If you have not yet registered a domain name for your website, you might want to wait. Unless you want a name that is going to be very popular, you might be able to save some money on the domain name by waiting until choosing a website host. This is because most of the top 10 web hosting companies actually give away the domain name for free. In fact, some companies will even give you a free domain name for the life of your web hosting contract.

Compare Top 10 Web Hosting & Free Domain Names

Competition

One reason that web hosts will give you a free domain name is to help them keep up with the competition. In this industry, most web hosting companies are quite similar in the features they offer. They need a way to help themselves stand out from the crowd, and often the freebies that they include with a contract give just that.

For example, if you are looking at two hosting providers who have unlimited disk space, unlimited bandwidth, similar security and website building features, and the exact same price, how can you decide which one to use? The freebies may be the only distinguishing factors.

Affordability

In reality, giving out a domain name is an affordable thing to do. Even if you were buying this yourself, you could be paying as little as $5 a year for a domain name, depending on the registrar you chose. When a big company registers many, many domain names for their clients, they likely save even more. When you are paying $3-$10 a month for your hosting plan, the company can carve out a few dollars to maintain your domain name for you.

Customer Loyalty

Another reason the best web hosting companies offer free domain names to their customers is to build and maintain customer loyalty. Sometimes you can have your domain name for free just as long as you keep your account with that particular host. If you choose to change hosts, you will lose your domain registration, which will force you to change your website’s name or pay to switch it to a new host that may not offer the free service.

If you want the flexibility of being able to switch hosts when your contract is up, look for one that offers a free domain for life. This will allow you to keep your domain name, even if you choose to switch hosts, and the domain will stay free.

Tips for Choosing Your Domain

Once you find a host, preferably one that offers a free domain name, you need to choose your domain carefully. Here are some tips to remember:

• Keep It Short: Choose something that people will be able to remember easily. The shorter the better, provided it fits your business well.

• Keep It Easy to Spell: Internet users are poor spellers, as a whole. Keep your domain’s name something people can easily spell.

• Make It Catchy: You want your domain to stick in people’s minds, so make it something catchy.

These tips will help you choose a domain name that is sure to be successful.

Setting up a website is not always the most affordable thing you could do. First you have to design it, which might cost you something if you are not yourself a designer. Then you have to buy a domain name. Finally, you have to host the site. One way you can save a little money is to get your web hosting through one of the top domain hosts. Not only are most of the top hosting companies the cheapest out there, but most of them also offer a free domain name.

Compare Top 10 Web Hosting & Free Domain Names

Why They Do This

The main reason that web hosting providers offer free domain names with their packages is competition. If the competition is offering this and one particular company is not, you will likely move on. There is simply too little difference between the various providers for you to be willing to lose out on a freebie like this.

The other reason is to get customers. Offering a free domain name is a huge marketing point. They can offer it as a “free gift,” drawing customers in.

Finally, because these web hosting companies register so many domain names each year, they can get a great rate on the registration and renewal. The cost to them is much lower than it would be to you, so in the end both you and the host win. They win because they get your business, and you win because you do not have to pay for your domain name.

Which Company to Choose

Almost all of the top web hosting companies offer a free domain name. You will need to choose the company that best meets your other needs, looking at factors like what type of service they offer (U.S. based or not), the amount of space and bandwidth you will get, the other built in features, and, of course, the price. HostMonster, one of the top-rated web hosting providers, offers a free domain name. So does FatCow, which is known for its excellent price, and JustHost, which is currently running a special making it one of the cheapest options out there.

Free Domain for Life?

One feature to look for as you shop for a web hosting company is the offer of a free domain name for life. This means that you will never pay for your domain name, even if you change providers. The domain registration is taken care of. This will give you the flexibility to shop for a different web hosting company if your needs change or you find one that has a better offer.

Read the Fine Print

Remember, you might have to register for a contract of a certain length to get the free domain name. Always read the fine print before you sign up for web hosting assuming that you will have a particular freebie. If a company requires a two-year contract for a particular price or a free domain name, make sure it has the right products and services for your current and future needs. This will ensure that you are happy with the service for the entirety of your contract.