| Can you really register a domain name for free | | | | The answer to that question is yes, but... |
| anywhere? | | | | Domain names are valuable commodities, especially |
| You may have a great idea for a domain name, and | | | | the shorter ones, and to expect to get safe, secure |
| you want to register it before someone else does. | | | | registration of a domain name for nothing is not |
| Or, you may simply want to register your own first | | | | realistic. |
| name and surname, or a child's name. Perhaps you've | | | | You can get free domain names, but only as part of |
| seen a place name for a location on the map which is | | | | another service, which would normally be the hosting |
| about to get a major residential development, or a | | | | of the site itself. There are many very good hosting |
| new mall, and have discovered that the domain name | | | | services which will pay for the registration of the |
| is not taken yet. | | | | domain you want, if you sign up to host the site with |
| Or perhaps you have read the advice which | | | | them, for at least a year. Such services are often |
| professional domain-name traders have been giving | | | | very reliable, with all the hosting features you need, |
| out recently: do your research, buy good quality two- | | | | and come at a very low cost, so the addition of the |
| or three-word generic domains that are unregistered, | | | | free domain registration could be seen as giving you |
| keep them for a while, then sell them to a company | | | | your domain for 'free'. |
| which sells the product or service related to that | | | | Another way of getting your domain for free would |
| name. For them, it would be a minor cost of doing | | | | be to use a 'cash parking' service. A domain is |
| business compared with building their factory. For | | | | 'parked' when it is purchased, but not developed - it |
| you, it could be a windfall. | | | | is simply left with the registration service. You can |
| But with domains each costing about $9-$10 a year | | | | opt to allow advertisements to be placed on the |
| to register with the most reliable online providers, | | | | page. If a visitor clicks on the ad, you get a share of |
| such speculation may end up being costly. This is | | | | the click-through revenue. Though you are unlikely to |
| because you may have to buy hundreds of names | | | | make a lot of money this way, what you do make |
| to be sure of having a few which will eventually | | | | may be enough to cover your annual registration fee. |
| become valuable. | | | | Again, you could see this as getting the domain |
| At that point, your thoughts turn to free domain | | | | registered for 'free', since you are getting revenue |
| registration - can it be found anywhere? | | | | without doing any work. |