Step 1: Choose Your Name
✓ Good Domain Names
- • Short (under 15 characters ideal)
- • Easy to spell when heard
- • Easy to remember
- • No hyphens or numbers
- • Matches your business/brand name
✗ Avoid
- • Hyphens (hard to say: "dash" or "hyphen"?)
- • Numbers (is it "4" or "four"?)
- • Trademarked names (legal trouble)
- • Hard-to-spell words
- • Extremely long names
Step 2: Pick Your Extension
For most people: .com
It's the most recognized, trusted, and remembered extension. Always try for .com first.
If .com is taken:
- • Try modifying your name (add "get", "try", "hq")
- • Consider .co, .io, or .net
- • For nonprofits: .org
Step 3: Choose a Registrar
We recommend these beginner-friendly registrars:
- Porkbun: Cheapest, simple interface, free privacy
- Namecheap: Good value, lots of features, established
- Cloudflare: At-cost pricing, great for tech-savvy users
Avoid: GoDaddy (expensive renewals, aggressive upselling)
Step 4: Register Your Domain
- Go to your chosen registrar's website
- Search for your desired domain name
- If available, add to cart
- Create an account
- Enable WHOIS privacy (should be free)
- Complete payment ($10-15 for .com)
- Done! You own it for 1 year
After Registration
Enable Auto-Renew
Don't lose your domain because you forgot to renew. Turn on auto-renewal immediately.
Point It Somewhere
Connect it to your website builder (Squarespace, Wix, WordPress) or hosting. Each platform has instructions.
Set Up Email
Get a professional email like you@yourdomain.com. Options: Google Workspace, Zoho Mail (free tier), or email forwarding.
Quick Checklist
☐ Name is short, memorable, easy to spell
☐ No hyphens or numbers
☐ Not trademarked by someone else
☐ .com extension (or good alternative)
☐ Registered at reputable registrar
☐ Privacy protection enabled
☐ Auto-renew turned on