WHAT IS A DOMAIN NAME?

Simply put, a domain name is like a parcel of land. 

If you buy a parcel of land, you own that land. No one can build a structure on your land without your say-so as long as you pay your yearly taxes and fees. When you have the time and the funds, you can build whatever structure you see fit on your land as long as it meets proper regulations.

If you buy a domain name, you own that domain name. No one can build a website on your domain name without your say-so as long as you pay your yearly fees. When you have the time and the funds, you can build whatever website you see fit on your domain name as long as it meets proper regulations.

The parcel of land or domain name can be vacant for years until you are ready to do something with it. So take your time until you are prepared to take on this challenge.

WHY GET A DOMAIN NAME?

A domain name is crucial if you want your own space on the internet. Much like social media handles, every domain is unique. Your domain name becomes the foundation and address for your website. When brainstorming your brand, you should buy your domain name before you create your social media accounts. There’s nothing worse than setting up your social media accounts and finding out the domain name you want is unavailable.

HOW MUCH IS A DOMAIN NAME?

Most domain names are relatively cheap. For example, at https://domains.google/ you can buy a domain for the affordable price of $12/yr. Although, some domain names will be more expensive. You will want to do your research before committing to your purchase.

WHERE CAN I PURCHASE A DOMAIN NAME?

I have no affiliation with the websites below, but these are some solid choices when looking for a domain name.

• https://domains.google/
  • $12 per year
  • Easy to purchase and search
  • Quick and easy
• https://www.godaddy.com/domainsearch/
  • $19.99 per year
  • Reliable hosting and built-in website builder
  • Great support via email or phone call
• https://www.namecheap.com/domains/domain-name-search/
  • $13.98 per year
  • Routinely offers discounts on domain names

WHAT KIND OF DOMAIN NAMES ARE AVAILABLE?

Before buying a domain name, you should research what kind of suffix you want for your website. Most websites (this one included) ends in “.com” but there are hundreds of endings you can choose depending on what kind of website you are making. Some popular examples are “.net”, “.org”, “.me”, “.blog”, and “.tech”. When choosing your suffix, the less common endings aren’t widely known but it would make more sense to make a personal blog with “.blog” than with “.com”.

WHERE DOES SMALL BUSINESS AND SUNDRY COME IN?

If you need assistance in getting a website in West Virginia, Small Business and Sundry can help with that! It wouldn’t take long at all to find the perfect website for your new business or hobby and we can work on getting your website fine-tuned exactly how you want it. Check out our home page to see our pricing before getting started.