(This post contains affiliate links which means I get a small payment if you decide to purchase any product I recommend – at no extra cost to you)

Before you can get started on building your WordPress website, you’ll need to register your domain name.

But how do you know which domain registrar to go with? 

Which is the best UK domain registrar?

I’ll go into that in more detail in a moment, but first…let’s get clear on a few things that you might be finding confusing.

Why do you need a domain registrar anyway?

Your domain name is simply the URL of your website. 

And domain registrars are the companies that look after all the domain names for all websites.

So in a sense, you never really OWN your domain, you’re only ever hiring it by paying an annual fee. 

This is why if you have an idea for a business name, and you see it up for grabs – you should get it. 

Registering a domain often costs under £10/year – but if someone else gets hold of it and you want to buy it off them in the future…that’s when things can get expensive. 

So, what about hosting?

Many people get confused between the domain and hosting. They’re two separate things.

Let me explain… 

What’s the difference between a domain and a website?

Think of your website as a bunch of files that sit on a hard drive. 

Like you have folders on your computer where you file your documents, your website has a set of folders (that have to follow a certain naming convention), and then the coding files sit inside those folders. 

All of these files together make up your website.

Your hosting is when you pay a monthly fee to a hosting company, to use up a certain amount of their hard drive space. 

When you (or your developer) upload your website to your host, they’re basically just uploading all those files. 

Do I need a domain for my website?

Yes you do.

Without your domain being registered and ‘talking’ to that server where your files sit – your website won’t be visible on the internet. 

So, it’s a 2-part process. 

And most hosting companies will offer to register your domain when you purchase your hosting.

I generally recommend keeping them separate though – so that you’ve got independent control of both aspects of your website.

So…Which is The Best UK Domain Registrar?

There are a whole heap of domain registrars you can choose between, and there’s really not much to worry about between them.

However, I do recommend one registrar over the others. 

Name Cheap offer competitive prices, their website is easy to navigate, and they offer great support.

How to Register Your Domain Name

To register your domain is really simple.

1. Type in your domain name
2. Check it’s available as a .com or .co.uk (or both ideally)
3. Add your choice to the shopping cart
4. Create and account, and pay

Be aware that your initial payment has probably been offered at a discount, and then on renewal you might be charged slightly more.

Which Upgrades To Take

During the checkout process, you will probably be offered various upgrades.

If you are given 12 months free WHO Guard protection, take it. And tick for it to renew automatically – which you will be charged for after those 12 months. If you value your privacy on the internet, the small fee is well worth it.

If you’re offered hosting, or any website package, ignore those. 

Keep them separate so that if you want to move your host at any point in the future, it makes that process less complicated.

Siteground is a great option for hosting.

And that’s it! You’re the brand spanking new owner of your very own domain name!

In conclusion

Honestly, there isn’t really one best domain registrar in the UK.

But NameCheap is a great option, I use it all the time – and instead of spending loads of time on this step, just grab that domain name, and get cracking with your website!

What’s the next step?

You’ll need to work out which WordPress theme you want to use for your website – a topic that can be seriously overwhelming! 

I’ve written a blog post outlining what I think are the best themes for online entrepreneurs and business owners. You can read all about that here.

But if you’re worried about the technical aspects – downloading WordPress, installing themes, navigating the dashboard – I’ve got you covered.

I’ve got a fully comprehensive blog post about creating your business website from scratch. You can read more here.

You can also sign up to my free video series, which shows you how to build your WordPress website in just one day. It takes you through all the technical set-up phase, shows you how to use Divi (my preferred WordPress theme, because it is awesome for non-tech business owners), and gets everything set up ready for you to add your branding and content. 

You can sign up here.