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When it comes to registering a domain, iPage makes it easy. In this tutorial, we’ll go over the basics of:

- What a domain is.
– How to purchase a domain via iPage.
– How much a domain name would cost.
– Domain Privacy

What is a domain?

In a nutshell, this is simply the name you would type into a browser that directs it to a specific site on the Internet. The popular domain extensions end in .com, .net and .org, but there are also lesser known extensions, like .mobi, .tv, .name and .tel.

Every domain is unique and there can only be one. To check if your domain might be taken, you can use sites like whois.com. Simply type in the domain name and hit enter. If your desired domain name is taken, then sometimes the best option is to come up with a new one.

How to choose a domain name

Choosing the right domain can be hard. Here are 3 simple tips to help you choose the right one:

1. Make it easy to remember and type, so try to avoid hyphens or numbers.
www.chocolatelovers.com is good www.chocolate-lovers-23.com isn’t so good.

2. Try to go for a .com domain, rather than other extensions like .net or .org. This is mainly for SEO purposes and often people assume it ends in .com.

3. Check that the domain name as a whole isn’t ambiguous. For example, Kids Exchange as a domain looks rather peculiar:
www.kidsexchange.com

Registering a domain via iPage

To register a new domain, head to the Product section via the iPage homepage and click on Domain Services. Then, under Register a New Domain, you will find the available options. Depending on the extension you choose, purchasing a domain via iPage will cost you $12.99 a year for the usual .com, .net or .org extension to $34.95 a year for more exotic extensions like .mobi, .tv and .cc. You can actually save yourself some money and time by extending the length of your initial domain registration.

To purchase a domain name, simply enter it in the field and follow the checkout procedures.

Now, registering a domain name doesn’t necessarily mean you have a website up and running. You would need to host the domain with a web host like iPage in order to have a working website. A web host basically directs the domain to a website. This is important to remember, especially when you’re trying to work out the total cost of running a website. You would need to consider:

1. The cost of registering a domain
2. The cost of web hosting

A convenient and cheaper option is to use iPage to register your own domain and also to host your site too. With the iPage Essential Plan, you will receive a free domain and also host unlimited domains.

Domain Privacy

When you register a domain, your registration information such as your name, contact details and even billing address are displayed within public databases like WHOIS. This is standard and not illegal and is open for everyone to view.

You might think you can enter false information when you register your domain. Don’t do it. Entering inaccurate information can result in your domain being locked and taken away from you by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), the governing body for domains.

Now, if having sensitive information displayed on the Internet makes you feel uncomfortable, you might like to have the iPage Domain Privacy feature. For just $8.99 a year, those private information are masked.

To purchase Domain Privacy, simply click on Products, Domain Services and Domain Privacy.

This tutorial assumes you have already launched the Fantastico application.

Click on the ACCOUNTLAB PLUS link on the left side of your screen.

You will be taken to the AccountLab Plus INSTALLATION SCREEN.

AccountLab Plus is an accounting script that can lookup over 180 TLD’s, have unlimited hosting plans, offer monthly, quarterly, six monthly and yearly payment options and handles tax. Works with PaypPal, WorldPay, NoChex, 2checkout, checks and bank transfers.

Click the NEW INSTALLATION link.

Enter the name of the directory you want to install in, or leave this field blank for installation in the ROOT DIRECTORY.

Enter an ADMIN USERNAME AND PASSWORD in the provided boxes.

Now enter an ADMIN EMAIL ADDRESS.

In the provided box, enter your COMPANY ADDRESS and OPENING PARAGRAPH to be displayed on your page.

When ready, click the INSTALL button at the bottom of your screen.

Click the FINISH INSTALLATION button.

Before you can start configuring AccountLab Plus, you must first purchase a license since AccountLab Plus is not a free script.

Click on the purchase link near the center of your screen.

Once you have a valid license, you are ready to start configuring ACCOUNTLAB PLUS.

Your new installation will be listed on the SCRIPTS HOMEPAGE.

From here, you can visit the site by clicking the VISIT SITE link or remove the script from your page by clicking the REMOVE link at the bottom right of your screen.

INSTALLING ACCOUNTLAB PLUS FROM FANTASTICO

This tutorial assumes you are already launched the Fantastico application.

Click the 4IMAGES GALLERY link on the left side of the screen.

You will be taken to the 4IMAGES GALLERY installation screen.

4Images Gallery is an image gallery system, featuring unlimited categories and sub –categories, web-based and FTP image upload, auto-thumbnails, comments, send-and-rate-picture function, random pictures and much more.

Click the NEW INSTALLATION LINK.

Accept the TERMS OF USE by checking the box on your screen, then click CONTINUE.

On the next screen, enter the name of the directory you want to install in, or leave this field blank for installation in the ROOT DIRECTORY.

Enter an ADMIN USER NAME AND PASSWORD in the provided boxes.

Then enter an ADMIN EMAIL ADDRESS.

Click the INSTALL button.

On the next screen click the FINISH INSTALLATION button.

To login to your new installation, click the link provided at the center of your screen.

Log in using the ADMIN USERNAME AND PASSWORD you selected during your installation.

Your new installation will now be listed on the scripts homepage.

To visit the site click on the VISIT SITE link near the bottom right of your screen.

To remove the script from your account, click the REMOVE link at the bottom right of the screen.

INSTALLING 4IMAGE GALLERY FROM FANTASTICO

This tutorial assumes you have a domain name registered through stargate.com and starts from their homepage.

Now we’ll learn how to register private nameservers or custom nameservers.

Creating or registering private nameservers must be done with the domain registry where the domain name resides. To create, for example, ns1.youtdomain.com here, the domain yourdomain.com must be at this REGISTRY.

Click the LOGIN tab at the top of the screen.

Enter your USERNAME and PASSWORD in the boxes provided, then click LOGIN.             

You are now logged in to your account.

Click the DOMAINS link near the top of the page.

Then click LIST LAST TEN.

Click on the DOMAIN NAME-CLICK TO MANAGE link.

Now click MANAGE CHILD NAME SERVER. Scroll down.

Enter the new domain server in the HOST NAME box.

Now enter the new nameservers associated IP ADDRES in  the provided box. The IP address should have been provided to you by your webhost.

Click the SUBMIT button to have the new nameserver created.

When finished creating the nameserver, you’ll have to REPEAT the process to register your second name server. Registering private name servers, requires you to register TWO SEPARATE NAMESERVERS (i.e.: ns1 and ns2) each with its own unique IP Address.

Remember that after you submit your new nameservers and IP Addresses to the registry, IT CAN TAKE 24-48 HOUR for the new nameservers to propagate after you make these DNS changes.

How to create a private Nameserver at Stargate.com

This tutorial assumes you have a domain name registered through register.com and starts from their homepage.

Now we’ll learn how to register private nameservers or custom nameservers.

Creating or registering private nameservers must be done with the domain registry where the domain name resides. To create, for example, ns1.youtdomain.com here, the domain yourdomain.com must be at this REGISTRY.

Click the LOGIN tab at the top of the screen. Scroll down.

Enter your USERNAME and PASSWORD in the boxes provided, then click LOG IN.            

You are now logged in to your account.

Click on the domain name you wish to use to create private nameservers.

Click on the link to MANAGE REGISTERED NAMESERVERS. Scroll down.

Enter the new domain server in the DNS SERVER box under the REGISTER DNS SERVER section.

Now enter the new nameservers associated IP ADDRES in  the provided box. The IP address should have been provided to you by your webhost.

Click the CONTINUE button to have the new nameserver created.

When finished creating the nameserver, you’ll have to REPEAT the process to register your second name server. Registering private name servers, requires you to register TWO SEPARATE NAMESERVERS (i.e.: ns1 and ns2) each with its own unique IP Address.

Remember that after you submit your new nameservers and IP Addresses to the registry, IT CAN TAKE 24-48 HOUR for the new nameservers to propagate after you make these DNS changes.

How to create a private Nameserver at Register