Your e-commerce website's domain name is extremely important. The domain of an online retailer is simply their storefront. That's why picking the proper domain name, as well as the finest Domain Name Registrars to help you register, maintain, and defend it, is critical.
An e-commerce firm should safeguard its domain in the same way that a brick-and-mortar merchant protects its store. Here's where domain name registrars come in.
The Best Domain Name Registrars
Privacy protection, free domain transfers, and extra add-ons are all available from the leading domain providers, all at a reasonable price. The best domain name registrars are:
Namecheap
Namecheap is a company that specializes in domain name Registrars, thus it includes a lot of features that are relevant to that. However, the characteristics of its further choices are restricted. While Namecheap may theoretically create your logo, there's a good chance you could do better elsewhere. Furthermore, several customer evaluations state that getting in contact with tech help when problems emerge is difficult.
Namecheap Highlights:
Pricing: Namecheap's.com domains start at $13.98 per year, with discounts available regularly. Renewal price starts at $12.98 per year and averages roughly $4 higher in the second year than the first.
Privacy options: For all domains registered with Namecheap, WhoisGuard from the WHOIS directory is free. Additional security add-ons from Namecheap include SSL certificates, a VPN, two-factor authentication, and PremiumDNS, all of which are available for a fee.
Domain transfer: The cost of transferring the a.com domain starts at $13.98. Transferring a domain out of Namecheap is simple—as long as your domain is at least 60 days old and hasn't been moved in the previous 60 days, you may depart at any time. Transferring a domain to Namecheap is likewise simple, quick, and inexpensive. In the search field, type the domain you wish to transfer to determine whether it's eligible, and then follow the three-step process to finalize the transfer.
Bundled and add-on services: Namecheap offers domain registration and web hosting as a bundle. Email, security features (SSL, VPN, DNS), WordPress hosting, and a basic website builder are all included in these packages. Namecheap also has tools for creating logos, business cards, and more.
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Bluehost
If selling online is a priority for you, you may need to search for a different domain name service. Bluehost focuses on WordPress integration, so if selling online is a priority for you, you may need to look for a different domain name provider. Furthermore, Bluehost wants a one-year commitment. Bluehost's domain transfer services have also been criticized by several customers, particularly for sites with extensive coding or modification.
Bluehost Highlights:
Pricing: The cost of an a.com domain starts at $12.99 per year. A year-long contract is required from Bluehost. If you want to switch to a different domain name provider, you must cancel your plan before it renews at $18.99 per year for.com domains. Security costs an extra $15 each year.
Privacy options: Bluehost's Domain Privacy + Protection safeguards your personal information and identity by directing the WHOIS directory to a generic Bluehost contact. It also provides notifications if your website changes or becomes infected with malware.
Domain transfer: Transferring your domain to Bluehost is a straightforward procedure. However, several customers have expressed dissatisfaction with this approach in their evaluations.
Bundled and add-on services: Bluehost specializes in WordPress and offers a variety of features and tools to aid in the creation and management of your website. At an extra fee, you may additionally connect WooCommerce and email, as well as use Bluehost's marketing services.
GoDaddy
GoDaddy is a well-known and commonly used domain name supplier, however, there are a few disadvantages. For starters, GoDaddy needs a two-year minimum commitment, which may be a problem for budget-conscious companies, and its customer care service has received some poor feedback.
GoDaddy Highlights:
Pricing: The cost of an a.com domain for the first year is $18.99. After you've registered a domain with GoDaddy, it won't inform you how much the second year or renewal charge will be. GoDaddy is, in general, one of the most costly domain name registrars.
Privacy options: Your domain comes with WHOIS protection.
Domain transfer: Transferring the a.com domain is straightforward and costs $8.49.
Bundled and add-on services: Website security, privacy protection, a website builder, website hosting, email, and an online shop builder are all available with GoDaddy.
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Dynadot
Dynadot is another domain name registrar that offers additional services such as web hosting, domain transfer, and basic website creation. If you don't want to start from scratch, you may also bid on existing domain names and websites. The website builder provided by Dynadot is fairly limited, and it does not support foreign domains.
Dynadot Highlights:
Pricing: Every TLD that Dynadot offers have costs for both registration and renewal. The cost of the a.com website is relatively low, with the first year costing $7.99 and renewal costing $9.99.
Privacy options: Your Dynadot domain comes with WHOIS protection and two-factor authentication. Before you can make changes to your admin settings, Dynadot requires further account authentication. You may also choose to enable SMS verification.
Domain transfer: Domain transfers are straightforward and cost $9.99 for.com URLs.
Bundled and add-on services: Dynadot provides a free (albeit restricted) website builder, as well as a grace period in which you can erase your domain and account, web hosting, SSL security, and email.
Shopify
Shopify allows you to buy and register a domain name immediately, which is very useful if you want to sell things online. Your website and everything else in the back end is automatically configured when you utilize Shopify domain name providers—no manual setup is required.
These benefits are beneficial to both new and developing e-commerce companies. When it comes to your tech stack, setting up a new website necessitates a lot of decision-making and actions, which might be difficult if you aren't computer smart. Your tech stack is ready and waiting for you when you register your domain with Shopify.
Shopify includes everything you'll need to register a domain, as well as the tools you'll need to design your site and set up email and customer service. Furthermore, you can enhance your site's usefulness by including third-party apps that handle anything from marketing to inventory management and just about any other company activity you can think of.
Shopify Highlights:
Pricing: A domain may be purchased for as little as $11 to $14 per year through Shopify. Renewal cost is the same as the first year's purchase price—no unexpected renewal fees!
Privacy options: On all domains, Shopify offers WHOIS privacy protection. As a result, you won't have to pay for or maintain a third-party security solution for your website.
Domain transfer: Transferring a domain to or from Shopify is a straightforward procedure. You must also have held the domain for at least 60 days to be able to transfer it to Shopify. You'll need to navigate through a few steps in your Shopify admin panel to transfer a domain off of the platform.
Bundled and add-on services: Shopify comes with everything you'll need to start and run an online business. Domain registration, web hosting, website design, online purchasing capabilities, and email may all be bundled together. Check out the full list of Shopify's features here.
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How to Choose Domain Name Registrar
Pricing
For cash-strapped organizations, budget is one of the most crucial issues, and it plays a big role in deciding on a domain name provider. When comparing prices, keep in mind that the cost of registration for the first year isn't the only factor to consider. You'll also need to know about renewal fees—many charges more for renewal than for registration—and whether security and privacy features come at an additional cost.
Check the domain name service's fees for domain transfers if you're moving a domain. Some provide it for free, while others demand a fee. You could want to grow your site in the future, adding subdomains or building international websites, so check at prices for all TLDs rather than just.com.
Privacy
Securing your website, preserving your identity, and minimizing incoming spam emails all require security and privacy features. In terms of these features, seek domain name providers who provide the following:
- WHOIS lookup: Anyone may search up who owns a domain, however, the WHOIS database replaces your personal information with that of your domain name service.
- Two-factor authentication: This feature protects your account from hackers by demanding an additional degree of authentication when logging in.
- SSL certificate: Create encrypted connections to protect your website from malware, hackers, and other dangers.
Check to see if these features are included in your bundle or if you'll have to pay extra for them.
Domain Transfer
You can transfer an existing domain name to your new provider if you wish to move domain name providers. If this is the case, find a domain name supplier who makes the procedure simple and reasonable. You should also consider how long the procedure will take. Domain transfers, for example, take roughly 20 days with Shopify, compared to up to 60 days with certain other domain name providers.
Look into the fees of switching your domain name provider if you aren't transferring a domain to your website. Your company may grow and change over time, and you may need to change domain name providers at some point. If getting out of a contract is difficult and transferring is costly or inconvenient, you may want to consider choices.
Additional Domain Services
Although domain name services are a fairly limited set of services, many of these companies also provide extra products and tools. Email, online security, marketing, web hosting, and website builders are all things to look for.
How do Domains and DNS work?
DNS stands for domain name system, and it is a mechanism that connects an IP address to a domain name (TLD). The IP address is the website's back-end address, but the website URL is what a user types into their browser to access that location.
Consider DNS to be your website's yellow pages. Rather than connecting your business's physical address to its IP address, the DNS matches your domain name to its IP address (your digital street address).
When someone types in a URL, such as as-educate.com, the DNS converts it into an IP address, which is a string of digits that acts as the website's unique identity. Domain name Registrars are sometimes known as domain name registrars.
You use a DNS because an address like shopify.com is much easier to remember than a string of digits like 192.0.2.1.
Let's get started on how to choose the best domain provider now that you know how domains and their separate DNS systems function.
