Part 2 > getting online and buying: going through the purchase process

How to find out if the domain name that you want to buy is available

There are many places to research the availability of domain names. Any registrar will provide the tools. A registrar is the organization that is authorized to handle your purchase. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is an international, non-profit organization that accredits registrars and governs domain name sales. You can visit the ICANN web site for a complete listing of accredited registrars.

It's worth noting here that when you buy a domain name, you don't actually own it. Rather, you own the right to use it for a specified length of time. Buying a domain name is really buying the rights to a particular address on the Internet for the length of your license. You may choose a one year, ten year or even one hundred year license. Once you buy a domain, the sale is final. If you retire and shut your business down after two years, you won't get a refund for those other 98. However, it's a good idea to buy a domain name for a multiple year license. You reduce the possibility of letting your term lapse and losing the name.

To find out if the domain you want is available, you can search at a registrar, or use a research tool like whois.net. No matter where you search, you'll get the same results. Either a domain name will be available or it won't. If it's available, congratulations! Buy your domain name and start your online journey.

If it's unavailable, you can keep searching, or if you're adamant about buying a particular domain, you can try to contact the owner and make an offer. Perform a WHOIS lookup at a registrar or at whois.net to see if contact information is listed for the owner.

This will probably only work if the owner doesn't use the domain. Would you sell "myfantasticproduct.com" if you're successfully running a web site and drawing customers to it? It may also work if the owner bought the domain on speculation, hoping for the day when a business such as yours would desperately want myfantasticproduct.com. If that's the case, dig deep. That owner is holding onto an investment and isn't likely to give it up cheaply. If you're low on marketing budget, stick to Plan B and try for "greatproduct.com" instead.

Choosing a registrar: where to buy your domain name

You can buy a domain name from any accredited registrar but you'll want to consider ancillary services offered and purchase requirements or restrictions. Some registrars only deal with specific extensions. Some provide e-mail forwarding, an "under construction" page, or offer free registration if you buy a hosting package. Whichever registrar you choose, make sure it has the services you desire.

The more popular registrars usually offer better administrative and service features, such as the ability to manage your account from a user-friendly control panel. The cost of the domain name may be higher with these services, but even on the high end, buying a domain name is an inexpensive investment in your business.

Before you buy, you may want to discuss the options with your web developer. A developer should be able to offer suggestions depending on your business needs.

When you buy a domain name, you must provide contact information for the following:

1. A billing contact - this person is responsible for payment and receives billing reminders.
2. An administrative contact - this person can make general changes to information such as the address, phone or e-mail on your account.
3. A technical contact - this person is authorized to make changes to your DNS and to manage technical aspects of the domain. It goes without saying that this person should have a working knowledge of DNS and the technical aspects of your site.

When you buy a domain name, the contact information you provide will be available in the public WHOIS database - that is, someone doing a WHOIS lookup on your domain will see the name, address, company and e-mail that you registered with. If this bothers you, you can add "private registration" to your purchase, which will remove public access to your information.

Buying a domain name requires a little creativity, some planning and following the steps set forth by your chosen registrar. Once you have a domain, you're free to build your online brand and develop a fantastic web site that is a fundamental asset to your business.

Do you have another domain selection or purchase tip? Contact Us and let us know - we'll publish information of value to our customers.