Choosing a domain name for your philosophy website continued...

 

When you register your domain name you don't really own the name. It's more like you have the exclusive right to use it for a set period of time. Most people register their domain for a year or two, to keep using the domain you will have to renew it every year. If you don't want the domain name any more, once it expires someone else is free to register it for themselves.

Buying your philosophy domain name(s)

Some hosting companies will allow you to register your domain name when you purchase hosting but you can register your name anywhere. Once you have registered your domain you will have to set the nameservers so that the domain points to your site. Let's look at an example:

Suppose you are going to register hume-philosophy.com at godaddy.com (for example)

  1. Enter hume-philosophy.com into the green search box.
  2. You'll be taken to a page saying if the name is available and offering alternatives.
  3. Click SMART REGISTRATION at the bottom of the page.
  4. They'll probably try to sell you something else, say no thanks an continue.
  5. Fill in your name and address (1st column) and choose privacy if you want it (2nd Column).
  6. In the 3rd column select the option "Using one of my FREE options".
  7. Click PROCEED TO CHECKOUT, do the same on the next page.
  8. They'll try to sell you many products, keep going.
  9. Fill in your credit card details. I was charged $16.40 for 2 years + $15.90 for 2 year privacy.
  10. You've registered hume-philosophy.com and it's yours exclusively for 2 years.

Because you choose the Free option and haven't yet pointed your domain name at your site, it will be pointed at a page with a load of ads on it. Around 24hrs after you set the nameservers when someone types hume-philosophy.com into their browser they will be taken to your site.

Setting the nameservers for your philosophy domain names

If you used godaddy they will have sent you an email with a login and password to a domain name control panel. Once you've accessed the panel, you can click a link called 'nameservers' and be taken to a page where you can enter the nameserver information. When you bought your hosting you will have been sent an email containing your login name, password, FTP infomation and the DNS nameservers to point to. It will look something like:

NS1.YOUR-HOST.COM
NS2.YOUR-HOST.COM

Once you've entered this information you'll have to wait 24-48hrs and then your domain will point at your site until your stop renewing it.

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