How Much Does It Cost To Register A Dmain

Ownership a domain proper noun is a large decision.

On one hand, you want to go the best name possible because you know that it'southward an important office of your brand. On the other hand, your budget is limited, so yous demand to be set up to compromise.

But how much does a domain name cost? And as well: how much should you lot be willing to spend on a domain name?

Why Your Domain Proper name Matters

You might call back that your domain name is not a large deal. After all, it's but a spider web address, not a visitor name, right?

All the same, the reality is that choosing a domain name is a very important decision because it affects your branding, your traffic, and your brownie.

So you lot'd similar to boot off your freelancing business only have no idea how much your domain volition cost, uh? 😵 We ran the numbers and put together this guide to assist y'all make the best phone call! Click to Tweet

Your Domain Name and Branding

People often think that the give-and-take "make" means a visitor name.

However, a brand is much more that, your brand is the overall visitor image that you present to the world.

It'south of import to make sure that everything in your business concern, from the company name to the domain name to the website design to the content to the tone of voice, works together and conveys the image that you lot want to convey.

Imagine that y'all are conducting a job interview and you think that the candidate is slap-up.

She is professional person, she has the relevant experience, she seems like a peachy fit in terms of the company culture…

Merely when she leaves, you take another look at her resume and you notice that her email address is [electronic mail protected].

No criminal offense to the sk8ergurls out in that location, but let'due south keep it existent: an email address like that would make yous question your original impression of her.

Well, it'south the same with branding. If everything about your company conveys a sure image simply your domain name doesn't fit that paradigm at all, information technology will put potential customers on guard.

And the final thing you want to do is requite them a reason to be suspicious.

Your Domain Name and Traffic

Your domain name plays a role in search rankings.

Equally the SEO skillful Brian Dean explains in his article "Google's 200 Ranking Factors: The Complete List (2019)", while putting keywords in the domain name doesn't requite you the boost that information technology used to, it still serves every bit a relevancy signal.

As well, if the target keyword appears equally the kickoff word in the domain proper noun, it will give yous an edge over websites that take that same keyword in the middle or at the end of a domain proper name (or not at all).

Moreover, there'due south also the direct traffic aspect to consider, significant the people who get to your website by typing your address in their browser.

If your domain proper noun is hard to call up you will lose some of these people because they will misspell it and volition get taken to… God knows where.

Remember, ownership traffic is expensive, and then you need to do everything y'all can to maximize your organic traffic.

Credibility

Non all domain names are created equal.

According to Growth Badger inquiry, .com is the most trusted TLD extension out there.

Likewise, when people misremember a website address, they are 3.8 times more likely to presume that it ends in .com than anything else.

Here's how the most popular domain extensions stack up in terms of perceived trustworthiness:

TLDs compared in terms of perceived trustworthiness

Of course, it's important to remember that this was presumably washed with a generic 1500 people sample, which means that your target audience might perceive certain domain extensions differently.

For example, .io extension might seem weird to nigh people, but it'southward probably condom to say that techies trust it given how trendy it is in the tech globe.

There are also regional extensions to consider. For example, if y'all are targeting a Lithuanian audience, then using the .lt extension is perfectly fine but people outside of Republic of lithuania probably wouldn't be receptive to it.

All this means that you need to give your domain name the idea information technology deserves.

How Much Should You Expect to Pay for a Domain Name?

A domain name is the written counterpart of an IP accost, which is a cord of numbers.

The price related to ownership a domain name varies co-ordinate to different aspects, with its availability and its Top-Level Domain existence the two most important. In fact, unavailable domain names require y'all to make an offer to the current owner, which isn't regulated by any maximum price (lasvegas.com was sold for $90 1000000).

When it comes to Top-Level Domains, instead, you can await to pay anything from $0.99 up to hundreds or thousands of dollars. On average, though, domain names cost from $0.99 up to $12 per month.

How to Choose a Domain Name

As we have explained in our article How to Cull a Domain Name, there are vi chief things that you need to consider when y'all're buying one.

1. Your Domain Name Should Exist Easy to Remember

You lot want to make sure that your domain name is easy to remember. But what exactly does that mean?

Basically, the more items you ask someone to call back, the harder it is for them to do that.

When information technology comes to domain names, every give-and-take and symbol is a separate item, which is something to keep in mind when you are considering various options.

For example, www.luciddreaming.com is easier to remember than world wide web.world-of-lucid-dreaming.com (note that hyphen use is especially confusing).

Try to keep your domain curt, avoid using symbols, and get a well-known extension.

two. Your Domain Proper name Should Be Easy to Type on Mobile Devices

Do you know what happened on June 29th, 2007?

I'll requite you a few hints: Apple. Steve Jobs. iPhone. Yes, you guessed it: on that day Steve Jobs presented the first iPhone, which changed the earth forever.

Now, a footling bit more than a decade later, nosotros are all struggling with smartphone addiction, and we got to the betoken where dumbphones are making a comeback. Just what does this have to do with domain names?

Well, in the first quarter of 2019, mobile traffic accounted for 48.71% of global website traffic and it's safe to say that this number is merely going to increase.

This means that information technology's best if your domain name is easy to type on a mobile phone.

three. Your Domain Name Should Be Optimized for Search Engines

A keyword in the domain name won't give yous a huge advantage over your competitors in terms of search rankings.

Notwithstanding, information technology tin can requite y'all a slight edge, which is cypher to scoff at given how crazy the competition to announced on the first folio of Google'southward search results is.

That beingness said, it is not necessary, and then if y'all can't find a style to comprise a keyword in your domain name then don't push it.

iv. Your Domain Name Should Be Brandable

Your domain proper name needs to brandable.

Basically, when people hear your domain name, it needs to audio like a legit concern in your manufacture and have a hip vibe.

And so, for case, if you were starting a remote jobs board, you could proper noun it world wide web.remotejobsboard.com… But doesn't remoteok.io sound much ameliorate?

Of course, you lot need to take industry standards into account, boring names work for businesses that demand to announced formal.

Say, if you run a funeral domicile, then information technology's important to be serious, no i wants to concord a wake in a "hip" funeral home.

However, yous probably don't need to exist formal, so get artistic!

5. Your Domain Proper name Shouldn't Suspension Any Legal Terms

There was a time when the Internet was the Wild West.

Those days are long gone. At present it's full of corporations with deep pockets that will sue you lot into defalcation if you lot even look at them the incorrect manner. That'south why information technology's important to be careful.

Imagine this. You lot come up up with a keen name. Y'all annals it. Yous launch your website. And then, merely as your business starts gaining momentum, you are hitting with a cease and desist letter.

"What the… ??" is your first thought.

But then, as you decipher the legalese, you realize that apparently your domain proper noun is trademarked, which means that you are in a world of trouble.

You can avoid this by doing due diligence.

For example, you tin cheque Us trademarks on the Us Patent and Trademark Office's website.

Alternatively, yous can check for the trademarks for whatever state yous want to operate in through the local equivalent of the USPTO.

And, of course, Google can assistance you lot as well, considering if nothing comes upward on it, and so you probably don't need to worry.

Now, unfortunately, if you lot came up with a absurd name, the chances are that you are not the starting time person to practice so, which means that you might finish upward having to get back to the drawing board.

Nevertheless, go on in mind that finding yourself back at square one is much better than getting hit with a lawsuit, so don't cutting corners here.

vi. Pick the Right TLD for Your Domain Proper noun

Your TLD affects your credibility, then it's important to choose wisely.

Check out this graph on the topic:

TLDs ranked based on trust, memorability, and times used

These are the extensions that yous should consider if you lot are serving a global audience.

Of course, .com domain names are much more than expensive than the rest, so you might have to compromise there if you don't have the budget for information technology.

Don't Get Stuck in Assay Paralysis

Choosing your domain proper name is a serious decision. Y'all should treat it with respect and give it the thought information technology deserves.

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That existence said, information technology's also of import to not become stuck in analysis paralysis. A expert domain proper noun that yous can register today is improve than a perfect domain name that takes three months to come upwardly with.

What to Do if Yous Tin't Get the Domain Name You lot Desire?

It'south not e'er possible to get the domain name you desire. What should you do then?

It might exist unavailable or parked. Yous tin contact the owner and brand them an offer. Alternatively, y'all can modify your domain proper noun past adding a discussion to it. For example, if you are using your product name, consider adding the word "go" to it, every bit Drip did with www.getdrip.com.

Information technology might be outside your budget. Y'all tin significantly reduce the cost of your domain name by choosing a less popular domain extension. Only don't go overboard with this. A whacky extension that no one has e'er seen before might injure your brand.

It might be trademarked, like "WordPress". When that's the case it'due south best to but drop the idea and go back to the drawing board. Don't play with fire if you lot don't want to get burned.

Aye, it's really abrasive when y'all tin can't get a domain name that y'all want, merely your but pick is to go creative. And who knows, mayhap you'll come up up with something even better?

How Much Does a Domain Proper name Cost?

And so, how much does a domain proper noun price? That'southward a pretty tricky question to answer since the domain proper name cost range is insane.

On GoDaddy, for instance, you can get an .xyz domain name for $0.99. While world wide web.lasvegas.com was sold for $ninety million back in 2005.

Now, this is the full range of domain name prices, $0.99 and $90 million represents the contrary ends of the spectrum.

But what determines how much a domain name costs?

Availability

Apparently, if the domain name is available, it volition exist cheaper than information technology would be if it were already owned by someone. Wanting something that but one person tin sell you puts you in a very weak position when it comes to negotiating the price.

This is especially truthful if that person tin look you lot upward and determine that yous accept money. In fact, there are people who intentionally buy domain names that someone might want in the future.

It'due south best to come upwards with a domain name that is available if you desire to relieve money.

Keywords

Keywords vary wildly in terms of the search book which impacts the cost of the domains that use a particular keyword.

Moreover, they also vary in terms of profitability, which also affects how much a domain name with a item keyword costs.

For example, the keyword "Las Vegas" has massive search volume, since in that location's ever a lot of people who want to visit Las Vegas. Additionally, this keyword is incredibly piece of cake to monetize since tourists need a identify to stay, a car to rent, shows to see, etc.

That explains www.lasvegas.com'southward $90 meg price tag.

However, since keywords in the domain proper name don't matter equally much as they used to, information technology's probably best to use a unique proper noun without lucrative keywords.

Domain Extension

Your option of a domain extension tin take a massive impact on the domain name price.

Basically, if y'all want that .com, you ameliorate be willing to pay top dollar for it.

For example, when Kyle Byers did his domain extension study, he used a fabricated up domain name "mattressranking.tld."

At that time, yous could get that domain name with a reputable domain extension for $12-$15, with the exception of the .com extension which price an boosted $iv,250.

You need to evaluate whether yous actually need .com (or non). How important credibility is to you lot?

Don't Forget the Extra Costs

Information technology'south like shooting fish in a barrel to focus so much on purchasing a domain proper noun that you lot forget well-nigh the boosted costs associated with information technology.

Obviously, a domain proper name is not a one-off purchase, it needs to be renewed every yr, which will generally price you the same corporeality of money that you paid to go information technology (expensive domain names are an exception to this because they cost much more to purchase than to maintain).

Notwithstanding, and then there are also various add-ons that you can buy, the most popular of which is privacy protection that ensures that your personal or business details don't come when people await upwardly your domain name.

Generally, these extra costs don't add upward likewise much but it'southward still something that yous should keep in mind.

How Much Should Yous Pay for a Domain Name?

Okay, so how much should you pay for a domain proper name?

Well, it all depends on your budget, if you are a billionaire and want to buy www.lasvegas.com, go for information technology.

However, you probably aren't a billionaire, which means that y'all need to think carefully about how much you are willing to invest in a domain name.

There is a common mistake that showtime-time entrepreneurs make. They employ their express startup capital letter to create an appearance of a serious business. They get an expensive domain name, custom web design, concern cards, etc. Just all that isn't doing business, it's playing business concern.

Sure, y'all need to await professional, but you shouldn't let that distract you lot from what really puts coin in your pocket, which is selling your products or services.

Basically, when yous are just starting out, yous should just be spending money on things that directly contribute to your bottom line. Everything else can wait.

Thefacebook.com 2004 — Thefacebook.com, in 2004 (Image source: web.archive.org)

For case, when Mark Zuckerberg launched Facebook in 2004, it was called The Facebook and hosted on www.thefacebook.com.

Facebook purchased its electric current domain proper name in 2005 for $200,000.

At that point, Mark Zuckerberg had validated his thought, the social network was growing quickly, and Facebook had already received their first investment from the PayPal founder Peter Thiel.

Zuckerberg wanted to call his social network Facebook from the start, but the domain proper noun wasn't available, so he simply added the word "the" to information technology and got to work.

When you are just starting out, you need to exist scrappy, you want to employ that startup capital to requite yourself as much rails as possible.

That ways getting a inexpensive domain name, even if it's non the one that you really desire, and focusing on generating revenue.

Once y'all become your business concern off the ground, y'all can invest in a better domain name by getting a better proper name, a improve extension, or both.

Be patient. If y'all take a viable business organization thought then you volition eventually take plenty money to comfortably afford a meliorate domain name. But don't put the cart earlier the horse.

Where You Tin Buy a Domain Name

Companies that sell domain names are called domain registrars.

There are quite a few domain registrars out there. How can you decide which 1 should you go with?

What Should You Look For In A Domain Registrar?

We discussed this in-depth in our "How to Select the Best Domain Registrar (Our Recommendations)" article.

Here are the nigh important things that you should expect for:

Low pricing. You don't desire to spend more coin than you have to. Fortunately, the contest in this manufacture is fierce, so all major companies offer affordable pricing.

Free WHOIS protection. People can look up the details of whatever domain name and find out who owns it. This might nowadays privacy issues. Information technology's best to use WHOIS protection which prevents snoopers from seeing this data.

Machine-renewals. If you don't renew a domain proper noun it somewhen goes back on the market. This might crusade serious problems if some enterprising individual snatches your domain name and and then offers to sell information technology dorsum to you for a substantial amount of coin. That'due south why information technology'south best to go with a domain registrar that automatically renews your domain name.

Also, if a domain registrar is non transparent nigh their pricing, yous should encounter that as a red flag and stay away.

Some other thing to watch out for is a bad user interface. You shouldn't need a computer scientific discipline Ph.D. to effigy out how to do bones tasks such as parking or transferring domains.

Finally, if a domain registrar doesn't offer 24/7 customer support, it might be too risky to employ their services. What if something goes incorrect and yous need firsthand assist? Yous tin lose a lot of money in potential revenue if the trouble isn't solved right away.

GoDaddy vs Namecheap

Even if you follow the criteria provided above, choosing the right company might exist challenging.

You can simplify this task by narrowing the list downward to the 2 near popular options: GoDaddy and Namecheap.

GoDaddy

GoDaddy is the nigh popular domain registrar in the manufacture, with over 18 million customers.

However, beingness the biggest doesn't always mean it'due south the best. If you look at reviews online regarding GoDaddy you lot'll most likely find a lot of negative. They offer a variety of services, such as WordPress hosting, and therefore this will also touch their reputation if one product isn't as proficient as some other.

Namecheap

Namecheap is another popular domain proper name provider and i of GoDaddy'southward biggest competitors. According to their press release, they manage over 10 million domains.

Which One Should You lot Go With?

It'south best to look up your desired domain name on both websites to see which company can offer you a better deal.

Namecheap offers .com domains at a lower cost than GoDaddy (both for the offset year and on renewal). Nonetheless it's important to recall that money is non the only thing that matters, so yous might want to have a closer expect at GoDaddy's and Namecheap'southward runway record in terms of their views and their behavior to see which visitor's values resonate with you more.

Non sold on GoDaddy or Namecheap? Make sure to read our Google Domain Reviews (Pros vs Cons) blog post.

Summary

Your domain name matters. But do you know what'south even more than of import? Your cashflow.

Certain, don't be stingy with your domain name, yous probably need something more serious than a $0.99 one.

All the same, don't blow tons of coin on information technology either because it won't make or break your business.

Get an affordable domain name, launch your website, and start hustling.

You can ever upgrade once you lot are generating acquirement. Or even sell your site.

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