All kinds of companies need an online presence. No matter, if you are starting an individual blog or e-commerce store, a domain name is the first key to some part of your online presence. This is where a Domain registrar steps in.
A domain registrar maintains and manages the domain name of your website. They are licensed by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), which enrolls names in your location. At the same time, domain registrars are about more than just choosing a name for your website — they have all kinds of implications for your online success.
- Giving Out Domain Names
The main role of domain registrars is to sell domain names, an essential need for any Internet project. If you are building a website, one of the first things you need to do is choose a domain name for your website address (for example, yourbusiness.com). You can use a domain registrar to search for available domain names and register them on your behalf. You see, domain names are unique — with no two parties owning a common domain name simultaneously. So their registrars maintain databases to find out if the domains you intend to buy are available or taken.
For businesses, domain names are imperative to ensuring that the right brand is portrayed online. A domain registrar allows you to look for names related to your brand and niche; in case it’s already taken, the registrar will give you other options.
- Domain Name Registration & Renewal Management
Even after you register a domain name, you do not necessarily own it forever; often, you lease it for a period that usually ranges from one to ten years. Domain registrars not only help you to initially secure your domain name, but they are also in charge of managing it on your behalf by making sure you remember to renew it. This is important, since failing to renew a domain allows others to register it. The domain registrars offer you other services too, such as tools that can be utilized to manage your domains more conveniently. Management interfaces, for example, provide you with the ability to transfer ownership, change contact details, or configure DNS (Domain Name System) settings, enabling you to continue to oversee your website and its performance.
- Domain Privacy & Security Services
Domain registrars also provide privacy and security services. If you register a domain, your personal or business information (like name, address, and contact details) is generally stored in an open WHOIS database, which is open to the public. This can result in unwanted marketing emails, spam, or even privacy risks. To avoid this, most domain registrars offer services to add Domain WHO IS Privacy Protection, which shows their owner info instead of yours in the public WHOIS database. This provides an extra layer of privacy and helps to filter out phishing attempts.
On top of that, domain registrars also offer various security features for the registered domain, like Domain Locking, which uses a separate password to block transfers of your website. Registrars may even provide SSL certificates to secure the information you send between your site and its visitors. An SSL certificate keeps sensitive data, such as passwords or credit card info, secure. Such security features help in building trust with your audience and protect you from cyber-attacks.
- Using DNS Management to Enhance Website Functionality
A domain registrar also manages DNS (Domain Name System). DNS is the service that translates domain names into IP addresses, so you can reach websites by typing words, rather than a series of numbers (the IP address). DNS settings are created using several interfaces provided by domain registrars. This way, when anyone types yourdomain.com into a browser, they get routed to the right server hosting your website.
Fast website load time and great uptime reliability partly depend on effective DNS Management. A few domain registrars also provide more advanced DNS services, like DNS forwarding or subdomain management, so you can create custom domain structures (like a blog), or it can redirect users to another website.
- Beyond the Basics: Additional Domain Services to Help You Grow Your Business
In addition to the basic service for domain name registration and management, such as WHOIS data (domain owner information) maintenance, some domain registrars also provide additional services to not only expand your portfolio of domains, but also boost your position on the Internet. These include:
- Website Hosting: A domain registrar servicing can accompany in-house web hosting as well, making it easier to introduce a site by packaging multiple services.
- Email Hosting: Many domain registrars will give you the option to add custom email addresses with your domain name (for example, [email protected]) to help your business look more professional.
- Marketing capabilities: Some registrars offer SEO tools, website builders, and other marketing-related add-ons to help your business get more from its online footprint and reach a larger audience.
Experienced eMazzanti professionals are available to assist you with Domain Name and other Cyber Services.
