What it means to purchase a domain name forever, two ways to purchase a domain name, and differences in purchasing an original one compared to an existing one.
If you are looking to start your own website for a business, for personal use or for any other reason, you may be aware that it would require you to purchase a domain name in order to host your website for as long as you might need it. You might also be curious as to whether you would be able to purchase your domain name forever. Unfortunately, a domain name cannot be purchased forever, but only for as long as the domain name registrar has life. Before purchasing a domain name, it would be best to understand what it is and how to purchase one.
What is a domain name and why is it not possible to purchase a name forever?
A domain name is basically an online home of a website, and it is a name that takes over the sites real Internet Protocol, or what is known as the IP address, which takes on a one of a kind sequence of numbers. It will generally lead to the website, so that it is easily found when searched for in search engines. Domain names consist of extensions such as the well known .com and .net at the end of the websites address. People are now exploring ways to make their sites easily stand out or be easily found by using more forte focussed extensions such as .photo or .video or .church, and in this way a website will be much easier to come across in searches related to the end extensions.
When looking to purchase a domain name forever or for life, this will not necessarily mean that it will belong to you forever and even when you are long gone. Purchasing a domain name forever simply means that the domain name will belong to you for as long as the domain name registrar is active and has life. If the company in which you have bought the domain name is still in business, you will keep the domain name. However, should the company shut down, so will your domain name. There are two known ways of buying a domain name for life. You can either only purchase the domain or you can opt to purchase what is known as web-hosting services.
How to purchase a domain name and web-hosting services
To buy a domain name you would need to do this through a domain registrar which can cost from $7 to $10 for a year but take into consideration that these prices will differ according to the domain registrar. Make sure to note the date of when you bought the domain name, because you will need to keep track of when your domain name will be due to expire and when you would need to renew it. The expiration date will be exactly a year from the purchase date, and you would need to wait for 30 days before the expiration to renew the domain name. You would then need to log into the domain manager, select the renew option, enter your card or banking information in order to make the payment.
To purchase web-hosting services, you will need to find a provider that has a domain for life option. Prices will vary again according to the different providers. You will have to select the domain name you would like and ensure that you pay your bill every month to ensure you keep the domain running. It is important not to allow your account to expire, and not to cancel it as this will result in forfeiting your domain name.
The difference between buying an original domain name and an existing one
When buying an original domain name, you get the opportunity to create one that will originally belong to you and will have a unique name created by you. You will also have an online presence that is unique to you. There is also the option of buying a domain name that already exists, rather than creating one from scratch. This is also considered to be a better option, as buying a domain that already exists means that it will already have been known and spread on search engines. Existing domains may also already be accumulating money and have gained a following, which only makes things easier for a new buyer to benefit too.
It is therefore not possible to purchase a domain name forever in the sense that it is yours forever, but depends on the domain registrar lifespan.
