You need a domain name for your business idea, brand, or project — you need a way to be located on the Web. Now, since you are in Nepal, you are probably wondering whether you should go for a .com or maybe a .com.np domain. But how, in general, does one register a domain, and where is it registered? Can you even get a domain for free? This guide answers all of your questions. Whether it is your first domain registration, or you just want to have a look at how domains in Nepal are being worked upon, this guide has everything for you.
What Is a Domain Name and Why Does It Matter?
A domain name is translated into human-readable form from an IP address, having great ease of remembrance; therefore, it can easily be typed into an address bar. Examples include bisup.com or yourcompany.com.np. In a simpler view, basically every domain name redirects to an IP address through a system called DNS: Domain Name System. It is simply the big phone book of the internet, translating names from readable into machine-readable numbers.
It’s much more than a web address. The first thing one sees online when he or she Googles about your business or brand is the domain name. If it is clean and memorable, it will set a good tone, create trust, improve SEO, and just make your presence on the internet easier for people to find. A subdomain of, let’s say, yoursite.provider.com, on the other hand, will poorly represent you and convey a picture to your visitor that you might not be serious about your online presence at all.
Out of the decisions that you need to make for your online presence, the domain service you start with is arguably the most important.
Understanding Domain Name Extensions: .com, .com.np, and Beyond
It is basically the extension that one chooses during domain registration, having a great symbolic power. Let’s go through the meanings of some of the very popular ones:
.com: World Standard
The .com is probably the most used and recognized extension in the world. If you focus on a worldwide audience or you wish to display a professional image internationally, then .com is the best. A .com is more like a default extension that comes to somebody’s mind for any website.
Nepal Country Domain: .com.np
The domain name .com.np is the national country-code top-level domain of Nepal, regulated by the established domain registration system.
An np domain is designed for companies, organizations, and government establishments that could project a local image of Nepal.
On the registration of a ‘register com np’ domain, certain papers are usually required — most typically, a firm’s registration certificate or at times a citizenship document — that an international registrar would not be capable of dealing with. So, the job needs to be granted to a local authorized registrar like Bisup in Nepal, lest there arises an obstruction to success.
Other Extremely Popular Extensions
Besides .com and .com.np, get to know these other endings for top-level domains:
- .org — non-profits, organizations
- .net — network services; now, in general
- .io — tech startups; tools for developers
- .xyz — cheap alternative to .com
- .store — for e-commerce companies
- .tech — technology companies
The extension used depends on the brand, audience, and budget.
Domain Registration in Nepal: How It Works
This is officially claiming a domain name through an accredited registrar for a certain period, usually one year, with the option of renewal each year. Here’s how the process works.
- Step 1: Give it a short and memorable name that will describe your brand effectively. Name should not contain hyphens, numeric characters, or anything that is difficult to spell over a call’s connection.
- Step 2: Check availability. Use some helpful domain lookup tool to know if your desired name is still open or has already been taken. A good registrar will help you with some alternatives in case it is already taken.
- Step 3: Choose the extension. Decide if it is a .com, .com.np, or any other alternative TLD that fits the purpose.
- Step 4: Get registered through an accredited, trustworthy registrar having competitive pricing and with the choice of DNS management tools. For businesses at Nepal, they might be selecting a registrar locally based in Nepal, such as Bisup, and getting advantages of getting a local language — both in Nepali and English and accepting local payment gateways eSewa, Khalti, and overseeing the correct management on .com.np documentation requirements.
- Step 5: Configure Your DNS. After registration, you will point the domain to your server hosting by updating the nameserver records. This is done through the DNS management panel provided by your registrar.
- Step 6: Secure your domain — that is, register private domain data in WHOIS for protection from being exposed to the outside world. Renew in time, or turn on auto-renew to keep you from losing your domain.
Free Domain: What Is Actually Available?
Probably, the most common thing a newbie website would search for is a free domain. Here is the real scoop.
Free domain registrations, where you pay nothing, ever, are very far and few between and come with significant catches. Historic free .tk, .ml, and .cf domains have a host of trust issues relating to services from Freenom. Performance in SEO and long-term security of these selections are often at stake with many of them either totally gone or just suddenly unavailable without warning.
There is, however, one legitimate way to get a truly free domain in Nepal — applying directly through Mercantile Communications, the official registry for .com.np domains. Mercantile offers free .com.np domain registration for eligible Nepali businesses and organizations. The process requires submitting the necessary documents, and approval is subject to their verification process. It is free, but it takes time and paperwork.
With domain and hosting combos, on the other end of the stick, the free options are quite a bit more viable. For example, there are many great providers out there, like Bisup, that offer a free domain name with purchase of web hosting. In most cases, this is a free first year of .com registration included in your hosting package. You will get a professional domain; a real hosting environment; a free SSL certificate; and everything required to go live in one package.
Pro Tip: Bisup offers a free domain when you purchase a 2-year or above hosting plan. It is one of the easiest ways to get your domain and hosting sorted together at the best value — no paperwork, no waiting, just instant setup.
In other words, so that you decide on the path of a quality hosting plan where domain costs are encompassed in the hosting plan, and not running after absolutely free registrars.
Also Know: Why Quality Hosting Plan is important for your site?
Introduction to WHOIS: Your Domain’s Public Record
This is a whois record that is created in spite of any domain registration — meaning it is a public database entry that is going to give information regarding the registration of the domain and show details pertaining to the registrant name, registrar, registration date, expiry date, and even name server information among other details.
This is helpful if one wants to do a whois lookup on a domain that has been registered, so that he/she can know about the ownership of a domain, when it was registered, and when it was going to expire.
It is quite useful when used for:
- Checking whether a domain is really free
- Finding out who the owner of a domain is if you are looking to purchase a domain
- Checking the registration status of a domain
- Investigating expired domains that you might be able to register
Most registrars have built-in whois lookup tools, and you can also choose to work with a dedicated dns checker service, especially for verification of dns propagation after updating nameserver settings when you newly point a domain to a hosting server.
.np Domain Registration: The Complete Process
.np.com or any other domain requires a few steps more than simply registering a domain with the .com tld. Here’s how it goes:
Documents Required for .com.np Registration:
- Company registration certificate (if it is a company)
- PAN (for businesses)/VAT certificate
- Authorized person’s citizenship
- A letter of authorization on the company letterhead, in case of some categories
Categories available for .np:
- .com.np — Companies
- .org.np — Organizations
- .edu.np — Educational institutions
- .gov.np — Government offices
- .net.np — Internet service providers
- .mil.np — Military (restricted)
Bisup takes care of the entire process of .com.np registration, submitting documents and checking with the concerned authority of Nepal’s domain registry.
How to Choose a Great Domain Name
A great name is short, easy to remember, and it carries the brand image along with it. Dozens of those:
- Have a name that is below 15 characters because the shorter it is, the simpler it will be easy to type and remember.
- Avoid hyphens and numbers because they’re confusing when said aloud.
- Place keywords at the spots where they would naturally appear; for example, nepalweddingphotography.com. This way, it will be of benefit to both visitors and search engines in knowing right away what it is you do.
- Check on social media presence to ensure that once you get a domain, you can use the username on social media with the same domain.
- Register all the variations: if your budget allows it, then register your most common misspellings of your name and even the other extensions so that the mark is protected.
- Register as soon as you decide; a good domain name gets taken up rapidly.
Cost of Domain and Registration in Nepal
Domain registration in Nepal costs vary based on the extension and the registrar it is linked to. The domain rates are different based on the extension and the registrar it is linked to. Under general practice, one can expect a domain in Nepal to cost about:
- .com — Rs. 1,200-1,800 per year approx.
- .com.np — around Rs. 800-1,500 per year
- .net / .org — Rs. 1,200-2,000 per year
- .io — approx. Rs. 4,000-6,000 per year
- .xyz / .store / .tech — these are normally on the cheaper side, Rs. 300-800 per year
Always check the renewal price rather than the first-year price. Some registrars offer very low first-year prices but charge very high rates on renewal. Our rates are maintained at a consistent low price, with no rude surprises waiting for you.
Summary
Domain registration in Nepal does not have to be so much stressful does not have to be so much stressful; there are a greater number of registrars out there offering services all over the globe through the .com and the local audience by a .com.np domain. It gets very easy when you are in the right place; a web Registrar who is knowledgeable about the domain landscape in Nepal and who can take care of all the documentation for you with genuine support in a language that you understand. The right domain name is a user foundation for the whole online identity. Make a perfect selection today.
Go over to bisup.com, look out for the domain of your choice, get it registered, and organized with fast and dependable hosting in Nepal.
