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Three Reasons Not to Purchase Internet Domain Names From a Web Host
When you set up your hosting account, your web host will most likely offer you the option to purchase an Internet domain name. “Why not?”, you might think. “Why look for a domain name registrar if I can just buy my domain name as a small part of the process of setting up a hosting account?”
Actually, there are a few reasons why.
* First of all – in most cases web hosts are not domain name registrars. They register your name on a registrar and charge you a fee for it. Why pay more to use a middle man if you can go to the official registrar yourself?
* Even if it doesn’t cost you a lot (or even if you don’t have to pay anything for registering your domain name for the first year), keep in mind that one day you might decide to switch your web host (you might find better or less expensive services). You might be surprised what a headache it will be to try to take your domain with you. Experienced Internet users will encourage you to avoid this at all cost.
* Just as owning a house is better than renting one, so it is with a domain name. When you purchase Internet domain name from a reputable domain name registrar they will allow you to control the rights to your domain name. Make sure you are listed as “Admin-name”, “Admin”, or “Administrative Contact”.
As you search for available domain names, you might learn that the best names, those that will attract the largest amounts of traffic to your website, have already been purchased. There are ways to grab those too (they are usually more expensive but the results are almost always worth the investment). But if you decide to register a brand new name, make sure to use a reputable registrar.
