In this tutorial I will be showing you how to find a domain name and purchase it using the website called Namecheap.com. Most domain names from Namecheap.com are available from between $8.00 and $12.00.
See how you can get free domain names: How To Find A Free Domain Name From SiteRubix.com
One of the first steps to creating your own website is to figure out what in the heck you want to call it. Trust me…this will probably be one of the most difficult things you will have to do. It took me quite a while to settle on kirbysmarketing.com and even so I still wasn’t sure I was happy with it (I am now though).
Not only do you have to decide a name, but you also have to choose a corresponding domain name. This is harder than it may seem because there are A LOT of domain names that have already been claimed by businesses, individuals, countries, flippers, etc.
How To Purchase A Domain Name From Namecheap
Step 1: Go To Namecheap.com. Simply click on this link here, Namecheap.com, to head on over and get started.
Step 2: Check Domain Name Availability. The first thing you will need to do is determine if the domain name you want is actually available. You do this by entering in your desired domain name into the (A) search box and pressing (B) “Search”.
Once you press search you will be shown all of the possible results based on your search. If you are lucky the “.com” version will be available. If not, you can either choose a name with a different extension, such as “.org”, “.net”, “.uk”, etc.
If the name you want isn’t available, you can search for another name by simply entering it in the (C ) search bar above the results and pressing (D) search. Once you are happy with your domain name you can move on to the next step.
Step 3: Add Domain Name To Cart. Now you must add your domain name to your cart by clicking on the little (E)“cart” icon to the right of your desired domain name. (Make sure to double check the price of what you are purchasing.)
Step 4: Click On “View Cart”. Once you have your desired domain names added to your cart, you must select (F) “view cart” on the right of your screen.
Step 5: Edit Purchase Options. Now that you are looking at your cart you will need to decide some final options.
Domain Registration Length. You must decide how long you want to buy your domain name for (G). I would recommend purchasing it for at least three years, but this all depends on your plans and your budget.
WhoisGuard Length. WhoisGuard is a service provided by Namecheap that prevents anyone from seeing the private information associated with your domain name such as your address, phone number, and email address. This service is given to you for free for the first year. Any subsequent years must be bought (H above).
Considering it is only $2.88 a year, I would recommend matching the length of your domain registration so that you don’t have to worry about for a while.
Additional Options. You are also given the opportunity to add domain name hosting (I would recommend hosting your website on Wealthy Affiliate servers as they are much simpler and easier to deal with), PositiveSLL (recommended), free private email for 2 months, and the ability to create a simple, one-page website through their website builder.
Step 6: Confirm Order. Once you are happy with the options you've selected it is time to confirm your order by pressing (J) “Confirm Order”.
Step 7: Sign In/Create Account. At this point, you will either need to (K) sign in if you already have an account with Namecheap.com or (L) create a new account. Follow the steps and enter the information needed to create your new account.
Step 8: Enter Payment Details. Once you have created your account, or signed in, you must now enter your payment details. I choose to pay with PayPal since it is easiest for me, but you can also choose to pay with a credit card or use account funds.
At this point you will want to decide if you would like your purchases to (M) autorenew. I would highly recommend this as it will ensure that you don’t lose your website because you forgot to renew your subscription. Namecheap.com will send you an email in advance letting you know of the impending autorenew.
Step 9: Make Purchase. Once you are satisfied with everything it is now time to make the purchase. For me, because I am using PayPal, I simply click on (N) “Checkout with PayPal”, but this will look different if you’re using another payment method.
If you haven't yet, head on over to Namecheap.com to get started.
Congratulations!
You are now the proud owner of your very own domain name! This little part of the web is now yours to do with as you please! It really is a cool feeling and may become addicting (you have been warned)!
You may also be interested in checking out these other, semi-related posts:
- Build Your Own E-Commerce Website – It's Easier & Cheaper Than You Think
- Getting Started Online Doesn't Have To Be Scary
- 4 Simple Steps To Build Your WordPress Website With Wealthy Affiliate
- Two Easy Methods To Install A New WordPress Theme
If you have any questions about this process or are able to suggest any other good places to purchase domain names please drop me a comment below! Also, if you are interested in keeping in touch and staying up to date with my latest blogs and tutorials please sign up for me weekly newsletter below:
