- Maddy Osman
- Mar 13
- 8 min read
The perfect domain is just a click away: claim your domain→
When learning how to make a website from scratch, one of the most important steps is to secure the right domain name. Without a memorable domain, it won’t matter which website builder or AI website builder you use—no one will be able to find your site.
But domain ownership is just the beginning. You need to manage your domain well to protect your brand reputation, keep your website secure and ensure everything runs smoothly.
So, how do you effectively manage your domain? In this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about domain name management to keep your website safe, reliable and set up for long-term success.
What is a domain name?
A domain name is your website's address on the internet. It’s the most recognizable part of a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), which you often type into your browser to access a specific web page. For example, “wix.com” is the domain name in the URL “https://www.wix.com/blog.”
"When choosing a domain, prioritize one that aligns with your brand and is easy for customers to remember. A domain should reflect your business and make it simple for people to find you online." - Einat Shafir, product manager at Wix
Read our articles on what is a domain name and domain vs. website to learn more about domains and how they relate to websites.
Parts of a domain
The key parts of a domain include:
Top-level domain (TLD): The TLD comes after your main domain name. It’s also known as the “domain extension.” Examples include “.com,” “.org,” “.net” and “.co.”.
Second-level domain (SLD): This is the core of your website’s address, usually the name of your business or brand. For example, in “wix.com,” the word “wix” is your SLD.
Subdomain: This is an extension that comes before the SLD. It’s used to structure a website into different sections to make navigation easier for visitors. For instance, “careers” is the subdomain in the domain “careers.wix.com.”
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Types of domain extensions
Each type of domain extension serves a different purpose, and the one you choose often hints at the type of website you’re running. Some examples include:
Generic top-level domains (gTLDs): These are the most popular domain name extensions. They include .com domains, .org domains, .website domains and .digital domains.
Country-code top-level domains (ccTLDs): These extensions indicate a specific geographical location or country. Examples include .us for the United States, .uk for the United Kingdom and .au for Australia.
Sponsored top-level domains (sTLDS): These are restricted to specific industries or organizations. For example, .edu is reserved for accredited educational institutions, and .gov is used exclusively by government agencies.
"There are three WIN Pillars for choosing a great domain name. 1) Words: Keep it short and easy to spell, 2) Identity: Make sure it’s relevant to your business and 3) Name: Ensure it’s unique and distinguishable. Avoid numbers and hyphens as they can complicate the domain." - Keren Friedlander, product manager at Wix
Check out this guide to domain extensions to get more insights on the different types of domains.
How to get a domain name
You can get a domain name in two ways. Let’s look at both.
Purchase a domain name
Buying a domain name helps your website look more legit and professional than if you're using something like “yoursite.wixsite.com.”
However, before you buy one, perform a domain name search to check for domain availability. If your first choice is taken (which happens a lot), you can use a domain name generator to get creative alternatives based on your business name or keywords.
Once you settle on a name, check the domain name cost before proceeding to checkout, as the prices may vary. A standard domain name should cost around $10 to $45 per year, though premium domains can cost more.
“The question is never about price alone—it’s about whether the domain strengthens visibility, credibility or long-term positioning. When a name aligns with branding and market perception, it can carry more weight than any marketing campaign.” - Alan Carr, creative director at Webpop Design
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Secure a free domain name
Many website builders, like Wix, offer free website hosting coupled with a free domain when you sign up for their website-building services. This can be a fantastic option if you’re just starting out or working with a tight budget.
Just keep in mind that after the initial free period (often one year), you'll need to pay the regular renewal rate to keep your domain.
Other benefits of using a website builder like Wix include:
Great site reliability with a 99.99% uptime guarantee, so your site stays online and accessible virtually all the time.
Top-notch website performance to give visitors a smooth user experience.
Enterprise-grade website security to protect your site from cyber attacks.
Wix Analytics to get valuable insights about your site's traffic and visitor behavior.
Scalability to easily grow your site as your business expands.
Learn more: How to get a free domain name
What is domain management?
Domain management involves regularly maintaining your domain name to keep it active, secure and properly configured. Many people confuse domain name management with web hosting, but they serve different purposes.
While domain management ensures your domain stays registered and correctly linked to your website, web hosting focuses on storing and serving your website’s content so visitors can access it.
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Why is domain name management important?
Effective domain management has many benefits. Let’s look at some of them.
Brand protection
Without proper oversight, bad actors can register similar domains to impersonate your business or mislead unsuspecting customers. Managing your domain helps prevent this.
One way to protect your brand is by buying misspelled versions of your primary domain name, as well as different TLDs, like .net, .org and .co. You can then keep them as parked domains or redirect them to your main website to make sure visitors always land in the right place.
You could also add a few potentially valuable domains you’re not planning to use to the cart and then sell them down the road to make some extra money. This process is called “domain flipping.”
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Domain security and risk prevention
If your unmanaged domain expires, hackers can take control of it and create fake versions of your site to trick visitors into sharing sensitive information, which can affect your reputation.
Domain name management reduces this risk and boosts website security so that visitors will always access the real version of your site.
Improved SEO performance
How well you manage your domain can affect your domain authority, which is a key factor in search engine optimization (SEO).
Consistent domain management signals to search engines that your website is trustworthy. This can help you rank higher in search results and prevent domain-related issues that could hurt your visibility on search engines.
How to manage your domain
01. Choose a reliable registrar
The first step in managing your domain is picking a reliable domain registration company. A trusted registrar will keep your domain secure, make it easy to manage and provide reliable support whenever you need it.
Some of the best domain registrars, like Wix, offer features like integrated WHOIS lookup and protection, 24/7 customer support and even a free domain name for a year with premium website-building plans.
“Certain domain registrars offer packages with added security (like WHOIS privacy protection), premium DNS services, SSL certificates or website-building tools. While these extras can increase the annual cost, they offer value in terms of convenience, security and performance. For businesses handling sensitive data or relying heavily on online transactions, these features are crucial." - Kumar Abhinav, senior link building analyst at Mavlers
Learn more: How to register a domain name
02. Monitor domain expiration dates
Domain name expiration can cause a lot of issues. Your website could go offline, your email address might stop working and—worst of all—someone else could snatch up your domain name.
A simple way to avoid expiration issues is to set reminders or enable auto-renewal options with your domain registrar. This way, your domain stays active without you having to constantly remember renewal deadlines.
By taking a proactive approach, you'll be able to avoid unnecessary disruptions and maintain a clean domain history, which can boost your domain’s trustworthiness.
03. Secure your domain account
Securing your account reduces the risk of unauthorized access by hackers who might want to transfer ownership, redirect traffic or even take down your website.
One of the easiest ways to protect your domain is to use unique passwords and update them regularly. You can also enable two-factor authentication (2FA) to enhance your security. That way, even if someone steals your password, they won’t be able to access your account without the additional authentication factor.
04. Activate domain privacy protection
When you register a domain, your contact details are often stored in public WHOIS databases. That means anyone (even bad actors) can look up your details and try to spam you or expose you to cyber threats.
To keep your information private, you need to activate domain privacy. This will replace your personal details with generic contact information and keep your identity hidden from the public.
Many domain registrars offer domain privacy as an optional add-on, but if you’re using Wix, you get private registration at no extra cost when creating a website.
05. Maintain DNS settings properly
Your Domain Name System (DNS) settings connect your domain name to your website, email and other online services. If they’re not set up correctly, visitors might not be able to access your site or your email could stop working.
Review your DNS settings regularly to make sure your domain name servers and other settings are configured correctly. Also, remember to adjust your DNS records to avoid downtime if you make any changes, like switching web hosts or updating your email services.
More on website builders
Domain name management FAQs
What is the main purpose of DNS?
The main purpose of the DNS is to translate domain names (like “wix.com”) into IP addresses (like “172.217.1.14”) that computers use to locate websites.