Ragister:

Register Your Domain

Once you've decided on a great domain name, where do you go to sign up? In order to buy a domain name, you'll need to go through a domain name registrar. These are companies authorized to sell and register domain names.

How much should I pay?

Registering your domain name will cost anywhere from a few dollars to around $40 per year. Companies will often give you discounts if you register for multiple years.

Don't forget to renew your domain

Your domain name will expire if you don't renew it at the end of the registration period. This could lead to your website being unavailable when people come to visit.

A quality domain registrar

The old saying that you get what you pay for is true. Look for these characteristics of a reliable domain registrar:

• has been in business for some time with a good track record
• customer service is available via phone or email
• offers competitive pricing
• allows easy updating of registration information

Our recommendation

We have used GoDaddy.com as our registrar for several years and have enjoyed excellent service. Pricing is around $9 per year for each name you register. We've had our questions answered quickly through either their thorough online help or customer service emails. They are also available via phone. GoDaddy frequently has domain sales with reduced prices.