Register a new Web site

How Do I … register a Web address or new Web site?

Finding and creating a unique Web domain name involves going through a Web registration company. Hundreds of them abound. We recommend Godaddy.com or Verio.com as basic starting points. Most basic domains will cost about $8 or $9 per year to register.

If you find you want to buy a name already registered but not developed yet – say Chickenwarriors.com – you’re going to have to compete against the existing owner, hoping he or she won’t renew or that you can snatch it from others who might be waiting to get it when the domain registration expires.

To do that you’ll need to use “drop catchers” – sites that target domains that will expire and sign you up when it becomes available. Two examples of drop catchers are Pool.com and Snapnames.com.