When we first started offering web design services there was only one place to get domains. That place was Network Solutions. Domains were $50 per year and registered with a two-year minimum. The DNS setup charge of $25 was tacked on to that.

Then, around 1998, the powers that be determined that domain services should be available from more than one place. As expected the price dropped. Network Solutions went from $50 to $35 and dropped the two-year minimum bit. Other online outlets for the registration of domain names went… well online. Domain parking and domain squatting became even more common as the prices dropped, but that is another topic entirely.

Domains can be purchased on the web today for as low as $1.95 (yes, we’ve actually seen it) to as much as $35.00. The domain registration services that come with that registration dictate, at least in part, the broad spectrum of pricing. As with everything else, the lower the price the less options (see TANSTAFL). We offer domain registration through MelbourneIT (yes, Melbourne Australia) because, through a special arrangement, we can offer the most useful services at the lowest price through them. To our clients, we offer domain registration for $15 annual. Depending on the hosting plan, this may actually be included in the plan fee. This is for either hosting or design clients only. We are not a domain parking garage. For those wishing to just park the domain and not either host or design with Dynamic Webscapes, the annual cost for a domain name is $25.00.

So, to recap clients may purchase domain names for $15 per year, but they may not see this fee depending on their hosting plan.

Unless you are just planning on parking the domain name, there will need to be some amount of domain name management. The domain name must be associated with at least one IP address. Canonical names are usually set up to handle other server functions. For the average website we automatically set up eight cnames in addition to the address record. Each of those has to be able to be changed as necessary without a lot of trouble. Some registrants do not offer this service at all, others do but everything is handled via email (you can’t call them at all). The pricier services offer a full line of online forms that allow the domain to be manipulated. Some of those forms require a 24 hour or more wait before the files are updated. Still others directly update the server so that changes are done real-time.

As authorized viaVerio resellers, domains registered through MelbourneIT and attached to our account can be fully controlled real-time through our reseller control panel. This means that we are able to offer the best of both worlds to our clients. Full domain control and lower prices. While not the lowest we feel that we are the best value.

We have had occasion to interface with other domain registrants and have found that the lower priced registrants just do not offer the services our clients need and we demand. The higher priced registrants do not offer anything that we need.

Please also note that there can be a longer set up time for your website if you register through another outlet. Should the domain need to be transferred, this period can be anywhere from 7 to 60 days depending on the registration.