To the uninitiated, understanding how to buy a domain and launch a website may seem daunting. After all, websites aren’t tangible objects – they’re collections of code, stored on giant hard drive servers in secure warehouses. And domain names are just part of a mysterious language full of abbreviations, like URL and HTTPS.

Jargon Buster

Fortunately, this jargon isn’t as intimidating as it first appears. A Uniform Resource Locator (URL) is simply the address of a specific web page. HTTPS indicates a secure protocol is being followed while information is sent to and from your device. And ‘domain name’ is just the technical term for a website’s location. Our own domain name is www.uk2.net. Like every other live website, we had to buy this domain before we could populate it with content. It’s ours for as long as we want, though we could resell it if we chose to.

When you buy a domain name, you’re granted exclusive rights to host a website at that location. Within reason, you can upload anything you want, such as products for sale, personal blogs, links to external websites or product reviews. Creating a website is surprisingly easy, but that’s stage two of the process. First, you need to buy a domain…

How do I buy a domain?

The good news is you’re in the right place. UK2 is an authorised reseller of domain names. We have a Search bar on our homepage, which enables you to check whether your preferred domain name has been registered yet. We look through hundreds of top-level domains to check availability. Top level domains, or TLDs, are the abbreviations at the end of a domain name, like .co.uk or .com. These are the two most common TLDs in Britain, though there are many others to choose from. While some are regarded as unprofessional (.buzz) or have very niche appeal (.productions), TLDs like .site and .store have understandably become popular since they were launched.

If your preferred domain name is still available – and bear in mind there are over 1.3 billion websites already occupying unique domains – add it to your shopping cart on our website. You can purchase as many domains as you wish, adding email hosting to each for less than £1 a month. Equipping yourself with a matching email address looks far more professional than using a personal Yahoo or Gmail address.

Build your own

Another recommended addition to your basket is UK2’s website builder tool. This enables complete beginners to build attractive websites which automatically adjust their layout according to the screen size of each device viewing it. With most internet traffic displaying on smartphones and tablets nowadays, this is an invaluable feature. Alternatively, you can use the UK2 WordPress framework. We’re big fans of WordPress, and our Starter package has been designed to offer everything a beginner needs to create a stylish and reliable website. Like our own website builder, unlimited access only costs a few pounds a month. That’s a fraction of the amount you’d pay a web design company to build a site for you – and they might use WordPress themselves!

The final stage of the process involves entering a few personal details and your chosen payment method. Then that’s it! A little corner of the internet is yours, to do with as you wish. UK2 will ensure it can always be accessed, even if traffic volumes suddenly spike. We will host website content on your behalf, and we’ll get in touch when it’s time to renew your domain name for another year. Everything else is up to you…