How to Register a Domain

If this is your first time registering a domain we realise that the jargon and the process can seem confusing. This guide is intended to demystify the process for you and guide you through your registration step by step.

This document refers specifically to the registration process at www.inkkdomains.com

STEP 1- Check Domain Availability

Obviously you cannot register an unavailable domain so start by using the search form here to check that your desired domain is available.

If you are having problems finding a suitable domain our suggestion tool may help. You will see the link to this ("See more names like this") after you enter a domain which is not available. Just enter something approximating the domain you want and then click on the suggestion tool link to find similar available names.

STEP 2 - Select the Length of Your Registration

You can choose to register your domain for anything from year to 10 years in most cases. It is a little cheaper to register for a longer period and you are sure that the domain is safely yours. However if you choose a short period we can, unless you decide otherwise, automatically renew that name for you when it reaches the end of its term.

If you do not wish us to automatically reregister any of your domains you can turn off this option in your account management area.

Step 3 - Create Your Contact Information

You will be asked to provide contact details in 4 different categories. All or any of these may be the same person or each may be a different person.

a. Registrant

The individual or organisation that registers a specific domain name. This individual or organisation holds the right to use that domain name for a specified period as long as fees are paid. This person or organization is the "legal entity" bound by the terms of all applicable domain registration Service Agreements. Essentially the registrant owns the domain.

b. Administrative Contact

The administrative contact is a person authorized to interact with the registrar on behalf of the domain name registrant. The administrative contact should be able to answer non-technical questions about the domain name's registration. It is preferable that the administrative contact be the registrant or someone from the registrant's organisation.

c. Billing Contact

The billing contact is the person who will receive invoices for domain name registration and re-registration fees.

d. Technical Contact

The technical contact is the person or organization who maintains the primary domain name server. The technical contact should be able to answer technical questions about the domain name's primary domain name server and work with technically-oriented people in other domains to solve technical problems that affect the domain name. If you wish you may enter our details as the technical contact details.

Step 4 - Nameserver Information

A nameserver is a computer that has both the software and the data needed to resolve domain names. Domain names must be programmed into a minimum of two nameservers hosted on separate networks.

You will have 3 main choices here:

a. Park your Page

This is free of charge and uses our parked page nameserver information automatically.
This is the option to choose if you are simply registering a domain but have no plans to build a site at that domain for the moment.

b. Host with InKK Design/Use InKK Design Nameservers

This is the option to choose if you plan to host your site with us.

c. Enter nameservers for another host

If you are registering a domain which will be hosted elsewhere you can simply enter the nameserver information that was given to you by your host. If you are not sure of this choose to park your page - you will be able to come back later and change the nameserver information very readily.

STEP 5 - Additional Services

You will also be offered some additional services at this point.

Domain Parking

A domain name that is not being used with any web server may be programmed into nameservers and simply left there if it is not intended for immediate use. There is no charge for parking your domain with us and you can personalize your parked page from your account management area.

URL Forwarding

This simply means that when a user types in the address of the domain you are registering they will automatically be send somewhere else. You may wish to do this if your site currently has a long complex URL and you are registering a shorter simpler one.

Private Registration

A private registration means that your contact details will not be publicly available when your domain is registered.

Normally anyone can access these details by doing a 'whois' lookup on your domain. Some people don't mind this, some prefer to keep it private. The choice is yours.

STEP 6 - Agree Terms

At this point you must indicate your agreement with our terms and conditions of hosting.

All agreements can be previewed here.

STEP 7 - Confirm Details and Make Payment

Payments are made by Credit Card on a completely secure connection. Please review your information carefully before making a purchase as we are unable to offer refunds after a name has been paid for.

Once you have confirmed the details you will be taken to a secure area to make your payment.

That's it!!