When you finally make the decision to get a website, whether for your personal blog or for business use, most people focus on what your site should look like, how many tabs and pages there should be, what colors or fonts you should use, etc. The domain name is typically the last piece of the puzzle to get any attention. Nonetheless, it's one of the most important aspects of building a website. It determines whether or not people remember your site and how much you will be paying to officially register it. And while there are tons of places to buy cheap domain names from without having to conduct any initial market research, you can save money by arming yourself with some basic tips and tricks on how to find the best/cheapest registrar options. Without further ado, here are five tips on how to find a cheap domain name.
1 - Brainstorm
Before shopping for a domain name, have a list of possible names ideas you want to buy. Huddle up with family or friends and get the creative juices flowing. List any name idea you can think of, with the only real rule being it should be related to the business or brand you are trying to build for the site. You can also use free brainstorming apps, also referred to as domain name generators, to automatically generate random name variations based on the domain name idea you provide it. Last but not least, go with a more traditional approach and crack open a thesaurus and list possible keywords that you can look up afterwards.
2 - Know What to Look For
Cheap is good, but it can also get you scammed if that's the only factor you consider when shopping for domain names. Make sure you are getting the best value for your money by looking for accredited domain name registrars, specifically those accredited by ICANN. Any registrar that is ICANN-accredited has met all technical and operational requirements necessary to provide services in this space.
3 - Sign Up For a Long-Term Lease
The longer the amount of time you register the domain name for, the cheaper you can get it. Registrars will offer good discounts if you buy a domain name for at least two years. It's also important to note that costs of domain names aren't fixed. It might be more expensive next year or the year after that. By locking in a longer lease on your domain name, you can be sure that it stays at a fixed price. You can also save time and effort from having to renew your domain name registration after your lease expires. If you forget to renew it, you could end up losing the name to another buyer.
4 - Check the Fine Print Twice
Some domain name registrars don't charge you for the private registration. But there are some who charge as much as $12 each year, which sometimes causes a seemingly cheap option to actually be more expensive. Make sure the plans you are comparing are equal variables and that the features are the same. Some common features you'll find when shopping for domain names include auto domain renewal, free domain parking, domain forwarding, and hosting in case a business wants to host their site somewhere else.
5 - Go With the Most Reputable Ones
Get your domain name registered and hosted through reputable registrars, like GoDaddy, HostGator, and NameCheap. These sites have the lion's share of the market when it comes to domain name registrations. GoDaddy, for instance, has been around for a long time and has registered more than 38 million websites. Aside from domain name registration, they also offer hosting services. Of course, as with any service provider, each of these registrars have their own pros and cons. Make sure you vet each option before signing up.
