I can let you know the specific instant I started feeling like a real professional: whenever I registered the domain “bluehost.com."

Although my website was live for a few weeks previously, getting it under my name makes it seem a whole lot more legitimate.

But there is much more to owning a domain name than appearing official. Keep reading to learn why everybody should purchase 1 pronto, and the way to take action and what to think about as you are picking yours outside.



Wait, What is a Domain?
For anybody catching up, let us return to the fundamentals: What is a domain name, anyhow? Consider it as the title of a Site.

But that is not the sole "domain name extension," as this component is called. There are a great deal of alternatives, from the simple (such as “.org," “.net," and ". Biz,") into the more creative (such as ".

As soon as you've purchased a domain name, it is yours for as long as you continue paying for it. That is important: If somebody had come along before me and bought “ajafrost.com," I probably would have never gotten the opportunity to own it. When potential customers, companies, and links Googled my name, the other individual's website would develop--and who knows which sort of site it'd be.

Owning your first and last name is so important I would recommend purchasing the corresponding domain name ASAP even when you're not prepared to make a personal site or portfolio yet.



Why Should I Have One?
As I learned firsthand, acquiring a customized domain provides you an immediate credibility boost. It is irrelevant whether you are using a private website that will assist you land a work, improve your visibility in your area or industry, locate freelance gigs, showcase your job, or market your new: The more credibility you have, the better.

Additionally, custom domain names are often much easier to recall than normal ones. Imagine you told somebody you met at a media event to take a look at your website, “janedoeportfolio.squarespace.com." He will probably forget the connection by the time he has in front of his notebook. But, "janedoe.bio" will probably be a breeze to recall. These titles also look a whole lot more sleek when you set them on business cards, even at the header of your resume, or anywhere else you may be directing people to find out more about you.

Whenever someone enters your initial and last name into Google, they are a lot more inclined to understand your site if its domain matches their hunt. When you hunt "Aja Frost," for Instance, my Website is the First Thing comes up:
This offers you the opportunity to actually have the dialogue around your private brand, ensuring people see exactly what you need them to see first.

Last, buying a domain name is a excellent investment as it includes the choice to create a personalized email address. Let's say that your domain name has been “jonsnow.com." Your email address might be anything accompanied by "@jonsnow.



Ideally, you are likely to be holding on to the domain name for quite a very long time, so picking the best one is crucial.

When you are Thinking of a domain name, ask yourself these questions:

Can it be comparatively brief? Super long domains are tough to recall and kind. If people emotionally stumble more than stating your URL, it is going to eliminate some of its effect.
Can it be unique to me? You are attempting to boost your individual brand, so select a domain name which helps with this.
To check if or not a domain name is available, attempt Squarespace's domain search engine.

I would begin by looking up your initial and last name followed by “.com." This arrangement is memorable, important, and distinctive--and as I talked about before, owning your title provides you more control over the internet identity.

If your name is not available with all the “.com" expansion, then look at using a separate extension. By way of instance, you may use ". Specialist" if you would like to keep it professional, ". Finance" if you would like to connect it to your own profession, or ". Fyi" if you would like to put in a little humor and character. The choices are fairly endless.

It is also possible to experiment with various variations in your name. Here are some thoughts:

As an alternative, you can integrate your interests or profession. Here are a few more thoughts:



How Can I Purchase a Domain?
You have a few choices. Domain registrars such as GoDaddy and Register.com allow you to opt for a domain name and register it to get a fee (generally ranging from $3 to $70 depending on just how desirable they believe that domain name is). If you would like it for another 12 months, then you pay a renewal fee that is frequently somewhat higher than the enrollment one. You will also have the choice to pay extra to receive an email related to your domainname, and also to include privacy security that keeps things such as your address, contact number, and email out of being recorded in a public database.

The challenge with this strategy? You still must link your domain name to a site, which necessitates picking a server and then shifting your domain name. It can be somewhat tricky--particularly in the event that you don't have much of a technical background (or simply know that any quantity of hassle is going to prevent you from ever doing it).

Many website-building platforms allow you to avoid the hassle by buying your site and domain name at precisely the exact same moment. That is really how I received my domain name: When I signed up for Squarespace, a customized domain name was a part of the bundle. In actuality, Squarespace makes your customized domain free for your first year if you register for an yearly plan, and it is a simple flat fee which includes that privacy security.

Additionally, it is worth noting that you may possess a domain name with no web site. It may seem premature to purchase it until you have got a place to use it, but I would highly suggest doing this when the URL you want is still accessible. You do not need another person to come together and snap up your ideal domain name as you wait. Squarespace Domains really lets you make a "parking site," a very simple placeholder page that's a excellent way to maintain your title before you are prepared to construct a complete website.



Now that you have got a title, why don't you look at building a site? It doesn't need to be a massive endeavor; in actuality, we will demonstrate the way you can create your private website in only seven days!