Choosing your domain name, registering it and finding a hosting solution can feel like an overwhelming process. Use this checklist to help you manage the process without missing a step.
#1 First thing, you need to create a list of potential domain names that end in .com.
The names you choose sound professional and support the business vision, brand, and mission. They should be easy to remember, easy to spell, and unique.
#2 You have identified a preferred domain registrar service.
The domain registrar can be the same provider as my website host. Or it is not the same provider as the website host. (Note: If you didn’t register your domain name with the service provider who is providing the hosting services, you need to transfer your domain name to your chosen hosting service.)
#3 For branding purposes and not only: you need to register your domain(s) including your primary domain name and relevant and supporting domain names. For example, business.com, business.biz, business.net.
#4 You need to double checked to make sure that the contact information is correct with your domain registrar.
#5 One of the things that most people forget to do and end up in despair: to set the domains to auto-renew. This step prevents you from missing a notification email and accidentally losing the domain name.
#6 You can chose to register your domain as:
- Private
- Public
#7 You have verified your information in the Whois database. (Note: Unless you specified Whois privacy during the registration process, your contact information should show up on the master Whois database within 24 hours.) What you need to do is to go to whois.domaintools.com and search for your domain name to see how it appears in the Whois database.
#8 When choosing your hosting you need to check the following:
- Web space – the amount of storage your website will require on the web server.
- Bandwidth – the measure of traffic, both into and out of, your website.
- Price
- Support, Uptime and Backup
- Telephone support
- 24/7 Customer support
- An online trouble ticket/help desk system
- Email support
- High percentage of uptime
- Daily automatic back-ups
- Plan provides all the features I require
- Secure Socket Layer (SSL) – A protocol used to provide extra security for ecommerce transactions.
#9 Set up your business email addresses with your website host. It looks professional and you have less chances that your email is considered spam.
#10 Next step is to choose a template, hire a designer, and/or put up a placeholder page so visitors will find information rather than a blank page.
Once you’ve completed these 10 steps, you’re ready to start creating content for your website and driving traffic. Congratulations!