To claim a domain name and use it for building your virtual office or website,
you need to go to a domain name registrar, check the availability and register
the name out of available options.

Today there is a plethora of domain name registrars available. But it was not
always so.

Till 1998 Network Solutions was the only company that was authorized to register
the domain name. It lost its monopoly after that and many companies have risen.
While competition is good for the prices, it also adds to the confusion.

When you look for a domain name registrar, you should keep following in mind:

Accreditation: ICANN maintains a list of accredited domain
registrars. The registrar pays application and annual fees to ICANN. A fee is
also paid by the registrar to Network Solutions, the company that maintains the
central registry of domain names. When you choose an accredited registrar, you
ensure that your chosen domain name is officially part of the Internet. A list
of ICANN accredited registrars has been posted in our blog.

Sometimes you might find a webhost or other sites allowing you to register
at their website. These act as reseller to the accredited registrars. In such
cases, they should disclose to you which registrar they represent.

Terms: Be absolutely certain to read and understand what you are getting
before you pay. Read about ownership clause and other terms of condition.

Price: There was time when getting a domain name registered was an
expensive affair. But now you can get a domain name much cheaper. There are many
types of discounts available that vary greatly with registrars. Do check out
various deals.

Duration: Do not register your domain for more than one year in the
beginning. You would like to evaluate your registrar before committing for
further.

Delay: A domain name is generally available within 48 hours after you
register it. Check your registrar's site to determine how long you will have
to wait. If it says something like 7 days, do not go for that registrar.

Domain transfer: You should be able to transfer your domain name to
another service without any restriction and for a fee not exceeding than fee for
new registration. A lot of registrars also offer free transfer.

Generally there is a restriction on domain transfer for 60 days after you
register your domain. Please check your registrar to find any other restriction
and curbs.

Customer Support: This is another very important aspect. You need a good
support system in case of any problem. Check out if phone or chat support is
available. If Email support is the available support then it should not take
them more than one business day to respond.

Few of the commonly used registrars are mentioned below. If you need to ask some
specific question about some registrar please visit the forums on this topic.
Many people would happily share their experience and guide you.

* nsi.com

* Register.com.

* Dotster.com

* 000domains.com

* Signaturedomains.com

* Godaddy.com

* Namecheap.com