Buying a Domain Name

simonandclare

Hi all,

Help needed please!.

I have set up my own small business selling jewellery and accessories and now I'd like to put together a website for all my lovely customers to buy direct from me. I will also be using it to support by ebay business account. I've decided that I'm going to use Vistaprint to host my site but I'd really like to own my Domain name just to ensure the rights to the site remain in my control. Who would you all recommend is the best Domain company to buy from?

Thanks for your help! x

redped

I use easyspace for my domain and web hosting without any problems, but as I haven't used any others I can't say if it's better/worse than them. Quidco are doing cashback for easyspace (and lots of other hosting companies), so it's something to bear in mind.

Good luck with the website.

mchale

http://www.heartinternet.co.uk/

simonandclare

Hi redped,

I've just checked out easyspace as you suggested and they want anything from £79.99 to give me a Domain name? Seems a bit excessive maybe?

redped

That sounds like you've got a price for both a domain name and web hosting - you say you'll use vistaprint for the latter, so you only need a domain name. Go to http://www.easyspace.com/domain_names and see what they're charging for only a domain name (although you may want to add on WHOIS privacy as well, but that's only something like £5 a year). I've just tried a dummy .co.uk domain, and they're charging £9.50 for 2 years. Other types, e.g. .com, will vary in price.

simonandclare

Thanks, your right! Once I entered my company name.co.uk it came out at £9.50 for 2 yrs.

Sorry but as I mentioned in my original thread I am a complete novice at all things internet so what is a WHOIS please?!!!. I can see on easyspace in the last column that says buy now some web address suggestions have WHOIS in this column but the .co.uk one I want for £9.50 only has the box ticked? How would I add it if after you've explained what it is I decide I want it?

Thanks

redped

When you register any domain, your details are held on a register which is then visible to anyone else (more info at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whois, but it is rather techy!). Paying extra for privacy means that anyone looking at your domain details will only see the contact details of whoever you bought the domain from (e.g. easyspace, heartinternet, etc.).

So if you give your home address when registering the domain, you may not want others to see it, hence the option of paying for privacy. On the other hand, if you already an existing shop or warehouse unit, you'd just use those details when reigstering the domain address and not worry about Joe Public seeing the registered address. Think of it like being ex-directory in the phone book.

When you're buying a domain (from anyone, not just easyspace) the option to pay extra for this privacy will either be on the screen where you select your address (e.g. xyz.com, xyz.co.uk, xtz.net, etc.), or maybe on the next page as you go through to give your payment details. Don't worry, all the companies will try to sell you add-ons like privacy well before you get to type in your credit card details

MoreOn

simonandclare

there is some misleading information here..

I'll start with privacy.. There is no whois protection if you are not an individual and you are registering perhaps a .co.uk (ccTLD). That rule do not go for all gTLDs and ccTLDs. Some hosting companies provide "opt" out settings of which some will charge you a nominal fee for the service, some will not charge you.
TM protection; you're starting a new company, if you go for a .co.uk you'll have limited TM protect. Nominet (The .co.uk registry) rules appear to lean towards established TM and if you aren't using the DN fully you'd probably lose any DRS. gTLD such as .com have different rules and would probable be a safer bet.. You need to consider two things, what is your product or service and how competitive is advertising in those areas.
what to register .co.uk v .com, there isn't much on this, some say .co.uk because of the geo trading area, some say .com because of its reputation.. MSE, BandQ bbc are examples of different DN strategies.

Where to register; cheap isn't always best, i use heartinternet because they aren't that small, they aren't faceless and they used to own 123-reg before selling it to pipex.. I also use a number of others, uk2.net 1and1
etc...

I forgot to add, just because you register with one company desn't mean you have to host with them..

InsideInsurance

Remember that as a UK based retailer with a website you can buy from you must legally give your official details on your site, so if you are a sole trader (I assume) that will include your personal name and address. Therefore there really isnt any point trying to obscure the WHOIS for the domain when it must be on the site itself anyway.

richard734

Go MS Office Live, simple site, reliable, easy to manage and domain names (.co.uk) are around £10 for 2 years.

redped

simonandclare wrote: »

Sorry but as I mentioned in my original thread I am a complete novice at all things internet so what is a WHOIS please?!!!

MoreOn wrote: »

There is no whois protection if you are not an individual and you are registering perhaps a .co.uk (ccTLD). That rule do not go for all gTLDs and ccTLDs. Some hosting companies provide "opt" out settings of which some will charge you a nominal fee for the service, some will not charge you.
TM protection; you're starting a new company, if you go for a .co.uk you'll have limited TM protect. Nominet (The .co.uk registry) rules appear to lean towards established TM and if you aren't using the DN fully you'd probably lose any DRS. gTLD such as .com have different rules and would probable be a safer bet.. You need to consider two things, what is your product or service and how competitive is advertising in those areas.
what to register .co.uk v .com, there isn't much on this, some say .co.uk because of the geo trading area, some say .com because of its reputation.. MSE, BandQ bbc are examples of different DN strategies

I know you're trying to help the OP, but given that they freely admit they're a novice, don't you think you've gone a bit overboard with the acronyms?