Which is the best service for registering a domain? Godaddy? 1and1? Some other site? Thanks!

Not a simple answer, depends on things like;

1) How many domains do you have in total

2) Do you sell domains

3) Do you have your domains exclusively for your use

4) Do you use the "extra" features or just barebones registrations

So a decent answer will require more background and your overall mindset.

OK, I'll give you a bit more info. I am brand new to this and don't own any domains at all. I plan to buy some unregistered .coms using keywords that I think may generate some traffic. So far I have only one in mind, but I've only been learning about this since Thanksgiving.

I also am interested in buying a .com which feeds into the whole "lawyer" thing, since I am a lawyer. I would develop content on that site.

I would certainly be willing to sell domains for the right price, but I have none to sell right now. And I am so new to this that I don't even know what you mean when you ask whether my domains are "exclusively for my use"!

Hope this explanation helps a little. Thanks!

ie: You have no intent to sell the domains. You have them for *YOUR* development whatever that might be; hobby, business, etc.

If you've no domains and are "just learning" then I'd go for the lowest price possible since education is expensive and you'll be regging names that you wish you had'nt.

Probably go with enom and find a member here that's been around for a while with a decent post count to setup and account for you to extend a decent price. Enom probably the cheapest if you can setup an account this way / ride coat tail of others discount.

Also everybody's got a enom account if you sell so it's easy to sell (== "push" a name)

Once you're managing a lot of domains ask the question again.

I'm sure others will have different suggestions, but that's mine.

I looked at enom and it says that you can register a domain for $29.95 a year. Godaddy says you can register for $8.95 a year. Am I missing something here?

It makes no sense to pay more than $10 for registering a top level domain. Anything lower may be compared against services (e.g. free email/ url forwarding etc). There are wonderful small players out there who can do all of what enom and godaddy do, for a lesser price.

Which ones, Mojo? Examples please!

Originally posted by LawyerGal
Am I missing something here?

Yup, this part:

Probably go with enom and find a member here that's been around for a while with a decent post count to setup an account for you to extend a decent price.

If someone is willing to setup an account for you and your price *WILL* be lower than $8.95.

Gotcha. How little do some people pay? 1and1 only charges $5.95, I think.

Also note: The cost of the domain to the registrar is about $6 per year so that's the wall you're bumping up against.

Originally posted by LawyerGal
Gotcha. How little do some people pay? 1and1 only charges $5.95, I think.

Be careful, selling you a *REGISTRATION* at a loss does not mean the price to *RENEW* will be the same, it could be $50 per year and they lock your domains 90 days before renewal so you've no choice but to pay a rediculious renewal fee .....

Also registries have promotions with cause the registration prices to be low.

So allways compare the *RENEWAL* fees and not the registration fees.

lawyergal,

I just set up a $ 8.95 enom reseller acct for you. That is the lowest my ETP acct will permit.

I will send the info.

I will also send you the info about getting the lowest prices at Godaddy.

ILikeInfo - You forgot to include the $ 0.25 Icann tax when quoting the $ 6.00 registry cost.

Originally posted by Mojo
There are wonderful small players out there who can do all of what enom and godaddy do, for a lesser price.

I agree that a number of smaller "players" have provided me some of the best service I've experianced. It's been a while, but last time I'd checked their prices are very none competitive.

I to would find it interesting to know the prices these registrars are at these days.

Originally posted by actnow
lawyergal,

I just set up a $ 8.95 enom reseller acct for you. That is the lowest my ETP acct will permit.

I will send the info.

I will also send you the info about getting the lowest prices at Godaddy.

ILikeInfo - You forgot to include the $ 0.25 Icann tax when quoting the $ 6.00 registry cost.

Yup, forgot about the $0.25.

There must be different accounts I'm thinking of as some have offered up enom account at lower prices. So sorry, I got confused to.

bluerazor.com $7.50 with Icanfee
domainsite.com basic domain reg at $6.99