The first step in creating a blog is registering a domain name. This is essentially your blog’s address on the internet.
I’ll show you how to register a domain name on Namecheap, my favorite registrar that I mentioned previously in my Choosing a Tech Stack module.
How To Register a Domain Name Using Namecheap [Step-by-Step]
Step 1: Go to Namecheap’s Website
Open your web browser and navigate to Namecheap’s official website. On the homepage, you should see a screen allowing you to register a domain name.
As a note, you’ll see two options above the search bar: “Register” and “Transfer”. Make sure that “Register” is selected. If you’ve selected “Transfer”, you have selected the incorrect option.
Step 2: Search for Your Desired Domain Name
In the search bar, enter the domain name you want to register (ex: yourdomainexample.com) and select the the search icon.
If your desired domain name is available, you’ll see a success message indicating its availability and price. If not, Namecheap will provide alternative suggestions or variations of the domain name.
Step 3: Choose Your Domain Name
Once you find your desired domain name and confirm its availability, select the “Add to Cart” button next to it. Make sure to select the “.com” version and not the alternates that appear.
You’ll notice that Namecheap tries to upsell you on these, and they probably get a fair number of registrations as a result. However, you probably don’t need the alternate versions.
When I first started out, I registered all of the available options so that nobody would take my alternate domain. I spent too much money on these domains I didn’t need.
You may be presented with a ton of different add-ons, such as Web Hosting, Social Media Manager, VPN, Business email, and more. Skip all of these; you won’t need any of them.
Step 4: Review Your Cart
Now, navigate to the checkout screen. You’ll see some additional options appear.
First, I recommend selecting domain privacy protection (WhoisGuard), which is typically included for free with most domain registrations on Namecheap. This feature enables you to protect your personal information.
I also recommend toggling on the Auto-renew option for both the domain registration as well as the domain privacy.
Secondly, you don’t need the PremiumDNS. If it tries to upsell you on hosting, just decline it again and make sure it’s not added to your cart by default.
Lastly, I usually only register my domains for one year. With Namecheap, it’s very hard to let a domain name slip and forget to re-register it. If you’re worried about that, don’t be.
The system will reach out to you a few separate times letting you know it is up for renewal. And if for some reason you accidentally forget to register it by the deadline, there’s also a 30-day grace period that you can re-register it again.
Step 5: Don’t Forget About a Promo Code!
You’ll also notice that I used a Namecheap promo code, so I saved a few dollars on my registration.
There’s an official Namecheap promo code section of the website, which usually has the most current promotions that the company is offering.
The text changes pretty often, but look for one that says something like “Discounted registration and transfer.” Typically, this will save you around $5 on a domain registration or transfer. If available, I almost always try to use a discount.
If you’ve correctly applied a coupon code, it should clearly display in both the payment amount as well as clearly indicate which promo code you’re using.
Step 6: Create an Account or Log In
If you’re a new Namecheap customer, you’ll need to create an account. Select the “Create Account” option and fill in the required information, such as your email address, name, and password. If you already have a Namecheap account, simply log in with your credentials.
Step 7: Enter Billing Information and Finalize Your Purchase
Next, enter your billing information. This includes your billing address and payment method (credit card, PayPal, etc.).
Review your order one last time, ensure that all details are correct, and then click on the “Confirm Order” button to complete the purchase of your domain name.
You will receive a confirmation email from Namecheap with the details of your purchase and instructions on how to access your new domain through your Namecheap account.
Step 8: Access Your Namecheap Dashboard
Once you’ve received confirmation of your domain via email, log back into your Namecheap account dashboard.
Here, you will be able to manage your domain settings, such as DNS settings or domain forwarding. If you see your domain in your account, it’s successfully been registered and there’s nothing else you need to do for now.
We’ll need to sign up with WP Engine hosting next, but for now, this is all we need to do with the domain. You can close out of Namecheap for now; we won’t come back to it until later.
What’s Next?
Congratulations! You’ve successfully registered your domain name on Namecheap. This domain is now yours, and you can start building your blog or website on it.
Remember, registering your domain is just the first step. Next, we’ll set up web hosting and install WordPress so that we can point the domain to the site’s files and get our fully-functioning website live.
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