When it comes to domain registration, everyone with a website has a different story. Some will tell you how they could’nt find the domain they were searching for and had to settle for a second option. Others will go on about how they could’nt find a reliable company to help walk them through the process, or got too confused and quit. Well, we here at Loudsign have our hands on the management of thousands of domains and have learned a thing or two in the process about what our customers want and expect.

Read below for 3 How To’s on Domain Registration.

1. Make sure the domain name you are after isnt taken. Be ready with a backup plan. Either be prepared to settle for a .net or .org domain, or have another name in mind if you have your heart set on a .com. You can do a Who-Is search to see who owns a domain and for how long by following this link. Also, we can do domain lookups on loudsign. enter a domain name that u know is used, then you can click “click here for more info” and it will do a whois on that taken domain.

2. Support. Phone support is essential for you when you are using a domain registration service. Especially phone support. If the registrar you choose does not offer phone support, look elsewhere. This can and will save you possible headaches come renewal time.

3. Save Your Passwords and Login Info. This may seem simplistic, but many many people buy their domain and hosting, and don’t ever log back in to their account. If you dont have your information saved and secured, it can be an incredibly difficult experience to try.

Ok, so now you have the basic “How To’s” taken care of, but what are the “Must Do’s” that we have learned in the process that can give you the most bang for your buck?

1. Private Registration. If you registrar gives you the option, as Loudsign does, select a private registration. That way, your personal contact information will not be available on the WhoIs page we showed you before. This not only cuts down on spam, but also allows you to maintain a private identity if you are using a personal address. This option costs a little more, but is certainly worth every penny.

2. Find a good Registrar. We are obviously biased here at Loudsign about our proficiency when it comes to making the process of registering a domain simple, but if you still aren’t sure, check out our step by step process here.

3. Point your new domain to a Web server or “park” the domain. If you have not yet built a Web site, you should park the name with the registrar. If you have built a site, you must tell the registrar on which Web server the site is located.