While not as complicated as picking a hosting provider, there are some considerations when you pick your registrar. The first piece of advice I'd give is that if you have a hosting provider already (GoDaddy, Google, WPEngine...) and they offer domain registering, just go with that unless there are any red flags. Having your DNS and site in one dashboard will be much easier for you to deal with, as well as any contractors you may hire in the future. If that is not an option for you, then there are several points that you should consider, based on the size and scope of your business.
- Email - Will you be needing email? Does this registrar offer email at all? Is it folded into their regular plan, or will it be separate payments? Email can be vital to your business, and if you have to use a native email portal that is clunky, or doesn't allow you to forward your email, that can be a detriment to communicating with your customers or clients. Make sure to read some reviews, and see if you can use a demo or trial version of the email client before committing to a contract.
- Pricing structure - There can be a big difference between tiers, and with most small to medium businesses, you won't need more than the minimum.
- Subdomains/Multisite - Sometimes it's useful to have a subdomain, so if that's you, just make sure to check that having a subdomain is possible at all with the registrars you're thinking about. Some of them restrict subdomains, or charge extra, and a few don't allow them at all.
- Support - Much like your hosting provider, having quality support available can make or break your site. It's no exaggeration to say that at least 80% of the problems I've encountered with DNS has been solved by hopping on a support chat and asking them to check your work. It's easy to accidentally set up a redirect loop, or miss a semi-colon here or there when you're modifying your DNS. I personally would never contract with a registrar that doesn't offer some kind of support, but you have to decide on your level of comfort with that when you decide.
It bears repeating that the vast majority of businesses out there are well-served to use a domain and hosting provider in one, and usually the most affordable domain registration options. Always check for email, and subdomains if you'll need them. Make sure to read plenty of reviews, and get first-hand accounts from colleagues if you can. Remember you can always call on a professional for advice, just fill out the form below and we can help you make the right decisions for your website.
