Find Your Perfect Domain and Create Your Brand

A domain name is the actual name of a website, and every single website has a domain name. To obtain one, you need to purchase it through a domain registrar service provider. Domains can cost anywhere from a few dollars a year to hundreds of thousands of dollars a year, based on the contract and popularity of the domain. Every domain name is actually pointing to an IP (Internet Protocol) address, which is a series of numbers. Because most people can’t remember 10 digits in perfect order, domain names serve as easily-remembered alias for visitors. Probably the best-known domain name is google.com, and Google’s IP address is 173.194.79.99… which is easier for you to remember?
 

Each website has a unique IP (Internet Protocol) address that’s used for its identification in cyberspace. An IP address is a one-of-a-kind string of numbers that might seem nonsensical to humans, but actually represents numerical instructions computers understand.

The moment you register a domain name, it gets tied to a specific IP address that’s like no other in the whole wide world. Magical, right?

So, to make it clear: when you type “google.com” into your browser, computers actually see the following string of numbers: 216.58.206.46, and they know exactly what website you are looking for.

This wouldn’t be possible without the domain name system (DNS). DNS is made of thousands of computers that are called servers; servers are responsible for hosting websites and they are to thank for the seamless communication between computers on the web.

Each part of the domain name is a precious piece of information that’s used to identify the website in question. So, different segments of the domain help browsers to locate the web page.

Even though top-level domains and second-level domains might sound like they mark different types of domains in terms of quality, this has absolutely nothing to do with it.

A top-level domain represents the last segment of the domain name. So, it’s everything located after the final dot in the internet address. It’s also referred to as “domain extension”. Top-level domains include .com, .net, .me, .info, .org, and many more.

A second-level domain complements the top-level domain. It is a part of the domain name located left of the final dot.

So, if you look at the example of “google.com”, .com is the top-level domain, while “google” is the second-level domain. It’s that simple.

The way people act online has consequences and so some TLDs are indeed more connected to spammy behavior than others. Such is the .xyz domain, notorious for spamming and distributing malware.

However, in 2015, Google officially stated it treats all TLDs the same, that is – the search algorithm doesn’t have any specific domain extension preferences that could lead to ranking boosts for some TLDs.

Bottom line is, the sole choice of TLD does not instantly make your website an epicenter of spam, nor does it result in poorer rankings. In case you are buying a previously owned domain name, you need to take some precaution steps and investigate whether or not the domain in question has ever been involved in some malicious activities.

As for us at Domain.ME, we have established a strict no spam policy to prevent domain name abuse and contribute to the safety of all web users.

To prevent becoming a victim of a phishing attack, read our blog post on the topic.

A non-profit organization called Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is responsible for DNS management, IP address allocation, and managing databases related to namespaces – all that in accordance to highest security standards.

So, whenever someone as a registrant tries to register a domain name, this request goes through either a reseller or a registrar, and then reaches registries that check if the domain name is available and provide name servers. ICANN oversees the assignment of IP addresses and domain names, thus providing the foundation of WHOIS information.

WHOIS is a query and response protocol that provides information about the domain holder, the date of registration and expiration, whether or not the domain name is available, etc. You can check WHOIS information by searching for an available domain name on our homepage, let’s see how it works. In case the domain already exists, you’ll be able to see the WHOIS information below.

For instance, type in “brightside”, which already has a registered domain with .ME, or simply click here to see the results.

There are a couple of things you need to know before registering a domain name. With a credible and reputable domain service, you will certainly have someone trustworthy to guide you through the process and possible dilemmas, so here’s just an overview of some precaution steps:

• In case you are buying a previously owned domain name, you need to investigate that domain’s history and reputation (check previous WHOIS information, whether or not that domain has ever been banned by Google, or if it is perhaps protected with a trademark)
• Brainstorm your domain name before registering and check whether or not it’s available as a username across social networks
• Watch out for hidden fees (some registrars are not very transparent about additional fees that come with editing WHOIS information, transfer fees, or domain name renewal costs)
• Demand clear information regarding hosting packages if you’re reaching out to resellers

The moment you decide on your domain name and extension, you’re all set to officially register it. The process of registration is very simple and it can be done online. We can divide it into four easy steps:

1. Check if your domain name is available (most registrars offer you an instant domain availability check via search box, so do we on our homepage, but you can also use Instant Domain Search or some other free online service)
2. Once you check if your desired domain name is available for registration, it’s time to choose an accredited registrar or an authorized reseller
3. Register your domain name online (make sure you read the terms and conditions so you know what you are signing up for)
4. Pick a hosting service that suits your needs (some registrars offer hosting services along with domains, some don’t; in any case, you can ask your registrar to park your domain name until you figure out the best hosting option for yourself; during the time your domain is parked, search engines do not rank it)

Whether we’re talking about choosing a registrar or your hosting service, you need to be careful not to get tricked by business. Always double check sign up prices and renewal fees. Ask for the list of supported features and know what you are paying for. Also, hosting services have to be crystal clear regarding the level of security and protection they offer, so ensure to tick the safety box as well.

The moment you decide on your domain name and extension, you’re all set to officially register it. The process of registration is very simple and it can be done online. We can divide it into four easy steps:

1. Check if your domain name is available (most registrars offer you an instant domain availability check via search box, so do we on our homepage, but you can also use Instant Domain Search or some other free online service)
2. Once you check if your desired domain name is available for registration, it’s time to choose an accredited registrar or an authorized reseller
3. Register your domain name online (make sure you read the terms and conditions so you know what you are signing up for)
4. Pick a hosting service that suits your needs (some registrars offer hosting services along with domains, some don’t; in any case, you can ask your registrar to park your domain name until you figure out the best hosting option for yourself; during the time your domain is parked, search engines do not rank it)

Whether we’re talking about choosing a registrar or your hosting service, you need to be careful not to get tricked by business. Always double check sign up prices and renewal fees. Ask for the list of supported features and know what you are paying for. Also, hosting services have to be crystal clear regarding the level of security and protection they offer, so ensure to tick the safety box as well.

Although the phrase “buy a domain” became widely used as you do make a purchase during the registration process, it’s not a completely accurate expression. You cannot actually purchase a domain name for life, but you can continue “renting” it, year by year. Assuming that you want to stick with your chosen domain name, most registrars offer automatic annual renewal option.

So, why is that? Why can’t you buy a domain name?

The reasons are economical and it’s actually common sense. ICANN leases you your domain name for a fixed period of time, usually a year. The operating costs for domain registry increase with company growth and inflation, and so does the number of domains that are under its management. So, the registry would have to increase domain extensions’ prices in order to address these costs, which isn’t really a good outcome for businesses.

Renewals are actually a smart thing in the broader picture. In addition to this, ICANN charges something that’s called “domain tax” and it’s about $.18 per year.

Having all this in mind, the most precise expression would be to call someone a “domain holder” instead of a “domain owner”, as you never really own the domain name.

Would you ever pay $90 million for a domain name? Well, believe it or not – that was the price of the most expensive domain name in history, lasvegas.com.

Yep, premium domain names are often much more expensive than other ones and can reach astronomic figures, for many different reasons. Incredibly easy to remember with great branding potential, premium domains are already owned, either by individuals and organizations, or the registrars themselves.  

The process of getting a premium domain within Domain.me is a bit different than the usual registration, as they are not being sold with other domains. If you want a premium domain, you need to apply for the purchase: our mission is to match the best .ME domains with best projects, websites, and services.

Some say you can easily turn $10 of domain investment into $100 profit, or that investing as little as $1 can lead to reselling the domain for $20. Needless to say, there are a lot of variables at play here, but investing in domain names can truly pay off.

In most cases, domain investors register domains that they believe will be popular in the future or they focus on high profile ones that have great potential to become valuable with time. It’s always a good idea to invest in domain names that are actually geographic names or short and generic notions, or even better – the combination of the two. Success comes down to anticipating trends that are just heating up.

According to the statistics from 2016, domain industry is worth over $4 billion and it continues to grow. So, there is definitely potential hidden here, but you have to be smart to tap into this market.

Search engine optimization (SEO) refers to a set of practices and techniques which are employed to increase the amount of organic traffic that comes through search engine queries.

Given the fact most users rely on Google to search the web, webmasters try to follow Google Guidelines in order to rank well on this search engine page result for relevant keywords. Google’s ultimate goal is to offer the best possible user experience by offering only the most relevant results for each user that types in a certain word or a phrase.

When you take in mind 93% of all website traffic comes from a search engine, learning SEO is recommendable for all webmasters, regardless of the industry they operate in.

However, Google’s complex algorithm takes in mind over 200 ranking factors, of which not all are equally important. One group of ranking factors that are related to domain is called domain ranking factors.

Domain ranking factors are not always in the spotlight when it comes to discussing SEO practices that bring results. However, they do matter and should not be disregarded, especially in terms of online security.

In this context, people from the SEO industry mostly focus on discussing the role Domain Authority or exact-match keyword domains have.