How much is Your Domain Name Really Cost You?

It may surprise you to know that one of the most popular questions I get asked by newcomers to internet marketing is tied to the purchase of a domain name.

Now I know if you've been a bit 'around, but you are probably thinking, "Buy a domain name! How difficult is this? Just choose your name, click and buy!" But in reality, to think of it, may be a bit 'a minefield out there ...

From the moment you arrive at your preferred domain seller you're bombarded with choices, processes and options that are designed to make you spend much more than, for example, 4, $ 99 originally thought the shiny new domain name was going to cost you.

I decided to pop along to my local shop domain (read-click a bookmark and login) and look at exactly what is on offer and if all these add-ons and extras are absolutely indispensable.

* OK, so the first thing I see before I type the domain name you want to buy is that there is a "sale" of certain suffixes like. Com Net Org.

* I type my domain name - domain-name-confusion.com - and click on 'Next' and 'fantastic', it is helpful, but hanging ... I can also buy domain-name-confusion.US. NAME. BIZ etc and many others. I can also choose between Mydomain-name-confusion, EASYdomain-confusing-name, domain-name-confusionONLINE, domain-name-confusionSTORE and a host of other combinations

* I decided that no, I'm just going to follow my original choice of domain-name-confusion.com and therefore does not control any of the other boxes. I proceed to what I believe is the case, but OH NO ... Once again I am asked to STOP! Why can not I protect my brand and increase traffic with the purchase of the net and org info - ... And I am also offered a truly amazing "special price" to buy the lot work! And what's more there is a special box with a list of valid reasons why I should really do this

* The No thanks, I still want to follow my original domain-name-confusion.com so I click the checkout button, AGAIN!

Great! We are on the summary page where I said what I'm ordering.

But WAIT! Do not want my domain name certified for an extra $ 2.99? I want to add email to my domain for an extra $ 1.99? It is complete or Deluxe, Madam? What about Hosting, Sitebuilder, blog, or even a software driving traffic? It is standard, deluxe or protected, ma'am?

* No, honestly, you're too kind, but I just want to buy the domain name! Click the checkout button, AGAIN!

Phew, finally checked out! But wait, I want to add protection to my domain name and make it 'private'? I want to add another domain name? I'm sure I will not. NET OR. INFO?

Quite a marathon, eh? And, of course, when you're all wrapped up in the dream of having your own website and want to make it perfect from the beginning, you are exposed to emotional suggestions. PROTECT, increase, EXPAND, ATTRACT .........

So let's look to see if you need all these options are not familiar, but reasonable-sounding?

Do you need extra domain suffixes?

You can register a domain name. Com with several very reputable registrars for, say, $ 6.99/yr to $ 9.99/yr. The fees for the registration of other possibilities. Info,. Co.uk. Net. Org,. Biz,. TV can range from $ 0.99 per year to all that the company wants the registration fee.

But it will be worth it? And where do you stop with the combinations? ... Com, co.uk, information, and then there's the 'you add a dash (-) .. Just-to-be-on-the-safe-side.com, org, biz '? I'd say probably not. L '. Com brand is so widely known that the majority of people automatically type in a. Com extension on any web site they are trying to find.

Private Registration

This option will keep your private data, name, physical address and email address is not available to anyone to verify ownership of your domain on "Whois". Internet law requires that all registration information available to the public domain and "Whois" maintains the database containing this information.

If you buy a private registration, your information will not be available for anyone who wants to check your domain for the specific property. There are many domain owners who do not believe that this is necessary, but on the other hand, the private registration can help avoid spam, e-mail and unsolicited phone crank.

It is worth mentioning that any e-mail to send from the United States that are commercial in nature, such as:

* Promoting a product or affiliate

* Suggesting that the reader visit your sales page

* Offering a discount for the purchase of some product

are needed, the Can-Spam Act of the United States, to have the correct physical address PO visible to your target email and the email address correctly, your ad is posted, so this kind of defeats the object of private registration in some ways .

Protected Registration

This form of domain registration protects you from accidental expiration of domain registration, including credit card expiration, failed billing or outdated contact information. It also makes it more difficult to do domain transfers by Internet predators more dangerous. In fact, your domain will be held for you until you did not renew the registration.

It may cost more than $ 25 a year for this service, depending on who you are using for this protection. If you are a small business marketing, selling a piece of software, an affiliate product or an ebook on a niche product, do not need this upsell. However, if following the rule begins to make a lot of money, and decide you need it, you can easily add.

Business registration

This level of domain registration keeps need to know information about your company in the Whois database. Such information may include a map to your store, website photos, description, phone number and vital links to the pages of your website.

Vital information to customers may be necessary to facilitate business with your business visible to millions of researchers in the Whois database domain name.

You do not need? This depends on the nature and size of your business and your budget. This would be more of a marketing / budget decision. A small start-up website selling an ebook would probably not need this additional service.

How old do you need?

Every time you register a domain name, regardless of which service you choose to use for recording, you'll be offered a multi-year registration at a discount. It is up to you to consider this offer to be a good deal, but you might consider something before doing it.

Are you positive that you still want to own the domain name after the first year? You want to still be in business for a year? Will he graduated to a bigger, much different online business or another business altogether?

If you take a multi-year package, the registrar will have all the money in advance and you will not get a refund if you change your business or drop out altogether.

On The Site Hosting Domain Registration

This is a likely time-saving upsell you will be offered when you register your domain name. It seems it would be easy, time saving option to buy. Your domain and website would be in the same place.

Most Internet Marketers, if required, we advise against this. Put all your eggs in one basket means that the whole business will disappear if the domain registrar will stop making recordings or in general is only the activity.

A better choice would be to find another hosting company that provides the necessary options to make your site what you want it to be.

Finally ...

The multitude of domain registrars on the Internet ensures that there will be more offers to buy or upgrade packages with multiple options that sound fantastic on the surface. Since it is your money at stake, you might want to consider carefully what you really need at this moment ... one year down the line. At that point, your needs may be very different from that originally planned ....