Contact
Menu
- Dot Com Marketing - Central Alberta
- Home
- Websites
- SEO
- Social Media
- Graphic Design
- Website Blogs
- About
If you're looking to establish a strong online presence, the first step is acquiring the perfect domain name. Our comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about buying a domain name, especially tailored for the Canadian market.
Buying a domain name outright does not mean you can spend x-amount of money without ever having to renew it or give it a second thought.
Purchasing a domain name is a critical initial step in building your digital identity. To buy a domain name, you'll need to choose a reliable domain registrar. Consider factors such as reputation, customer support, and additional services like privacy protection. Once you've selected a registrar, you can search for your desired domain name and complete the purchase process.
We purchase our client’s domain names through a trusted host (over 15 year business relationship) who then “park” the domain. Through our host we can search available domain names, access our domain(s), transfer it and set email accounts associated with the website. This has been an ideal relationship as we can call and talk to a service tech to resolve any issues related to the domain, website or emails. This is a faster more efficient way to fix problems without having to send emails or create a service ticket for the techs to return communication.
When you buy a domain name outright, you gain full ownership and control over it. This means you can manage its settings, renew it at your discretion, and transfer it as needed. Ensure that the domain you choose aligns with your brand and is easy to remember for your audience.
Choosing an effective domain name can be very important and beneficial when containing website (company) keywords related to your products and/or services increasing SEO search-ability.
In the early days of the internet it was highly recommended to buy domain names that closely resembled yours. As an example: bensplumbing.com. The owner of Ben's Plumbing would have been encouraged to also buy bensplumbing.ca, bensplumbingandheating.ca, bensplumbingandheating.com, etc. The purpose of this practice was to prevent a new, competing company from entering the market and “gaming” Google search and achieving a listing near or alongside the successful company with a similar domain name.
Today Google is much better at separating different companies with similar names and the algorithm won’t allow such an easy “black hat” technique to occur. Websites require much more sophisticated SEO than a simple domain name to achieve search success.
Many people wonder if .com has a better SEO factor than .ca - for the record Google has stated that domain extensions (top level domain) do not directly influence search rankings.
If you think of a great domain name with the .com extension and discover it's unavailable, search for the same name using the .ca extension. You can rest assure the .ca will not in any way devalue your domain in search rank. If anything the .ca is an excellent signal that you are a Canadian company.
In Canada, domain names can be purchased from various accredited registrars. Some popular options include GoDaddy, Namecheap, Enom, and Canadian-specific registrars like CIRA. These platforms offer a range of .ca domains, which can help enhance your local presence and credibility.
Using the example Enom, a major domain name registrar, where you can buy or sell domain names here’s the steps involved to purchase a domain name:
Domain names are typically registered for a period of one to ten years. It's crucial to keep track of your domain's expiration date to avoid losing it. Most registrars offer automatic renewal options to ensure uninterrupted ownership of your domain.
You’ll also want to remember how to easily access your domain and registrar (where the domain resides) in order to make renewal payments and update expiring credit card information.
Once a domain name expires, it enters a grace period where the owner can still renew it. This period usually lasts around 30 days. If the domain is not renewed during this time, it may enter a redemption period, lasting another 30 days, where recovery is still possible but may incur additional fees. After these periods, the domain becomes available to the public once again.
If a domain is not renewed after expiration, it returns to the pool of available domains. At this point, anyone can purchase the domain, which is why timely renewal is crucial to maintain your online identity.
Linking your domain name to email addresses is an excellent way to establish professional communication channels. By using your domain for email, such as name@yourdomain.com, you reinforce your brand identity and credibility. This setup is typically facilitated by your domain registrar or hosting provider, which can offer email hosting services.
At Dot Com Marketing, we understand the intricacies of domain management and its impact on your online success. Let us help you navigate the world of domain names and ensure your website stands out. Contact us today (403) 505-9996 to learn more about domain management, website development and SEO services tailored to your needs.