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List of the Best Cheap Domain Names and Domain Name Registrars

(ordered by price)

Here is a list of some of the best, cheapest and most popular domain name registrars with the best current domain name pricing.

iPower - Domain names for $6.50/yr. - (Still reviewing this one, but looks like a good deal)

GoDaddy - Domain names for $9.95/yr.  A large and well respected registrar. Also the best tool for searching for available domain names.

Yahoo - Domain names for $9.95/yr. (Their $1.99 offer has expired as of 11/9/07).

Dotster.com   - Domains for $14.95/yr, (.biz special, $2.99 for the first year)

NetworkSolutions - Domains from $34.99/yr, maybe cheaper than above for some country specific Domain Names.

This List Last Updated 11/9/2007

Getting a Domain Name - Do I need one?

You may not need a domain name, if you are doing an extremely low budget website, with a free hosting company, but they offer several advantages. Domain names are typically $10 /year.

bulletYour own domain name will give you credibility and looks more professional
bulletA domain name that is descriptive of your business will usually rank higher in search engines
bulletCan be much easier for your customers to remember
bulletYou can take it with you from host to host*
bulletIf/When you change hosting companies, you wont have to inform customers of a new website name.

For example would you rather tell your friends, check out my website at:
        www.angelfire.com/randomword/yourname/home.htm

or have your own domain and say:
        www.yourname.com

It is very easy to check if a domain name is in use, by checking with any of the various registrars.  If you find one you like you may want to just buy it before someone else does, I have even heard stories of people finding a domain name available and in a matter of days someone has already bought it.  Some people watch what domain names are searched and then buy them simply to make a profit by reselling the domain name.  So if you see one that looks great and is available, BUY IT QUICKLY.  Most of the good ones are already taken, so you may have to get creative and try several names (use a thesaurus).  Domain names are purchased from a registrar and prices vary from registrar to registrar. 

Buying Domain Names with Hosting Packages - Beware

Many hosting companies give free domain names with a hosting package.  It is recommended that you purchase a domain name separately from a registrar instead of from your hosting company because of the numerous horror stories of web developers who bought a domain name along with a hosting package, decided to change hosting companies, and then the hosting company making it extremely difficult if not impossible to change hosts. In essence many hosting companies have been known to hold your domain name hostage. Furthermore, once you get a hosting company, DO NOT transfer your registrar to the hosting company. Keep it with an independent registrar, so you can change hosting painlessly if the need arises.

See also: my Review of Budget Web Hosting Companies - Many offer free domain names with a hosting package.

If someone has already grabbed the domain name you want, you may be able to by buy it at:
www.sedo.com  they also offer "domain name parking."

Domain Name Parking - if you own domain names which you don't currently use you can have them parked, at companies such as www.sedo.com and possibly make a little money from them, and or put them up for sale. Sedo will "park" them for you, filling the page with affiliate ads, which as people visit and click on the ads, generate a small residual income to the domain name owner.

Next Step:  Designing your webpage

 

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