Domain Registering
Actually a domain registering process is quite simple. You just visit a domain registrar, claim your selected domain name to acquire the rights to it and register that domain.
This domain registrar records your ownership in a central registry controlled by ICANN - The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. Domain registering ensures you own that specific domain for a given period of time. It gives you exclusive rights to your selected domain-name and during that period nobody else can use it.
The very first thing you need to do after domain registering is to provide the name servers that you got from your host. These name servers translate your domainname into a physical address. Filling them in makes your domain name point to your hosting service, so your domain can be found.
To achieve that, the Domain Name System (DNS) is used. That's a hierarchical naming system for computers, services, or any resource connected to the Internet or a private network. It associates various information with domain names assigned to each of the participants. Most importantly, it translates domainnames meaningful to humans into the numerical (binary) identifiers associated with networking equipment for the purpose of locating and addressing these devices worldwide.
So, you'll have to keep an eye on the expiration date of a domain registration. Most registrars will warn you for this timely, so you can extend that period of time. Some even allow you to do this automatically, like 000domains.com. Other registrars can be found at http://www.icann.org/registrars/accredited-list.html
Another thing to watch sharply is locking. After domain registering, that domain is yours, but somehow, don't ask me how, cyber-terrorists or vindictive software are able to change over your domain into their own name or shift the domain’s name servers on to their web host. To prevent unauthorized transfers of your domain to another registrar or web host you must lock your domain name. At 000domains.com this is free, as is with many other registrars I guess.
And yet another point to consider after domain registering is whether or not you select Whois-privacy. You see, once you're listed as the owner of a domain, your owner data is listed in the registers and anyone can find them, which can lead to a lot of spam to your email address listed there. Unless you decide to enable Whois privacy. In that case the data from the registrar are listed instead of your own. Which is only a security measure, not an ownership transfer, so you'll stay the owner of the domain name.
These are the most important parts of domain registering. There are many more depending on the registrar you choose.
Read their conditions first. Again, my preference is 000domains.com. Not the cheapest, but very reliable. Highly recommended.
If you need help finding a great domain name, just check out our Domain Name Availability Search.
Wishing you lots of success,
Case Stevens