What is domain registration?
In the following article, I will try to briefly explain what domain registration or buying a domain name is.
When we register a domain, we are actually choosing a web address or domain name in professional language,
That address will be for our exclusive use and will be registered in our name.
Registration is done with a certified domain registrar.
Or with one of the domain registration companies that work with a certified registrar.
Domain name registration will be done in the name of a company, individual, association, etc.
Domain registration will of course be based on a domain that is available for registration.
An occupied domain cannot be registered, but can only be purchased and ownership transferred from the current domain owner.
I will elaborate on this later.
What are the main uses of a domain name?
- Possibility to connect a website or any internet landing page to the domain under the same domain name. For example: mydomain.co.il
- Another option is to create email boxes under the domain name, such as: me@mydomain.co.il
- You can also create “subdomains” under a domain or, in professional proofreading, a subdomain – such as: sub.mydomain.co.il
Domain Name Registration – How to Choose a Domain Name:
Choosing a domain name is just like naming your child.
The same goes for choosing a domain extension.
If you want the domain to have an international image, you will go for a domain that ends in .com.
If you want your domain to have an Israeli image, you will go for a domain that ends in .co.il.
The domain name itself will usually be related to the name of the business or occupation of that website.
For example, the website of lawyer Avi Barkan, who probably deals with law, will be compatible if the chosen domain is:
avilawoffice.co.il or ablawoffice.co.il – the variations are almost endless and the choice in the end is individual according to the needs of the business or the person who purchased the domain name. Like finding a name for a child, I already said :).
In addition, it is highly desirable that the domain name be as short as possible, for the sake of convenience for the surfer.
Choosing a domain name should definitely be a first thought, since this domain name may accompany us, our website, and our email boxes for many years to come.
Switching domains midway is possible but not really healthy since Google takes into account the seniority of a purchased domain and the seniority of a domain is important in terms of positions in the Google search engine.
What’s more, going and updating all the printed material we’ve already prepared for the new domain is no easy task.
The same goes for updating the new email box, as I already mentioned at the beginning of the article that the email box relies entirely on the domain name.
Therefore, you should think carefully before choosing a domain and be comfortable with your choice for years to come.
Domain registration limitations:
- A domain name must consist of letters, numbers, and a middle initial only. Any other characters are not possible.
- The maximum number of characters is 64 characters.
- Middle part – cannot be at the beginning or end of a domain name. Only between the letters and numbers.
Domain name extensions:
There are a very large number of domain extensions.
Commercial suffixes and suffixes based on country names.
Israeli extensions: co.il – org.il – muni.il – net.il
Popular international extensions, for example: .com – .net – .org – biz
Popular commercial extensions associated with a profession: club – .tech – .video – .live – .pub – and many more.
The prices for each domain extension are different. There is no uniform price.
Domain is taken – what do we do?
If you want a specific domain, but unfortunately that domain is already taken,
You probably won’t be able to register the domain in your own name.
But it is not completely lost.
By locating domain ownership (the explanation of how to locate a domain owner is later in the article),
Once you have located the domain owner, you can contact them and ask them if they are interested in selling the domain.
If you have reached an agreement regarding the sale of the domain, you must now transfer ownership, fill out the appropriate forms, and verify that the domain name has indeed been transferred to the name of the new domain owner.
Just like transferring ownership of a car.
The new owner’s registration is updated in the Israeli or international Internet registry, depending on the domain name,
And accessible for inspection by anyone.
That is, a taken domain does not have a price list, it is determined arbitrarily by the domain owner.
There are occupied domains that will be sold by the owner for $200, but there are domains that also require $100,000. It depends on the quality of the domain.
Checking domain ownership – whois:
Checking the domain registration is a step that many website owners encounter,
The test can be performed in several ways, such as on the following website:
- There are many websites that allow you to search and check domain ownership.
- Those sites also provide information about the settings and records of that domain, such as zone names and the like.
You can enter the domain there and receive extensive information about the domain, where it is registered, who owns the domain, the age of the domain, and more.
Is it possible to hide the domain owner’s information?
Although in Israel the Israeli Internet Association prohibits anonymous domain registration, it is still possible to contact companies that offer web hosting services and provide website hosting for a year with domain registration.
Good luck to everyone!
Article author: Tzachi Bengiat, CEO of Host Center – Shop Center Internet Solutions Ltd.
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