How to Register a Domain Name

Hey there, future site owner,

I'm going to clue you in on some tips most people don't absorb prior to registering a domain name.

There have been a lot of changes on the web in recent years so make sure you read this entire page so you pick the ideal name for your website.

NOTE: If you already know about domain names and don't need any extra advice, go here to register.

A domain name is the home of your website and often ends in extensions like .com, .net, .org, .info, .us, .biz, .tv and more. Today there are numerous extensions available, but .com is still the most popular by far.

Once you have registered your name, you will select a web host (2nd step).  The web host is the guts of any website because this is where you create and publish your pages, create a blog, create email addresses, add functionality and maintain your site.

Register Your Domain From WebsitePalace.com
and Receive a FREE WordPress eBook.
Learn how to create and make money with
your site using WordPress! 

Register by April 1, 2013
The download for the ebook is on the "confirmation" page.

Steps to Registering a Domain

Reserving a domain name is easy, inexpensive and only takes a few moments. The big name companies like Register.com and NetworkSolutions.com charge ridiculous prices such as $30-35/year for one domain name, and you get the same service at WebsitePalace.com.

It doesn't matter where you register your domain.  Almost every registrar provides the same services.

You can save a bundle at WebsitePalace.com, and you'll have access to free domain forwarding. (Forward any domain to any site for FREE!)

Keyword Rich Domains

For search engine optimization (SEO) purposes, many experts recommend registering a domain with keywords you want to be found for. While this was a must years ago, it's not quite the necessity it once was.

In fact, there was a very big Google update in October 2012 called EMD (Exact Match Domain update) that targeted domain names that were only ranking because the name matched the targeted phrase.

That's not to say you shouldn't register a name that has the keywords you want to target, but don't expect to rank well just because you choose a keyword-rich name. Getting ranked well in Google is a very complex task. The domain is not as big of a factor as it used to be.

If you want to learn more about search engine optimization, read this article.

Going For The Brand Name

Some people prefer to go for a shorter, brandable domain that's easier to remember -- especially because so many "good" domains are taken these days.

So instead of registering a keyword-rich name like HealthAndWellness101.com, you would register a made-up name like Fitzee.com. Fitzee means absolutely nothing, but it's short, catchy and easy to remember.

Plus, it would look a lot better on a shirt, mug or hat than a 4-letter domain.:-)

I still think it's a good idea to aim for the keywords you want to target. Descriptive names can have advantages. For example, it automatically tells the potential visitor what the site is about.

Having said that, don't make your domain name so long and awkard that it's hard to read and remember. It's really about finding a balance. Also, don't be shy about bouncing ideas off your friends and family before registering.

Here's another tip. Write the name down to give you an idea of what it may look like on business cards, T-shirts and other printed materials.

Remember, your domain is a big part of your brand, so take your time coming up with the right name for your site.

Protect Your Brand - Register Common Extensions

If you are registering a .com domain for example, get the .net and .org to protect your brand.

There are many domain extensions, but .com, .net and .org are the most popular. Some also grab the .info domain too.

If you type in 2createawebsite.net or 2createawebsite.org, they forward to this site. When you get your domains at WebsitePalace.com, forwarding is free for every domain you register.

So you can buy as many extensions as you want and forward them to your main site.

Worried That All The Great Names are Taken?

As you're registering your domain, you may feel that all the names you want are taken. You just have to get creative. Website Palace has a great page that offers tips for landing a good domain name.

Be Careful of Registering Trademark Names

To keep yourself out of trouble, do not register names that infringe upon other company trademarks. Stay away from names that represent products and services or ones that may confuse people.

Here's an example. Say that you register TryCocaCola.com and you create a website that makes people think you are affiliated with the CocaCola brand.

If you are caught, you may be forced to give up the domain. So it's best to stay away from any kind of trademark when registering a name to prevent any kind of confusion.

You May Want to Protect Your Privacy

As you're registering your name, you will be presented with the option of keeping your domain name private - a deluxe feature you may want to take advantage of.

A private domain registration will keep your information (name, email address, etc.) out of the global Internet database, and will prevent a lot of spam from reaching your email box.

Even though registering a "private" domain is not mandatory and will not block all spam, it is a great idea if you want to keep your contact information out of the domain registry database. Some people want to register domains anonymously, so this is the reason this option is available.

Customer Support Available 24/7

Most people that come here are new to the website creation scene.  Their number one fear is that they'll invest their money into something that is new and unfamiliar, and then get stuck with no one to help them should they have a question.  Well, that's not going to happen here.

Website Palace has 24 hour customer support, 7 days a week. If you ever have a question or need help, you can call for help or send an email. The customer service team makes every effort to answer emails within a 10-12 hour period.  

Freebies for Starting Your Site at WebsitePalace.com

1) Your Getting Started Guide

Almost all domain registrars and web hosting companies are notorious for taking your order, sending you a welcome email and leaving you to figure out how to get started.

At WebsitePalace.com, you will receive a guide that you can download from the thank-you page after you order.

To help you along, I've created a step by step guide that will not only walk you through launching your site or blog, but I provide tips on generating traffic and making money from your site. There are even instructions for setting up a blog.

It's perfect if you're new to website creation and you need some help getting started.

When you buy your domain name(s) at Website Palace, you'll get this free book to help you setup your account and prepare to launch your site and/or blog.

The manual is an electronic book (PDF) and requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.

Most computers already have this program installed, but just in case you don't, you can download the free reader here.

Note: The download link to the book is on the order confirmation page after you've placed your order - so don't miss it!

If you register a domain name or buy anything from WebsitePalace.com by April 1, 2013, I will provide this book for free.

2) WordPress Starter Guide

If you do decide to use WordPress (comes free with hosting) to create your website, you will receive my WP Starter Guide -- which is an ebook (PDF) you can download that will teach you how to use WordPress, brainstorm for a topic and make money from your site.

WordPress does not require any programming or design skills and is the most popular platform for building websites today.

All new Website Palace customers will receive this book for free. So if you register your domain name, buy hosting or any product from my store, it's all yours!

3) Free Starter HTML Templates!

One of my pet peeves with web hosts is that they don't offer much help for static website builders.

If you're creating a blog then templates are available with WordPress, but not everyone wants a blog. What if you want a static website like this, but you don't want to learn how to program?

Well, because I want you to have the support you need to create your static website, I will be giving you my starter CSS templates for free! They come with a video for how to customize it to your needs.

Note: The download link to the templates is on the order confirmation page after you've placed your order - so don't miss it!

4) FREE Affiliate Marketing eBook

One way to make money from a website is to write about a topic, and make money by recommending products and services sold by other companies.

The company pays you a commission or set fee for every single referral you make from your website.

This is called Affiliate Marketing.

I've been doing this with every website I create and it's the simplest way to earn money on the web when you don't have a product of your own to sell. 

If you like to play golf, for example, you could create a site with tons of helpful golf advice and then refer your visitors to various companies that sell golf clubs and other accessories.

The Affiliates Masters Course is a one-of-a-kind guide that shows you where to find affiliate programs like the ones described above and you'll discover how to maximize your earnings no matter the topic of your site.  

I promise you. This is not some cheesy, info-product that shows you how to make money overnight.  There's no such thing as "fast cash" and that's not what this eBook is about.

It's a very well-written tutorial jam-packed with solid, detailed information that will show you how to profit from your website by linking to and referring products and services offered by other companies.

This guide is over 200 pages and has an $80 value.  It will be yours for free when you register any domain name.

If you register a domain name by April 1, 2013 this FREE, Affiliate Masters Course is all yours.

5) Domain Forwarding

As mentioned, you will receive a free domain forwarding account with every domain name.  Say you want to register yoursite.com but you want to make sure no one else registers the .net, .org, etc. You can forward all those extensions to your main domain.

Domain forwarding used to be priced at $16.99 per year, but for a limited time WebsitePalace.com is offering it for FREE! Yes, that means you can forward any domain to any site that you wish and it won't cost you a dime.

More Free Offers

If you register your domain with WebsitePalace.com you will also receive the following items...

• Free Starter Page
• Free Parked/For Sale Page
• Free Domain Locking
• Free Domain Status Alerts

It's Time to Register Your Domain . . .

Register your domain here, but before you leave this page, check out the 2nd step in creating a website - selecting a web host (recommended).   You cannot build your pages until you have a web host.

Hosting is what you need to actually create your website and publish it to the Internet. A domain name is only the address, but the host is the guts of any website.

However, if you want to reserve your domain now and come back to this tutorial to read about step 2 a bit later, go to WebsitePalace.com now and search the database for an available name.