{"id":21786,"date":"2023-02-20T23:14:39","date_gmt":"2023-02-20T15:14:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cldy.com\/sg\/?p=21786"},"modified":"2024-04-09T00:09:10","modified_gmt":"2024-04-08T16:09:10","slug":"how-to-check-domain-name-availability-and-register","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cldy.com\/sg\/blog\/domain-name\/how-to-check-domain-name-availability-and-register\/","title":{"rendered":"Ultimate Guide to Domains: Checking Domain Name Availability, and Registration"},"content":{"rendered":"

Whether you\u2019re currently running a business or planning to launch one in the future, you need to establish a strong online presence. With so many people using the internet to search for products or services, you want your website to be front and centre to increase your chances of making a sale.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A highly valuable asset when growing your online presence is your domain. Domains are essentially your <\/span>website name<\/span>. Like a snappy slogan or an attractive logo, your domains create a lasting brand image.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The only roadblock is <\/span>domain name availability.<\/span> You may have set your sights on a particular domain, only to find that it\u2019s registered elsewhere. To help you build your brand, we\u2019ll run you through the steps to checking its availability, how to complete the <\/span>domain registration process<\/span>, and what to do when your ideal domain is taken.<\/span><\/p>\n

But first, let\u2019s uncover how domains work.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a Domain and Why Does it Matter?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Domains can make or break your business online. If you liken it to real estate, a domain serves as your website\u2019s location or street address. In comparison, your web host is the house or infrastructure your website is built on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A domain is how people find you on the World Wide Web. They simply type your domain on their browser to visit your site or click on it on search engine results.<\/span><\/p>\n

Domains have branding and marketing benefits too. A short, memorable domain name will help you make a last impression. Its length, extension, and even keywords can potentially impact your search engine rankings, too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Technically, you don\u2019t need a branded domain to make your website work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

You can, for example, obtain free domain options from legitimate <\/span>domain name registrars<\/span>. You can also get a subdomain when you sign up for a content management system like WordPress. Using this option provides you with a web address like: yourblog.wordpress.com.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While free domains are great money-saving options, they do have their disadvantages. For one, free domains are not always indexed on search engines, decreasing your chances of boosting your website rankings. Also, downtime and speeds of websites with free domains are generally poor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tips to Consider Before You <\/b>Register Your Domain<\/b><\/h2>\n

Domain name registration<\/span><\/a> shouldn\u2019t be an overnight process. Sure, you want to secure your ideal domain before others do. But take some time to research and deliberate before locking on a domain that best represents your brand.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Here are four factors to consider before registering a domain:<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

1. Choose a domain that\u2019s short, easy-to-type, and memorable<\/b><\/p>\n

Long and complex domains are prone to misspellings and typos. The last thing you want is a customer that ends up frustrated over figuring out how to spell your domain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep your domains short and simple. And skip hyphens or numbers!<\/span><\/p>\n

2. EMDs\/ PMDs vs. Branded Domains<\/b><\/p>\n

Exact match or partial match domains are what their name implies. EMDs are domains that contain one or two words that match a search query. For example, you can get a domain that matches a search query like buyflowersonline.com. A partial match domain follows a similar logic. Only this time, you can add your business name to the web address.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While these options have an SEO advantage, it comes with a few risks. For one, it will hurt your branding. You also risk getting flagged by Google for overstuffing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are setting up a website with an intent to sell, convert customers, or grow your business in general \u2014 go for a branded domain. They\u2019re generally more recognisable and are great for building brand visibility.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Make sure your <\/b>domain name extension<\/b> fits<\/b><\/p>\n

Domain name extensions<\/span> are suffixes at the end of your web address. The most common top-level domain (TLD) extensions are .com, .org, and .net. Your best bet is to try and secure a .com domain as much as possible. But keep in mind that because of its popularity, there\u2019s stiff competition when registering a .com domain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Consider a ccTLD\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

A country code top-level domain \u2014 or ccTLD \u2014 are domain extensions that are specific to a country or area. Some of the most popular ccTLDs include .au (Australia), .sg (Singapore), .us (United States), or .co.uk (United Kingdom).<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>ccTLDs are a great way to imprint confidence within your prospects. Because they see you as a homegrown business, they will find it easier to complete a purchase because you offer options in your native language or local currency.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>ccTLDs gives you an SEO boost as well. Let\u2019s say you want to target visitors from Singapore to your flower shop. A .sg extension helps you guarantee that you\u2019re showing up in search results of those based in Singapore, rather than other countries like Australia or Malaysia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Checking <\/b>Domain Name Availability<\/b>
\n<\/b><\/h2>\n

There are many reasons people <\/span>check domain name availability<\/span><\/a>. You could be looking to register it for your business, buy it from the current owner, discuss trademarks, or to simply chat with the individual or organisation that owns the domain.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>When registering a domain, registrants need to provide their contact and technical details to their registrar of choice. These details vary, depending on the requirements set by ICANN (The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) \u2014 the nonprofit organisation that manages the domain name system and root servers.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>The registrar keeps these records and submits the required information to an entity known as the registry.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>So, you might be wondering where you\u2019re headed in all this. It\u2019s good to know that once you register a domain, the information you submit \u2014 known as the WHOIS record \u2014 gets published online. By conducting a domain lookup, you can pull up any public Whois information.<\/span><\/p>\n

Search the WHOIS Database to Find Out Public Information About a Domain<\/b>
\n<\/b><\/h2>\n

At CLDY.com, we offer a free-to-use <\/span>domain lookup<\/span> tool that allows you to check public WHOIS records and has a <\/span>domain expiry checker<\/span><\/a> feature.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>1. Click this -> domain lookup tool<\/a> and you will be directed to the page to check the availability of the domain.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>2. Type in your domain of choice. In this example, we\u2019ll use our website, cldy.com.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"check-domain-name-availability\"
Image source: cldy.com site<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

3. As this domain is registered to us, you’ll find our public WHOIS information on your screen.<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

\"domain-whois-information\"
Image source: cldy.com site<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

4. If your domain of choice is still available, like the example you see below, you\u2019ll see this on your screen:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"domain-name-availability\"
Image source: cldy.com site<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

You\u2019ll also find other extensions available for registration. You can opt to register all these domains to trademark your business name or to give more people ways to find you online.<\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>5. Now, that you\u2019ve found that your domain name is available, it\u2019s recommended that you register it right away.
\n<\/strong>
\n<\/span>You can do so by clicking on <\/span>\u201cAvailable\u201d <\/b>and it should lead you to the <\/span>domain registration<\/span> page on CLDY.com. You\u2019ll find the <\/span>domain name pricing<\/span>, the terms available, and various fields for you to fill in your contact details. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"domain-check-availability\"
Image source: cldy.com site<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Completing the Domain Registration Process<\/b>
\n<\/b><\/h2>\n

At CLDY, it\u2019s easy to register your domains. You need to fill up your updated contact details and submit specific government IDs. This step is mandatory especially when registering a ccTLD. <\/span>
\n<\/span>
\n<\/span>Registries require that information is kept up-to-date. Depending on the extension you go for, you could be asked to provide verification documents, including:<\/span><\/h4>\n