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What Is Domain Registration and How to Do It?
Setting up a business website often requires obtaining a domain name. This step-by-step guide offers everything you need to know about domain registration — including how to get a free year.
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For businesses of all sizes, establishing an online presence via a website can help attract new customers and offer expanded services to existing ones. One of the first and most important steps in the process is registering a domain name.
This guide will walk you through the domain registration process, explain why it matters for brand visibility and highlight website builders that offer free domain registration as part of their plans.
What is domain registration and is it required?
Domain registration is the process of claiming a distinctive web address for your business. According to Domain Name Industry Brief’s 2024 Quarterly Report, there are 362.3 million domains currently registered, with “.com” domains leading the pack at 156.7 million. While not legally required to operate a business website, having a domain name is crucial in establishing legitimacy. Free or third-party builders exist, but they often lack customization options and can diminish a brand’s professionalism.
Some businesses, such as brick-and-mortar businesses or those with older, less tech-savvy clientele, may think a website is unnecessary. However, having one is widely recommended. In fact, according to SOCi’s 2024 Consumer Behavior Index Report, 80 percent of U.S.-based consumers use the Internet to discover local businesses at least once a week — making an easily searchable website a smart investment for any business.
Reasons to register your website domain
From increased brand authority to higher SEO rankings, registering your domain name can be beneficial to your business for several reasons. Domain names boost businesses’ reputation and credibility, solidifying brand identity. Additionally, securing your domain ensures that you maintain control over your name, preventing bad actors from using it to misrepresent your business or damage your reputation.
Even if your business isn’t fully operational, experts recommend claiming your domain to establish and manage your online reputation ahead of your launch. “Domain name age plays a role in SEO,” said Ryan MacDonald, chief technology officer for Liquid Web. “Pre-registering your domain name starts building up its history and reputation in the eyes of the search engines. It’s claiming a space in cyberspace, and it will pay dividends in the future.”
Step-by-step process of registering a domain
Follow the steps below to ensure you register your domain correctly:
Step 1: Choose a domain registrar.
Domain registrars facilitate the acquisition of a domain name by registering it with official databases. Some registrars focus solely on domain registration, while others — such as Wix.com, Name.com or Domain.com — offer domain registration as part of their larger website-building platform.
Step 2: Pick a unique domain name.
A unique domain name can help your business solidify its brand. However, with so many websites in existence today, the competition may be tough to get your preferred name, especially if it’s a single word or a popular phrase. It’s best to brainstorm a few options in case your preferred domain name isn’t available.
“Be mindful to get the domain you want — the right domain can make finding your site so much easier for your customer,” explained Dominic Bonaker, founder and CEO at LunarWP. “Some free domains might be a bit obscure or harder to spell for a customer to find.”
Step 3: Decide on a domain extension.
Next, decide what kind of domain extension — or top-level domain (TLD) — you’ll use. Factors to consider include your business type and the impression you want to convey to your audience. For example, a tech business might choose “.io” to signify its modern, forward-thinking approach, while a business with a broad consumer audience might opt for a classic like “.com” to avoid confusion among its customer base.
Step 4: Confirm your preferred name is available.
Once you’ve decided on a few suitable names, check their availability using a domain name checker. In just a few clicks, the checker can determine whether your preferred name and its extension are available. If they’re not, it can suggest relevant alternatives.
Step 5: Purchase your domain.
After you’ve made your selection, proceed to purchase your domain name. Then, choose your initial registration length, which typically ranges from one to three years.
Step 6: Add your contact information.
Domain registrars require up-to-date contact information for ownership protection and ICANN compliance, as well as to assist in case of administrative issues, said Dr. Stefanus Hadi, product research manager at DreamHost.
“Always provide your registrar with accurate contact information, including your company name, full name, email address, phone number and valid credit card,” Hadi advised. “This helps protect your domain from unauthorized access or potential hijacking in the future, and allows current users to renew after the current registration period expires.”
Step 7: Enable auto-renewal.
Protect your domain from accidental expiration by setting up auto-renewal. This ensures that your domain name won’t lapse, avoiding interrupted ownership or lost access.
Step 8: Update your privacy settings.
Reduce your cyber risk by hiding your personal or business information, such as your name and contact details, from public databases by enabling WHOIS privacy protection, also known as domain privacy. Without it, your information may be publicly available, making it accessible to scammers.
Step 9: Set up Domain Name System (DNS) records.
Rather than requiring users to remember IP addresses, set up DNS records to link your domain name to your website’s hosting server. This allows visitors to access your site using your web address.
Step 10: Confirm your domain setup is complete.
After following the above steps, double-check that your domain is properly configured and secure. Then, verify that your contact information is accurate. If you plan to build a website, this is the time to connect your domain to a web hosting provider.
Website builders that offer free domain registration
Many website builders offer free domain registration as part of their plans, often to attract first-time users. However, it’s essential to do your research before choosing a builder, as this perk is often short-term. “Read the fine print carefully,” said Jason Hishmeh, co-founder of Varyence. “[Domain registration is] usually only free for the first year, and renewal fees are often higher than what you’d pay with a standalone registrar. Worst of all, if you ever decide to switch platforms, you may run into serious headaches trying to transfer that domain.”
Builders such as GoDaddy, Squarespace and Wix include a free domain with select plans for one year. [Read our GoDaddy review and Wix review] Bluehost also offers free domains for the first year and includes WordPress plug-ins and a 30-day money-back guarantee. For businesses on a budget, Mochahost offers free domain registration with its Business, Mocha and Ultimate plans, starting at $4.99 per month — but be sure to confirm what’s included before signing up.