Domain Name Search and Registration

A domain name is a unique website address that typically consists of a website name and a TLD (Top-Level Domain) extension. It serves as the online identity of a website, allowing others to locate it on Internet easily.

There are multiple methods to check the availability of your desired domain name. The simplest way is to enter the domain name you’re interested in into our search box, and we will inform you if the domain is available for registration. Another option is to perform a domain search using WHOIS LOOKUP.

A domain name offers several functionalities, including:

1. Establishing a custom email address using your domain.
2. Creating a website associated with your domain.
3. Setting up an online store linked to your domain.
4. Potentially selling your domain name for financial gain.

No, you will not lose your domain if you move your website to a different hosting provider or server. Your domain and website are separate entities, and they can be managed independently.

When you move your website to a new hosting provider, you will need to update the domain’s DNS (Domain Name System) settings to point to the new server where your website is hosted. This process involves changing the DNS records associated with your domain. Once the DNS changes propagate, visitors accessing your domain will be directed to the new website location.

It’s important to note that you should ensure the domain remains registered and active. As long as you continue to renew your domain registration, it will remain under your ownership, even if you switch hosting providers or servers.

Purchasing an available domain name is a quick and straightforward process. However, it is important to follow best practices when selecting a domain name:

Length: Opt for a short domain name consisting of two to three words, as this is considered ideal.

Simplicity: Avoid using long or difficult-to-spell words in your domain name.

Keywords: Consider including a relevant keyword from your niche. For instance, if you specialize in selling hamburgers in Michigan, a domain like michiganhamburgers.com could be a suitable choice.

Avoid numbers: It is advisable to steer clear of numbers, as they can make the domain name harder to remember and introduce unnecessary complexity.

Brand name: If possible, incorporate your brand name into the domain for maximum recognition and brand awareness.

Domain names can be registered for a minimum period of 1 year. At SiteHarbour, you have the option to register popular domains like .com, .net, .org, and others for up to 3 years. To ensure that you maintain ownership of your domain and keep it registered for your website, we suggest enabling automatic renewal.

The “www” at the beginning of a URL is not considered part of your domain. Adding “www” in front of your registered domain name will result in a website address that looks like this: www.wwwyourdomain.com. Therefore, it is recommended not to include “www” in your domain.

Certainly. When you register a domain, it becomes your property, and you retain ownership regardless of the registration provider.

To transfer your domain to SiteHarbour, we offer a straightforward domain transfer service that guides you through each step of the process.

Domain Privacy protection, also known as WHOIS protection, is a feature that hides specific details about the owner of a domain name that would typically be accessible through a WHOIS lookup.

With privacy protection, the domain registrar replaces personal information such as name, address, phone number, email address, and business name with generic and non-identifiable data. This ensures that your personal information remains private and not readily accessible to others.

Yes, you will need an active web hosting service and a domain name to make your website online.

Consider your domain name as the address and web hosting as the physical structure for your website. To successfully launch a website, you require both components: a domain that allows people to locate you and hosting to store the actual website.

If your desired domain name is already taken, you have several options. Firstly, explore the similar domain names suggested in our domain name search to find an alternative that suits your needs. Additionally, you can consider registering the same domain name with a different extension, as there are various top-level domains (TLDs) available. If you are determined to obtain your first choice domain, you can utilize WHOIS LOOKUP to identify the current registrant and inquire about the possibility of purchasing it from them.

Once a domain is registered, it is not possible to change it. However, you have the option to register a different domain name and transfer your website to the new domain.

If your domain name reaches its expiration date, there is typically a grace period during which you can renew it before it becomes available to others. As an example, our renewal grace period extends for 30 days, providing you with ample time to keep your domain name active.

We provide a user-friendly domain management interface that allows you to easily update various settings. Log in to your account, navigate to the domain management section, and you’ll find options to modify DNS records, update contact information, and adjust other domain settings. Our intuitive interface ensures that you have full control over your domain, making it convenient to make changes as needed for your website or online presence.

Yes, we offer domain privacy protection (WHOIS privacy) as an optional service. When you enable this feature, your personal contact information, including your name, address, and phone number, will be replaced with generic information in the public WHOIS database. This helps protect your privacy and reduces the risk of unwanted solicitations, scams, or spam associated with your domain registration.

You can easily check the availability of a domain name by using our domain search tool on our website. Enter your desired domain name, and the tool will inform you of its availability. Additionally, we provide domain suggestion tools to help you find suitable alternatives or variations if your preferred domain is already taken. These tools assist you in selecting a domain that aligns well with your website or business identity.

To connect your domain to your website, log in to your account, go to the domain management section, and update the nameservers to below:

ns1.siteharbour.com
ns2.siteharbour.com
ns3.siteharbour.com
ns4.siteharbour.com

This simple process ensures that when visitors enter your domain name, they are directed to your website. If you encounter any challenges, our support team is ready to assist you in making your website easily accessible through your domain.