Monday, October 15, 2012

How Do I Get A Web Address?

Recently, one of my LinkedIn training classes turned into a mini internet marketing session, and the very familiar question came up regarding obtaining a domain name.  I promised I would send the class participants information on how to register a domain name with GoDaddy along with a link for them to get a Google Voice number (I will write about how to get a Google Voice number in my next post).  What I did not have time to mention to them is their domain name could be as simple as their name (yourname.com) or they could use their company name (yourcompanyname.com).  I also didn’t get to mention that if they are in business, it is a good idea to have an email address that contains their domain name instead of using an @gmail.com, @aol.com or @yahoo.com address.

Answer: Following are the instructions that I promised to send:


First, go to www.GoDaddy.com. Type in the domain name of interest into the domain search box (such as GetAnswersToQuestions which you see in the example below). You may choose whether you want a .com, .co, .info, .net, .org, .me or .mobi, .us, .biz, etc. by clicking on the drop down arrow on the “.com” button on the search tool.  After you have selected the domain name extension, click the “GO” button.

If the domain name "is already taken", you will see a message such as the one you see in the next screen shot below (i.e., GetAnswersToQuestions.com is already taken.)  You will also see an option to do a whois search or use GoDaddy’s Domain Buy Service to get the name by other means.  If you’d like more information on this click on the link GoDaddy provides.


If the domain name is available, you will see a message like the one you see in the following screen shot (i.e., GetAnswersToQuestions.com is available.)  You are now ready to purchase your domain.  Click on the “Add” button.


Once you have clicked on the “Add” button, it will turn grey and now say, “Added.”  You may then proceed to the next step.


Click on the “Continue to Registration” button in the right column under Order Summary.


You will come to a page where you will be given a choice to create a GoDaddy account or log in if you already have a GoDaddy account.  This is Step 1 of the registration process.


Fill-in the required domain registration information.

Click on the "Next" button.

You will then see a check next to Step 1 “Domain Registration Information” indicating that this step is complete. Review the information listed under Step 2 “Your Domain Settings.”  Under this section you will see your domain name, registration length, registration contact information, and a section that reads certified domain.  The section that reads “Your Domain Name” gives you an option to view and edit all domains; under “Registration Length” click on the drop-down arrow and choose how many years you want to register your domain for; “Registration Contact” gives you the opportunity to edit your contact information; and “Certified Domain” allows you to have a certified domain name or an uncertified domain name.  When you are done, click on the “Next” button.

This will bring you to step 3 “Your Privacy and Domain Protection.”  Here you can select from three registration types (Standard Registration, Privacy with Business Registration or Protected Registration). This decision is totally up to you – you can choose to either keep your domain registration information private or make it public.  Public registration is free of charge.  Review the items in the left column and the items checked in each row under the registration types.  This will help you choose which domain registration type is best for you.

Keep working your way down the screen.  You will see that GoDaddy has provided you with several options that will help you build and host your website, help you get email addresses with your domain name as the extension, and help you protect your information.  Make your selections and click “Next” to continue.

This will bring you to a page prompting you to review your shopping cart.  This page will give you your domain registration details, quantity, any discounts that you received, total price, an option to add other domain extensions such as, .net, .org, or .info.  In addition, you will see your order summary.  You will want to review this information to make sure everything is correct, and that you have added matching domains if you wish.  When you are ready to checkout, click on the “Continue to Checkout” button.

You will now be asked to create a GoDaddy account for checkout.  You will notice that this page looks very similar to the page you used to fill-in your domain registration information in Step 1.  The difference is that one is used to make your domain registration information public in the Whois search database.  GoDaddy will use the other information for your payment and checkout information.  If you had a GoDaddy account prior to this purchase, enter your customer number or GoDaddy login name and password.  If not, fill-in numbers 1 through 4 of the “Create a New Account” section. Click on the “Continue to Checkout” button.

The next page will ask for your payment information.  Fill-in the information in numbers 1 through 4 and click the “Place Order Now” button.

That’s it!  Your order is now complete.  You are now the proud owner of a domain name!  Make sure you review the final page for the special offers that GoDaddy is giving to you.  These offers will help you get started on building your personal or business website, and getting an email address that includes your domain name, such as janedoe@yourcompany.com.


Definitions:
2. What is GoDaddy?     
3. Whois Database

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