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Buying a cheap domain name should be an easy process, but sometimes it can seem just too complicated. This quick guide will show you in detail what you have to do get hold of that new domain name and where you can buy it for the best cheap deal.
I recommend GoDaddy as the best place to buy low cost domain names as I have used their service for several years and they have always supplied domain names and related services at the cheapest prices. You can often find discount codes by searching in Google which will give you a additional discount on the prices advertised. A typical price for a dot com domain name can be around the $7.50 level to $10 for a year, which is great.
Just click on the banner below or use the link below it to go to “Go Daddy” (their website will appear in another window so you can still follow what you need to do here)
You will be presented with the GoDaddy page that allows you to Search for a Domain Name.
This page allows you to enter a domain name so that Godaddy can check the availability of the domain name you want for you.
So just enter the domain name you wish to register and if possible go for a .Com first as it will have more value if your ever decide to sell it in the future. You can select a different TLD (top level domain) from the drop down list (eg: .net, .org, .biz etc). In the above example I am going to search for NEWDOMAINNAME.COM. After you enter your domain name click on GO.
You will then see a page that will tell you whether the domain name you entered is available or not. In my example above the domain is not available and has already been taken by someone else as shown by the screen image below.
Godday will also show the availablity of the same domain name with different TLDs and suggest a list of alternate but similar domain that might be of interest. However I recommend that if the .com is not available that you change the domain name somewhat and try again for another .com. You can do this by entering a new domain name into the Search Again box and then click on Search.
There are also many other domain name options (More Options) in the bottom half of the page and you might like to look at these to give you some ideas for alternative domain names.
Hopefully the next page you see is the one that tells you that the domain name you want is available. If the second domain is not available you will see the Already Taken screen again. If you are successful then you will see the Domain is Available screen below. This looks very sismilar to the Already Taken screen and allows you to select alternative domains or search again, but the message at the top is different and says “yournewdomain.com is available!“.
You are now in a position to buy the doamin name you want so click on the Add And Proceed To Checkout button to start the oder process.
You will then see the following screen…
Godaddy like to offer you more options (they like your money!) and they offer you more domain names to buy with different tlds on this page. They suggest that this will protect the domain name you really want to buy, but to be honest you don’t need to do this, so ignore the offers and just click on the NO THANKS button.
The Registration Information page will then be displayed and if you already have a Godaddy account you can login, otherwise you must enter your details so that the domain name can be registered in your name. So enter your details and press CONTINUE to complete the purchase process.
The default options for your purchase are displayed. You can change the number of years for which you wish to register the domain form the default of 2. By registering for more years you are ensuring that you don’t forget to pay the registration fee for the next year.
If you do forget to pay the fee on the renewal date you will lose the domain name, even if you have a website on it!
You don’t really have to worry about forgetting as Godday will always send you a reminder email (or more) to the email address you entered on the account registration form. But whatever you do don’t forget to check your email or change email accounts without updating your registration details.
Click on CONTINUE after you have set the Registration Length you want. You will then be present with the Secure Checkout page….
If you have a promo (tional) discount code you can enter it in the box provided, click on Apply Code and then see your Prices updated accordingly.
Next click on the relevant radio button to select the PAYMENT METHOD you want to use.
Finally you must click on the ALL the checkboxes to agree to Goddaddy’s UNIVERSAL TERMS.
When you have done this click on CONTINUE WITH CHECKOUT.
Next you must complete the information for your NEW Godaddy ACCOUNT:
(Please note that the details in the screenshot above are fictitious!)
Just enter the additional details required to setup your new account with GoDaddy.
Godaddy also ask if they can send you additional information…
I always set ALL of these to NO as I hate junk mail!!!
Next click on the CONTINUE WITH CHECKOUT button as shown above.
You will then be asked to enter your credit card details or other information for any different payment mehtod you might have selected:
When you have done this just click on the PLACE YOUR ORDER button and you are done!
Godaddy will also send an email to you at the email address you setup during registration to confirm your purchase.
NOTE: Don’t forget that when you find out or decide where you are going to host the website for the domain name you just purchased you will have to find out the names of the NAME SERVERS from your webhost (try Hostgator) and then go into your GoDaddy account and change them for your new domain name. You have to do this to ensure that your domain name is associated with the hosting account you create for your website at your web host. Essential!
Remember also that you don’t have to buy your hosting from Godaddy as well and I would strongly recommend that you get your Wordpress web hosting at Hostgator and not Godaddy!
Additional Information:
What To Do Before Before Installing Self-Hosted Wordpress
How To Order Linux Self-Hosted Wordpress Hosting from Hostgator
How to Install Wordpress in 5 Minutes or Less!
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