How to Register a Domain Name: The Beginner’s Guide (2025)

Need a domain name?

By the end of this guide, you will learn how to register a domain name that you can use to create your own website.

Here’s what we’ll cover here:

• What’s a domain name
• Choosing a domain name
• Registering a domain name

Ready? Let’s get started.

What is a domain name?

A domain name is a unique web address where people can find your website, like “example.com” or “darrelwilson.com.”

It serves as a human-friendly way to access online locations, replacing numerical IP addresses with easy-to-remember names.

The domain name system is made up of two main parts:

• The second-level domain (SLD) which is the unique name you choose (e.g., “darrelwilson”)
• The top-level domain (TLD) which follows the dot (e.g., “.com”) — these are also known as domain extensions

Having a domain name allows you to control your online presence, including customized email addresses and improved search engine ranking.

How to Register a Domain Name

It’s a simple process that involves choosing a name, checking its availability, and completing the domain registration through any one of the domain registrars.

1. Choose a domain name

First of all, you will have to select a domain name.

In choosing a unique domain name, consider the following tips:

• Keep it short and simple: Shorter domain names are easier to remember and type. Aim for one that is concise and straightforward.
• Easy to spell and pronounce: Choose a name that is easy to spell and pronounce to avoid confusion and ensure people can easily find your site.
• Use keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords that align with your business or niche to improve SEO and make it clear what your website is about.
• Make it unique: Ensure your domain name is unique to avoid legal issues and to stand out from competitors.

Though common, it’s best to avoid using numbers and hyphens as they can be confusing and are usually harder to remember.

It also helps if you think long-term — choose a name that will remain relevant as your business grows and evolves.

You might also want to check the domain providers and see if they have a web hosting service (which might help if you’re short on resources).

2. Check domain availability

There are multiple ways to check who owns a domain name. But for this guide, let’s stick with the WHOIS Lookup website tool of Namecheap.

To start:

• Go to the Namecheap website.
• Enter the domain name into the textbox provided.
• Click on the adjacent search button.

You will find here the domain name registrar and information about the domain owner with contact details.

If the domain name you want is taken, get in touch with the domain owners to negotiate a deal.

In Namecheap, there’s an option like this:

You may propose a lower figure if the website appears outdated. However, bid higher for those sites that are frequently updated and have a strong online presence. 

While acquiring the domain is always ideal, don’t back down from creativity and brainstorming new domain name ideas if the negotiations falter.

👉 Related: How to Find Out Who Owns a Domain Name: Domain Lookup

3. Select a domain registrar

A domain registrar serves as an intermediary between you and the organizations that manage domain names online.

Since I already showed you Namecheap, I will be using it here (it’s a well-known domain registrar and web hosting company).

Here are some of its key features:

• Domain privacy protection: Namecheap includes free WHOIS privacy protection for the first year, which helps keep your personal information safe.
• Wide range of TLDs: Namecheap offers a vast selection of niche and new TLDs, including popular options like .com, .net, .org.
• 24/7 customer support: Namecheap provides round-the-clock customer support via live chat and ticketing systems.
• SSL certificates and security features: Namecheap offers a variety of SSL certificates and additional security features like premium DNS.
• Domain management tools: Namecheap provides comprehensive domain management tools, allowing users to manage multiple domains easily.

But take note that there are lots of domain name registrars out there, many have similar features — though not sure why, they sometimes have different prices. 😅

⚠️ Note: Check the web hosting services or hosting providers you’re planning to use since some of them might offer a free domain name.

4. Register and verify your domain name

For this part, all you have to do is repeat step 2 above — go to Namecheap.com and type the domain you want in the search box provided.

Add your desired domain name to your cart and once you’re finished, click on the checkout button in the lower right corner of your screen:

You can see that you may also select additional services like WordPress hosting, SSL certificates, and VPN.

In the next window, review whether your order is accurate — once you’re finished, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the confirm order button.

You will then fill up the details as follows:

• Create an account with Namecheap
• On the last page, enter your billing information and save

Congratulations!

Your domain name is now successfully registered, and you’re ready to start building your online presence. 🎉

Final Tips on Domain Name Registration

Having followed these steps, you’re well on your way to a valuable and effective domain name for your website. But this is only the beginning.

To protect your personal information from being publicly available, I highly recommend that you opt for domain privacy services offered by your registrar.

One final note — ensure that your contact information with the registrar is always current and accurate to avoid any issues with domain management or renewal.