Frequently asked questions

• How do I get a domain name?

  1. Decide on a domain name extension. The extension is the part at the end of the domain name – .net, .biz, .org or .com, for example.

  2. Think about what you’d like on the other side of the dot. It could be your business name or your specialty.

  3. Type the domain you want into the box at the top of this page. We’ll tell you if that particular domain is available and show others you may like better.

  4. Pick one, add it to your cart and check out. You are now the proud owner of your very own domain. As long as it’s registered to you, no one else may use it.

• Got any tips on finding a good domain name?

  > Make it easy to remember. This is why many businesses get domains with their business names in them. Some people – including Bob Parsons – even choose their business name after they have a domain they like.

  > Don’t register one that’s trademarked, copyrighted or being used by another company. This can lead to losing the domain and/or legal problems.

  > Shorter is usually better because they’re easier for customers to remember. It’s also easier to get matching usernames for Facebook, Twitter and any other social media accounts you have.

  > Got a local business? Include your neighborhood, city or country in your domain so local customers can quickly see where you are. Check the list of geographic domain extensions – .berlin, .nyc – to see if there’s one for your area.

  > Avoid numbers or hyphens. Anyone who hears your web address won't know if you're using a numeral (5) or “five.” If your business name has a number in it, register both versions – with the numeral and with the number spelled out. Dashes are just asking for trouble and generally look unprofessional.

  > Get more than one. As traffic to your website increases, you may attract the attention of copycats who’ll snatch up similar domain names in the hopes of drawing traffic away from you. Register similar or misspelled domains early so this won’t be an issue later.