• range of service offered
• costs involved
• terms and conditions of service
• customer support and dependability

The registration of a domain name is usually for a specific number of years ranging from 1 to 10. Very few registrars provide the option of registering the domain for periods above 20 years. Towards the end of the registration term you will need to renew your registration in order to retain the domain name. If not renewed on time the registration expires and the domain name will then be available for anyone to claim.

Verisign which operates the authoritative registries for .com, .net, .name, .tv, and .cc explains domain registration process as follows:

“A registrant (an individual consumer or business owner) requests a domain name from a registrar. The registrar verifies that the domain name has not been registered by anyone else. If it is available, the registrar registers the domain name with the registry on behalf of the registrant. The registry adds the domain name to the registry database and the registrant can begin using it for a Web site, email or other Internet services.”

When a registrar registers a domain name for a customer, the customer’s contact information is entered into the WHOIS database. However, if the customer opts for private domain registration, the registrar replaces the customer details with its own in the database. This protects the customer’s privacy and provides added security against identity thefts. Registrars often provide this as an additional service at an added cost.

Domain locking is yet another security enhancement that prevents unauthorized activity and human error. Locking the domain prevents a third party from transferring your domain to a different registrar without your consent. It also provides protection against accidental changes to name servers which a customer may inadvertently make.

Even if you have coined the most unusual of domain names to advertise your online identity, it becomes truly yours only when you register it with a domain registrar. Moreover with online identity thefts on the rise, private domain registration has become a necessity. This feature along with locked domains goes a long way in providing peace of mind where domain name is concerned.

You probably already have a name in mind which could be the name of your existing business. You will now need to check its availability with a domain registrar. For example, if the name of your existing business is Premier Tissues, you can choose premiertissues.com as your domain name. However, it’s highly probable that this name could already be taken. You can try out variations to your business name by adding special characters to it, such as premier_tissues.com, premier-tissue.com, premier1tissues.com etc.

Domain Name Extensions

The next step is adding the extension to your domain name. This would depend on your area of business. If you are looking at a global market, use a .com, .net or .biz extension.  A ‘.com’ extension in particular, is very popular and should be your first preference. Only if this is already taken, should you even consider a .net or .biz extension. You can also go for a country specific extension like .uk, .us, .au if your business focus is limited to a country.

Cost of a Domain Name

The cost of a domain name would mainly depend upon the type of domain name and the registration period and would vary between registrars. Domain names can be registered for a period of 1, 2, 5,10 or even 20 years. The base cost that is paid to the Registry is approximately $5 per year. The registrar will add their margin to the base cost depending upon the additional services they provide. A well reputed and established registrar would definitely be more expensive than a newcomer or upcoming registrar.

Rights and Privileges

A domain name cannot be owned by you. It is only licensed to you for a period of time and is subject to certain terms and conditions. Although domain names cannot be sold, they can be transferred to another entity. By registering your domain name, you have exclusive use of the domain name within the registration period. You will also be protected from domain name hijacking, unauthorized transfers and cyber-squatting activities.

Your selected registrar would be able to put you through all the above process with ease. Many web hosting companies also offer domain registration services. Some will also provide free domain name registration for a commitment to host your website. Your business success also depends on your choice of a good registrar.