Launching a website can be exciting – until you reach an important decision point: which domain name to buy? With hundreds of domain extensions, different registrars, promotional prices, renewal fees and countless name combinations available, finding the right domain can quickly become overwhelming.
The good news is you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a professional web address. A cheap domain name can provide a great starting point for your business, blog, portfolio or online store without putting undue pressure on your budget.
In this guide, we’ll go over what a domain name is, how to find a cheap domain name, what to check before buying, how to do a domain name lookup, and how to find the best places to buy a domain for your needs.
Table of Contents
What Is a Domain Name?
A domain name is the unique address that people type in to get to your website. For example, on yourbusiness.com, the domain is “yourbusiness.com.”
A domain is an easy-to-remember replacement for an IP address which computers use to find websites. Instead of trying to get visitors to remember a long string of numbers, you can give them an easy-to-remember name.
A domain normally has:
- Name: The thing that identifies your brand or website
- Extension: Extensions such as.com,.net,.org and country specific extensions
- Registrar: The company you used to register the domain
For example:
yourbrand.com
Here, “yourbrand” is the domain name and “.com” is the domain extension.
Buying a domain doesn’t mean you automatically have a website. Depending on your project, you might also need web hosting, website software, an SSL certificate, and other services.
Why go for a cheap domain name?
When you are building a new website, the initial cost is a huge deal. A startup, freelancer, blogger or small business may not want to spend a large amount before the website starts generating traffic or revenue.
A cheap domain name can help you:
- Start Your Website on a Smaller Budget
- Develop an online brand
- Build a business professional identity
- Start a blog or portfolio
- Start an online store
- Set up branded email addresses
- Reserve a name before someone else takes it
Cheap doesn’t always mean better, though. Also, you’ll want to look beyond the first-year promotional price and think about the renewal cost, what’s included, transfer policies, and the domain provider’s reputation.
Cheap Domain Name vs Free Domain Name
You will see services that give you free domains or free subdomains. These can look attractive at first, especially if you’re testing an idea.
But there is one key difference.
A free subdomain could be something like:
yourbusiness.provider.com
A registered domain name might look like:
yourbusinesscom
Using a custom domain typically allows you to have more control over your online identity and gives your website a more professional look.
If you’re serious about building a business, personal brand, blog or online store, it’s usually worth considering registering your own domain.
How to Get the Best Cheap Domain Name
Getting a cheap domain is more than simply finding the lowest price. You want a name that is available, memorable, relevant and affordable over the long haul.
Here is a practical process to follow.
1. Begin with Your Brand or Website Concept
Before you open a domain search tool, write down a few words associated with your business or website.
For example, say you are launching a website selling handmade candles.
Some potential keywords include:
- Handmade
- Candle
- Glow
- Home
- Aroma
- Craft
- Light
Combine these words to generate potential domain ideas.
For example:
- ExampleGlow.com
- ExampleCandles.com
- ExampleCraft.com
The aim is to create a name a visitor can recall after seeing it just once.
2. Keep your domain name short and simple
They are generally easier to remember and to type.
Compare:
bestaffordablehandmadecandlesonline.com to: brightcandle.com
The second choice is more easy to communicate and remember.
If you are looking for a cheap domain name try to:
- Keep it pretty short
- Do not put too many figures
- No complicated spelling
- Too many dashes
- Help with pronunciation
- Easy to write
Consider how the name will sound when you are saying it to someone on the telephone.
If you have to spell it out three times, maybe it’s not the best choice.
3. Use a Domain Name Lookup Tool
When you’ve got a few ideas, use a domain name lookup tool to see if they are available.
You can do a domain check to see if that name has already been taken.
For example, if you want to:
newbusiness.com
you can check that name. If not available the search tool might suggest alternative extensions or related names.
And don’t stop after you check one name. Be prepared with a list of alternatives so you can move forward quickly.
4. Compare Different Domain Extensions
.com is one of the most recognisable domain extensions, but it’s not the only one you can choose.
Depending on your site, you may also wish to:
- .net
- .org
- .co
- .online
- .store
- .tech .
- Extensions by country
The correct extension depends on your audience and website purpose.
For example, an online store might want a commerce extension and an organization might want an extension that is commonly associated with organisations.
‘Don’t be tempted by the rock-bottom first-year price to take an unfamiliar extension. Think about where it fits your brand.
5. Review the Renewal Price
It is one of the most important things to verify before you buy a cheap domain name.
Some providers advertise a very low first year price. But the renewal price may be higher.
I just can’t shake it.
- Year 1: Promotional rate
- Year 2: Normal renewal price
The initial price may seem attractive, but your domain is a long-term asset. Therefore, compare the total cost rather than only the first-year discount.
Before completing your purchase check:
- First Year Sign up Price
- Price of renewal
- Transfer charges
- Privacy settings
- Taxes applicable
- Additional services
This simple check can save you nasty surprises down the road.
What Makes a Domain Name Valuable?
There is more to it than price.
A good domain should also be supportive of your brand and easy for people to find and remember your website.
What to look for.
Memorability
One look should be enough for people to remember the name.
Easy to Type
Avoid unusual spellings that might cause visitors to type the wrong address.
Pertinent to Your Brand
Your domain should be relevant to your company, project or content.
Flexible for Future Growth
Don’t pick a name that pigeonholes you into one product if you might expand later.
For instance, if you are currently selling only handmade soaps but have plans to add skincare products later, a more general brand name may be more versatile.
Specialist
Your domain is part of your digital identity. A clean professional name can make it easier to communicate across your website, email, social profiles and marketing materials.
How to Pick the Best Place to Buy a Domain Name
Oftentimes people look for the best place to buy a domain. There is no one provider that is automatically a good fit for every website.
Instead, evaluate providers on pragmatic considerations.
Price
Review the costs for registration and renewal.
Domain Administration
A good domain dashboard should easily:
- DNS records update
- Alter your domain
- Update nameservers
- Control contacts info
- Domain Transfers
Customer Support
If you’re new to domains and DNS settings, support can be especially important.
Security Features
Check out useful security and account-management features, like account protection and domain-locking options.
Confidentiality
Depending on extension and rules applicable, some registration information can be exposed less, through privacy-related features.
Other Services
Some of the providers also provide hosting, SSL certificates, email, website builders and other services with domains.
Convenient but don’t think you need all the add-ons. Buy only what you actually need for your website.
Common Mistakes When Buying Cheap Domains
The price may be low and tempting, but buying in haste can cause problems later.
Mistake 1: Focusing Only on Price
The cheapest domain isn’t always the best deal.
Always look at features and renewal costs
Mistake 2: Having a Complicated Name
Long names, weird spellings and too many hyphens can make your web site hard to remember.
Mistake 3: Mistake Forgetting Renewal Costs
Always make sure you know what you will be paying after the intro period.
Mistake 4: Overbuying Add-Ons
Other services may be offered at checkout. Look at each one of them closely and see if you really need it.
Mistake 5: Not Re-newing
A domain name can be an important part of your business. It can become a hassle losing it due to an expired registration.
If it is convenient for you, turn on auto-renewal and keep your payment details current.
A Real Life Example
Suppose Priya wants to start an online business selling handmade home decorations.
She finds a space called:
www.priyahomedecor.com
Before buying it, she does a domain name lookup and sees if the name is available.
She compares a few providers and finds one who is cheaper in the first year. But the other provider has a bit higher initial cost but lower renewal cost.
Priya compares rather than just choosing on the basis of the promotional price:
- Registration fees
- Cost of renewal
- Domain management utilities
- Privacy settings
- Customer Support
- Transfer Policies
She then selects the option that is best for her needs in the long run and connects the domain to her hosting account.
This is a better way to go about it than just searching for the cheapest domain out there.
Advantages of Purchasing the Right Domain
Choosing the right domain can have many long term benefits.
1. Builds Your Online Profile
It helps your domain become a recognisable part of your brand.
2. Makes your website more memorable
Simple Name – Easier for Customers to Return to Your Website
3. Enables professional communication
You can also use a custom domain for branded email addresses such as:
Short and relevant domains can be easier to fit in advertisements, business cards, social media profiles and offline marketing.
5. Offers Greater Brand Control
When you own a domain, you have more control over your website’s web address instead of being completely dependent on a third-party platform.
How to Get a Cheap Domain Name Today
So you are ready to register a domain. Here is a quick checklist:
- What is your website or brand concept?
- Brainstorm 5-10 potential domain names.
- Verify the domain name of each option.
- Add-ons available compare.
- Check the first-year and renewal rates.
- Review security and privacy features.
- Avoid unnecessary add-ons.
- Check the domain management tools of the provider.
- Choose an easy to spell, simple and memorable name.
- Register your domain before someone else does.
Cheap Domain Name Good for Business?
Yes, a cheap domain can work for a business, as long as the domain is professional and the provider has the features you need.
There is no reason a cheaper domain name will make your business look unprofessional. Your website design and content, branding, customer experience, security and overall online presence matter, too.
The trick is not to confuse cheap pricing with poor quality.
When you check out, don’t just go for the lowest number. Go for a domain that gives you good value in the long run.
FAQ’s
1. What is the least expensive way to obtain a domain name?
The cost depends on the domain extension and the registrar. Promotional offers can reduce the first year price but you should always check the renewal price before buying.
2. How to get a cheap domain?
Start with a few brief and brand relevant ideas and check for their availability using a domain name lookup tool. Then, compare registration, renewal, privacy and management features across providers.
3. What should I look for before buying a domain?
Check out the domain’s availability, registration price, renewal price, extension, transfer rules, privacy options and management features of the registrar.
4. Is.com better than other domain extensions?
.com is the most popular, but the best extension for your brand depends on your audience, availability, and budget. Other extensions may be suitable for specific websites.
5. Am I allowed to use my domain with any hosting provider?
Usually, you can link a registered domain to another hosting provider by changing the DNS or nameserver settings. The specific process varies depending on your domain registrar and hosting company.
Closing
When you find a cheap domain name you don’t have to sacrifice a professional image for your website. The smartest way to do it is to look at the whole cost and value of a domain, rather than just looking at the intro price.
Select a name that is easy to remember, check its availability as a domain name, look at the cost of various extensions and renewals, check what the registrar has to offer and make sure the domain name can grow with your website.
Ready to get your online presence built? Search for your perfect domain name today, compare your options and register the one that suits your brand and your budget. It all starts with a web address that is memorable.
