Who else wants unique gift ideas for that special someone?
Are you looking for something inexpensive, personal, and can be pretty useful? Give a domain name. It can be a great gift by itself or if combined with a photo website.
Here are the top ten reasons to give a domain name as a present:
- It is easier to find a good domain name than a reasonably priced passive 3D TV.
- It’s more personal than a camera or smartphone.
- No assembly required. (No instructions in Chinese to go through.)
- Less obvious last-minute gift, unlike a lottery ticket.
- Save a tree — you don’t have to wrap it!
- Give someone the secret identity they’ve always wanted.
- Domains are cheap; you can register one for a year for as little as $6.95
- You won’t shoot your eye out with it!
- It can be passed down from generation to generation like a great framed portrait.
- You can buy it at 11:59pm on the day before the birthday, wedding, anniversary or any special day, and still have it in time.
Owning a domain only gives you the rights to the name, e.g., johnandmary.com. It is like a declaration that the name is yours. You can go to any of the web domain registration companies such as Godaddy or Namecheap to purchase a domain name.
Making the Domain More Personal and Useful
But when you basically would like to use the domain name for a website, e-mail, and so on, you will want to have the domain hosted. Owning 1 without hosting it can be called “parking” the domain. Less than $10 a month gets you hosting for that domain. We have been using Hostgator for more than 8 years and it has been the best one out of 30+ hosting companies that we have tried. So bottom line, $120 (or less) buys a hosted domain for a year.
A domain is so intangible that you may want something solid to go together with it. As well as the obvious choice could be a set of beautiful business cards with the new domain particulars on them. VistaPrint will print 250 business cards in color for 20 dollars (or totally free for new customers, with a nominal $10 shipping-handling fee).
Where to Buy
You will notice about 30 gazillion web sites that let you register domain names, and another 92 gazillion that can host that name for you. And there is certainly a lot of overlap. There is a huge number of of sites that will help you find a hosting company; check out Cheap Web Hosts and Multiple Domain Hosting.
If you do not have the time to research for the best domain registration company or web hosting, then here is our recommendations:
- Hostgator for most comprehensive DIY hosting including Sitebuilders with 4000+ unique templates, one-click-installer for lots of web applications, shopping cart, forum, and much more. Click here to try for a penny.
- Weebly for simple website builder with beautiful templates. Nothing fancy but straightforward easy-to-use website creation tool. Click here to try for free.
Domain Name Recommendations
What do you do if the name you want is taken? Be creative. Change the word order. Use .net, .org, .name, & others. Try synonyms. Here are more ideas:
- Use names: www.PetersPlace.com or www.CarltonCreek.com
- Small business owner name: www.PaulPhotoshop.com or www.StevenStudio.com
- Use nicknames: www.RockRuppert.com or www.ChefCornwall.com
- Incorporate job: www.LilyaLawyer.com or www.DrDrewCarey.com
- Incorporate a persons interests: www.GolferGwyneth.com
- Incorporate a quirks: www.ScreaminSuzy.com
- Make a statement: www.ILoveLouise.com or www.BewareOfHillary.com
- Name of pet: www.TiggersDad.com