pinaki-ghosh.jpg By Pinaki Ghosh

A. Setting up an account with a domain name registrar
When you feel the urge to drink coffee, you can make a cup of coffee in a jiffy. Setting an account with a domain name registrar; or in simpler words, registering a domain name of your site is as simple as making yourself a cup of coffee.

For your help, here is a list of accredited companies that do the needful for you:
http://www.icann.org/registrars/accredited-list.html

Here are some well known registrars for you:

  • GoDaddy.com
  • behosting.com/register.html
  • DomainInvestigator.com
  • InexpensiveDomains.com
  • NameCow.net
  • NamesAreCheap.com

As we enter the process of registration, you must know the various extensions which are:
• Companies have the Dot Com.
• The non profit organizations use the Dot Org.
• Network providers use the Dot Net.
• The government owned websites go with Dot Gov.
• Television channels have the Dot Tv.

Leaving these aside there are more extensions for various countries and continents such as Dot uk for the sites in UK, Dot in for the Indian sites, etc.

Study the steps to follow while registering the domain name:
1.
log on to the site of the online domain name registrar
2. Type in the name of the phrase for the domain name which you want to register in the box that has been assigned. Follow the rules as per the name format and the length of the word. Then you can choose the necessary extension.
3. It does not take a lot of time to search. The registrar then informs you about the availability of the domain name.

In case it has been already taken:
(a) Try using some other extension like, like in place of Dot Com use Dot Net, Dot Biz or Dot au etc
(b) Choose another name
(c) If you really want to have the same name try getting in touch with the one who already owns it and buy it from him at a reasonable price.

4. Get yourself registered when you actually are happy with the name.
5. You can pay the registration fees which may vary but is around 10$ for one year, online or by mail.

The domain name now belongs to you. By default you get the domain name for two years. Here’s an advice: Do not go in for the common names as they are already taken, try the uncommon names.