After choosing your perfect niche, it's time to register your domain name.
There are 2 ways to do this.
- You could register your domain name with GoDaddy.com, which is the most popular registrar and less expensive than others, and arrange for hosting elsewhere – I'll tell you why in #2 below.
If you go to Godaddy, be sure to check out the Domain Name AfterMarket while you are there – it's available from the homepage and shows you domain names that have already been registered but are available for sale).
- Alternatively, you can register your domain and get hosting all in one place, eg. BlueHost.com.
I mention BlueHost specifically because they a) offer cPanel hosting with Fantastico, and b) domain registration is included in the cost of hosting. Best of all, their prices for hosting are really reasonable! 🙂
Go Nuts! Have Fun… but first of all, Get Started! 🙂
Really nice article. Domain registration is first step for every online business. Your domain must have your keywords in it. This is best for SEO of your website. Thanks for nice informative article.
I have used Go Daddy for several hosting accounts as well as several other companies, such as Host Gator, Rochen, and 1&1. I have never had any problems with Go Daddy. Websites I have put on their servers are not the fastest, but the they are a very inexpensive option. Customer support has always been good, I have not had any issues. The only company I would vigorously recommend avoiding is 1&1. Their pricing and web copy are deceptive. Read the fine print, their “Guarantees” do not apply to special offers, but then everything they have is a “Special Offer” customer service in below par and it was very difficult to have them stop charging me for accounts I dearly wanted cancelled. I have never had these difficulties with Go Daddy or any other Internet Hosts.
One of the things you really need to watch out for when choosing a domain registrar is who owns the domain — you or the registrar. Read the terms of service carefully.
I am in the process of switching away from GoDaddy (for a multitude of reasons). I tried 1and1 and agree with InternetMarketingABC, they are pretty lousy. I’m very pleased with the next registrar I tried, moniker.com, emailed some questions to sales over the weekend and got answers back on the sales reps blackberry, even though it was over a weekend, at night, etc. Their prices are BETTER than GoDaddy’s, I don’t have to go through several pages of hard sell to register a domain, and when I register it, its available immediately, I can set up the blog right away (had to wait nearly 24 hours with 1and1.com, after a couple of times of that, its really annoying.)
Ros,
Bought your ebook in March. Still figuring how to create a blog. Am trying to download wordpress to learn how to create a personal blog like your travel blog. Do I need to register for a domain name first before I can create a blog website by myself without using any paid service.
Hi Ally,
I suggest that you read the book through once first, then follow the steps point by point.
You’ll see that you don’t actually have to download WordPress, but install it – and that only takes a minute or so when you use the SimpleScript installation offered by https://rosalindgardner.com/recommends/bluehost/
And you can register your domain through them free of charge too. 🙂
Cheers,
Ros
I’d recommend anyone to stay away from GoDaddy. They have the worst customer service in the world (2nd to 1&1) and they will lock you in any way they can. Use NameCheap.com, Dynadot.com or the one you mentioned above.
I agree. I prefer Dynadot, although their domain privacy option is not free yet.