The internet is one massive marketplace where anyone and everyone can set up ‘shop’ and it all starts with a domain name. It sounds simple enough but there’s more to a domain name than one might think. This domain name guide aims to answer questions, bust myths, and confusion on the topic.

CONTENTS:

1. What is a domain name and what does it do?
2. What does DNS mean and why is it important?
3. Who can register a domain name?
4. What is a domain extension and what types are available?
5. Where can I buy a domain name?
6. How can I register a domain name?
7. What is the role of a domain name Registrar?
8. Which Registrar offers the best domain name registrations in South Africa?
9. What is DNS redundancy?
10. How much does it cost to buy a domain name in South Africa?
11. Where can you register a domain name for free in South Africa?
12. How to choose the best domain name?
13. You’ve bought the domain name and now what?
14. Do domain names come with email?

1. What is a domain name and what does it do?

A domain name is the unique URL you see after ‘www.’ in a web address, for example in the web address: https://www.domains.co.za – ‘domains.co.za’ is the domain name. The purpose of a domain name is to make it easy for potential customers to remember the website address and find you online.

2. What does DNS mean and why is it important?

A domain name is hosted at a unique IP address with a series of 4 sets of up to 3 digits separated by dots (aka fullstop), that a human would not find easy to remember. So, a Domain Name System (DNS) does this for us. Every time you type in a domain name into the address bar of a search engine, the DNS server it is registered with will translate the domain name into the unique IP address so that the right website can be accessed.

3. Who can register a domain name?

Anyone. You don’t need to have a registered business at CIPC to be able to register a domain name. You can register a domain name whether you are an artist, hobbyist, or sole proprietor, or for your side hustle. You can also register any available domain name of your choice and you can even own multiple domain names too. There is no limit.

4. What is a domain extension and what types are there?

A domain extension is the word or abbreviated country assigned letters that come after the ‘dot’. For example: .com, .co.za, .org etc. The first to be released and most common domain extensions with the highest hierarchy are called Top-Level Domains (TLDs). The next category are generic top-level domains (gTLDs), geographic domains (geo-TLDs) and county code top-level domains (ccTLDs).

• gTLDs are generic and suited to most businesses irrespective of where you are based or what you sell for example .com, .net, .online, .site, etc.
• geo-TLDs are geographic domains like .joburg, .capetown, .durban, or .africa, that showcase which geographical area your business is located in.
• ccTLDs are domains that show in which country you run your business like co.uk (United Kingdom), .co.za (South Africa), etc.

5. Where can I buy a domain name?

Domain names can be purchased from any ICANN Accredited domain name Registrar that has the domain extension you want to go with your domain name.

6. How can I register a domain name?

Step 1:  Choose an ICANN Accredited Registrar like Domains.co.za
Step 2:  Search for your desired name, should it already be taken, you could try looking for the same name with various other extensions that will suit your line of business, like .tech or .online
Step 3:  Follow the online Registration process and pay the Registration Fee. Note that the domain registration usually takes 24 hours. In some cases, i.e., Premium Domains it may take up to 3 months.

You will now have registered your domain name for one year, after which you will need to pay an annual Renewal Fee. Please check the annual Renewal Fee of the domain you are considering buying, especially if it is on promotion.

7. What is the role of a domain name Registrar?

A domain name Registrar handles the reservation of domain names and ensures that the DNS server translates the domain names into the correct IP addresses. They have to be accredited by the Registry of the TLDs that they are selling. They also aid with the transfer of domain names from other Registrars, and offer additional value-added services like DNS hosting, domain name parking, URL forwarding, domain pointing and support.

8. Which Registrar offers the best domain name registrations in South Africa>

Domain names are priced according to what is included in each domain name, and relevant to the actual domain extension, so pricing can vary from one Registrar to the next. Domain Registrars need to be transparent about their prices and other fees.

Read reviews for various domain Registrars, especially regarding the support that they offer, to find the best one for you. Check what the Renewal Fee prices are, what the Registrar’s Policies are for privacy and security and whether the Registrar offers DNS redundancy. Find a Registrar that has a reputable name in the business and offers free value-added services.

9. What is DNS redundancy?

A DNS (Domain Name System) translates a domain name into the correct IP address where a website is located, thus the DNS itself needs to be hosted on a server. This means that should the hosting of the DNS be unreliable it will affect your website.

DNS redundancy means that the Registrar has another DNS in place, the best would be an entirely different location. In the event of a massive power failure, or other service disrupting event, that may affect the uptime of the primary DNS server, the system will failover to the other one.

Domains.co.za is geo-redundant which means there are two DNS servers in two different locations in South Africa as well as a third DNS hosted internationally. Geo-redundancy means that your domain name will always be accessible no matter what.

10. How much does it cost to buy a domain name in South Africa?

The cost of a domain name varies from extension to extension and can cost anything from R15 to R500 or more. Domain name entrepreneurs can resell domain names for any price they see fit.

11. Where can you register a domain name for free in South Africa?

Free domain names can be registered in South Africa usually as part of a Shared Web Hosting package, WordPress, or Website Builder package – this is only available at the time of actual sign-up for one of the above packages and is not applicable to domain transfers.* Please contact our Sales team should you have any queries.

12. How to choose the best domain name?

Do not register a domain name that is difficult or confusing to spell. Make sure it is short, memorable, and relevant to your line of business. You don’t always have to use your company name as a domain name. Think outside the box and register something that will help you reach your website’s goals. Consider using an interesting extension to emphasis your business as well.

13. You’ve bought the domain name and now what?

After you’ve registered the domain name, you can get a website designer and developer involved to design and create your website. If you don’t have the budget yet, then you can consider a website builder like Site Builder, which is affordable, quick, uses professionally designed templates and makes it really simple to create and manage your own professional website.

Alternatively, you can ‘Park’ your domain name. A parked domain is not associated with a web service and is simply waiting for you to take further action, however, there is no rush. You can park a domain name forever if you like as long as you pay that domain name’s Renewal Fee annually.

14. Do domain names come with email?

No. You need Web Hosting,  for emails to work. If you want to start sending emails using your unique domain name but don’t have a live website yet, sign up for Email Only Hosting.

KEY TAKEAWAY:

When it comes to your business’ online future, choosing the right domain name is incredibly important. Make sure your domain name is short, memorable, and specific. You don’t need to have a business registered or have a business plan in place. Anyone can own any available domain bar trademarked and registered domain names. If you have the idea, register it. You might just need it later. And if you don’t, you can just choose not to renew it.

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