UK Domains Name Registration Services
- .com£8.50
- .co.uk£6.50
- .net£10.50
- .org£9.50
The internet is currently one of the essential tools for businesses. It offers the best way to communicate, find a market, and even operate an ecommerce site. To run a business, you need an online presence in the presence of a website. Your website URL depends on your domain name.
Here is all you need to know about domain name registration in the UK.
What are Domain Names?
To access the internet, every computer works with a unique 128-bit or 32-bit string of numbers called IP address. Even though the numbers work quite correctly, they are not as memorable by humans. That is where the domain name comes in. The name is the address you use to access your website. For example, the domain of Google is www.google.com.
Every website has a unique domain such that once you have picked yours, nobody else can use it at the same time. By typing it in any browser, it only links to your page, irrespective of location or device.
Domains come with a suffix as an indication of the top-level domain (TLD) it belongs to. Some of the top TLD include .gov, .edu, .org, .mil and .com. Other than the nature of the business, you can also choose your TLD based on the geographical location of your intended audience. For example, .uk for businesses located in the UK and .ca for Canada based entities.
Consider taking up the different variations of your TLD such that you secure your business and also to reach a wider audience. Such that if anyone uses a different TLD, they would still get to your site.
How do domain names work?
At any other time, you need to type an IP address into a browser to access your page on the internet. The only concern is that the IP is quite hard to memorize, include adverts and prone to spelling errors. Domain, therefore, works as the error-free shortcut to your server.
Even though a misspelling in domains in most cases takes you to a different page or no link, some websites allow for automatic redirects. These works such that typing the short form of the domain or misspelling does not affect your visitors. For example, fb.com directs you to facebook.com.
The domain name comes with several functions to your website. Other than acting as your identity, it helps in creating a lasting impression. A unique fitting domain makes it easy for prospective clients to like and remember your page. The domain also helps define your brand by indication of the nature of your business. The domain is also great for SEO rankings.
History of domains names
To access a web page in the early internet age, all that one needed was an ip address. With few computers and internet users, one could quickly note down the addresses and visit upon need. Using the ip addresses was quite limiting on the number of sites one could visit.
These limitations prompted the internet pioneers to come with a domain naming system by January 1985. Instead of using the ip address in the form of numbers, internet users would access the webpages through URLs. The grouping saw an emergence of the top-level domains like the .com, .net, and .org. With most people using the internet now like never before, the domain extensions have been improving with the possibility of using personal and business names on the domain.
Who owns the domain name?
Even though quite important, most people never care to know who owns their domain. The owner of a domain name is the one listed as the registrant during the registration. Other than the owner, the registrations details also contain the admin, billing and any additional technical information.
To be sure of the owner of your domain, look up the details from the domain search like Whois.com. The report comes with further information on who bought and paid for the domain, the website builder, host and admin. You also get to understand the other previous owners and the content of the page. Ultimately, you also get to verify those who have access to the page and their limitations.
When you notice that you are not the owner of your domain, talk to the registrant to transfer ownership. Having the ownership of your website is essential as you can easily renew the site anytime it expires. You also get to receive all the notifications about developments and changes in your page. Having the full ownership of your domain is the sure way of ensuring that nobody else takes up your name during a downtime.
Now that you know the importance of owning your page, you most probably wondering a case where you don’t own the page yet cannot find the real owner. The first step towards avoiding such a scenario is by being keen during the registration. Do not rely on your current relationship with someone to let them have the full ownership of the domain. Whether they are an employee, a business partner or someone building your website, ensure they give you the access rights. Whoever registers the account, ensure they use your details. You can only list the other person as an admin or the developer. If at all you didn’t know all these and have a domain name that you own, then you will wait and hope the site goes down then repurchase. The only concern is if the site paid for over a long period, or it becomes more valuable and becomes too pricey.
How to find the history of the previously owned domain?
Most people prefer getting unique names for domain names, which in most cases have never been owned before. In some cases, though, you can opt for initially owned domains that are not active anymore. The previously-owned domain names are great for search engine ranking. In most cases, they come with the internet connections and Google trusts them, making it easy to rank higher. The only concern though is the previous activities of the site.
Before you take up a site, you have to ensure that it has no history of blacklisting, which might affect the page ranking. Looking into the history of the domain name allows you to notice the previous, site activities, and statistics. You will also discover if it had violated any Google rules or penalized in any other way due to malicious content. Only work with a domain that comes with a clean track record.
There are several free and paid online tools to use when looking for a domain name history. Some of the most effective ones include; Who.is, Whois Request, Internet Archive Wayback Machine, HosterStats and IntoDNS. You can also consider searching from the search engine. The internet never forgets, and a simple search about the page will quickly bring up results on the backlinks, content and indexed pages.
What are Subdomains?
A subdomain is part of the domain that comes before the domain name and any other extension. They are essential in creating different sections or variations of the main domain. For example, blog.yourname.com, blog is the subdomain, while yourname is the main domain.
Subdomains come with several uses which have led to their popularity. One of the primary purposes of the subdomain is to create different content for different users based on location, language and preferences. In most cases, creating different subdomains allows you to keep a lean website for every user. The other use of a subdomain is for pages that comes with integrated ecommerce. The separate entity means that changes in the main site, like increased traffic or blog design, does not affect the purchase section.
Not all your site visitors use the same devices. While the pages might be PC sensitive, most people are fast adopting the use of mobile to access the internet. With subdomains, the page can easily detect the device and provide content in the corresponding form. Providing a user-friendly experience means that the visitors will stay longer in your site and even come back some other time. Keeping visitors is essential for building your reputation and search engine ranking. Subdomains also allow you to insert keywords that you would otherwise not include on the primary domain name. The keyword helps in search engine ranking.
Even though quite useful, subdomain also comes with a range of concerns you need to look into before using it. The cost of running a subdomain is a little high. Given that Google recognizes a subdomain as a different site, you have to invest in hosting and SEO optimization strategies, like for the domain. Operating several subdomains increases your chances of blacklisting. Repercussions of a breach of terms by one subdomain affect all the other subdomains as well as the main domain.
Not all websites need a subdomain. They are great for large sites that receive enormous traffic from different countries. You also must have the resources to invest in hosting and ranking the subdomain and the primary domain.
What are Domain extensions or TLDs?
Domains extensions are suffixes that come with the domain name. They help identify the nature of the business or locality. There are several domain extensions like the common generic domain extensions such as .com. For a long time, there were only a few of the generic extensions, even though recent developments have seen an influx with others like .blog coming up. Special groups and organizations use sponsored domain extensions like .edu and .gov. For other special groups, you can also consider generic-restricted domain extensions like .pro. Alternatively, if you are targeting a specific country audience, you are better off using country-code domain extensions. For example, use .uk if you are targeting the UK audience.
Choosing a domain extension for your website needs scrutiny before settling on one. Most companies pick a domain based on how they want the page visitors to perceive them. A .com domain extension as a premium extension shows prestige. The niche-specific extensions show expertise in your industry. The ability to use different domain extensions allows you to get creative and choose any domain that embodies you.
Even though you have the liberty to go with a domain extension of your choice, several websites are already running. There is always the likelihood that the extension you prefer is already in use, which explains the influx in newer generic extensions. Compared to the other common domains like .com, the more modern extensions are generally available, affordable and fast to set up. They also allow you clever naming for your business which is excellent for any small outfit.
Are domain names free to register?
In the earlier internet days, owning a domain name was free. Until an influx that saw most people owning websites hence the need for regulation. Currently, registration of a domain costs you. The cost of the domain depends on the extension. The most common extension, .com generally costs around ten yearly. There are several domain registration companies that offer services at different rates and terms.
The only way to find a free domain is when you find a domain name from your web host as a complementary service.
Paying for the domain is not a one-time thing. Every domain comes with renewal terms, most probably one or two years, and at times longer. Failure to renew your domain means it goes offline and back to the market. During this period, anyone can easily buy the domain and become the new owner. The safest option is to pay before the expiry. You can also consider automatic renewal from your debit card.
What to look at when buying a domain?
Your domain is how you present your business to the world. When choosing a domain name, you want to make sure that you gain all the right audience and rank higher in search engine. The first thing to consider when buying the domain is the convenience to the user. Take time to research the available domain names in your field and possible competition. Once you find a prospective domain, look into its history. Confirm the people who have owned it before, and how often and at how much it sold previously.
Researching the name also helps you avoid trademark issues. You should also avoid the ones that look almost similar to existing domains. While most people are likely to go for the .com, it is highly unlikely that you will find the one corresponding to your desired name available. You also have to get creative with how you make your name. For example, maybe you are a technology company looking for jekente.com, yet it’s already taken. Consider a niche-specific like jekentetech.com or location-based like jekente.co.uk.
When choosing a domain, you need one that is as easy to access as possible. Avoid numbers if possible. Numbers are quite confusing as one is never sure whether it’s numerical or spelt out. Hyphen is also quite tricky to use. Most people don’t understand how to apply the hyphen appropriately. Whatever the name you choose, remember to keep it simple. You don’t have to incorporate everything about your company on your domain. Also, don’t go with slangs and other obscure terms.
Lastly, where you buy the domain is as important as the domain itself. While it is possible to look for a domain from one point then a host from another, consider working with a service provider who has both. The service provider should also come with unlimited support.
Best place to buy a domain name (ClickDo Domains)
Now that you know how to choose a domain and the importance of working with a reliable service provider look no further than ClickDo domains. Whether you are looking for a premium or a standard domain name, ClickDo has provisions for some of the most searched domain names around. Having extensive ties in marketing and SEO, we understand some of the most searched terms to set up a high-ranking domain. Other than the traffic, we understand that you need a sleek and user-friendly website to convert them into leads. For that, our domains are responsive, easy to use and build.
The other pro of buying a domain from ClickDo is the ease of search. Given that most of the names people look for are already taken, we provide some of the most desirable alternatives. Even if you are not sure of the title you need, searching through our database helps you come up with a viable name. In most cases, such high-end services cost quite a lot. That is different from us who offer these services at the market rates.
If all these sounds too good to be true, we understand, not many people offer similar value for such lower prices. We have a ton of previous users who have got their domain name and have got it all going well for them. The first place to look at is our page; nothing shows stellar quality than this homepage.
Can I get help to register my domain name?
Does all of these sound weighty to you and you feel like you cannot handle? Do not worry, as you can quickly get help registering your domain name. Contact a reputable domain register like ClickDo to help you find available names, register and host your domain name. The right domain name is the best way to ensure online brand presence, search engine ranking and reputation.