you will find that each registrar has its own search facility for domain names. From here you can start searching for domain names and registering them through your chosen registrar.


Note: Domain names can be registered for a period from 1 year to 10 years. Most registrars offer discounts if you register for longer periods.
Once registered the domain name will appear in your account with the registrar you have chosen. The majority of registrars will offer a control panel from where you can make use of various options, such as changing the domain names’ DNS, domain pointing, etc.

 

Hints on Saving Money with Domain Name Registrations

 

There are a few methods you can use in saving money with domain name registrations. Here follows a few tips on saving money:


Coupons


Our first advice is to make use of coupons. Coupons are great ways to save, sometimes, up to $2 - $3 per domain names.


But, how do I get coupons? Easy! Take a look at our list of Discount Coupons at a number of registrars: Domain Coupon Codes

Bulk Registration


Another method you can use is bulk registration. Here you can easily save money up to $1 - $2 per domain. This might not seem much, but considering you are registering a large number of domains, this $1 or $2 can quickly turn into $50 - $100!

 

Shop for Specials


Do not register your domain name right away. First visit other registrars first and see if they do not offer any specials. An example we want to use is the Godaddy special on .info domains, where these domains were at special at .99c per domain, while other registrars charged $5 and up!

 


Registrar Membership


Some registrars offer a premium membership offer to clients, where domains can be registered at discounted rates. Always ensure that you read more about these types of membership at the various registrars.

 

Additional Notes on Domain Name Registration and Registrars

 

In many third world countries, such as South Africa, the majority of service providers are not Icann accredited. In fact, in South Africa, only one registrar is Icann accredited. What the majority of service providers do, when registering domain names, is that they place the domain names in their own portfolio, only amending the registrant information to that of yours. Users are not offered access to their domain names to manage them properly. In fact, you as registrant do not have any control over your domain name at all. A fly-by-night company can easily sell or transfer the domain without you knowing this.


It is highly recommended that you deal directly with an Icann accredited registrar, who provides a control panel from where you have direct access to manage your domain name. Make use of these services, even if it means making use of providers outside your country. They are often more cost-effective than most service providers in your own country, as mentioned in the example above, more cost effective than any provider in South Africa.

 


Below is a list of recommended Icann accredited domain name registrars providing you with full administrative access to your domain names:

 

Moniker.com DomainIt.com
Dotster.com Name.com
Namecheap.com GoDaddy.com
Dynadot.com EuroDNS.com
DomainDirect.com Enom.com
PlanetDomain.com Webnames.ca
NetworkSolutions.com Register.com