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How to Purchase a Domain

If you want branded short links (e.g., go.yourbrand.com or yourbrand.co), buying the right domain and setting it up correctly prevents common problems: renewal surprises, lost access, transfer lock confusion, and DNS misconfiguration.

This guide is written from an operator’s perspective: fact-based, cautious, and optimized for people planning to use a domain with tools like Snipzr.

What you’re actually “buying” (and what you’re not)​

A domain name is not a permanent purchase. You register it for a term, typically 1 to 10 years, and you keep control by renewing it before expiration.
ICANN describes this as closer to “leasing” than owning: you can’t buy a domain forever, but you can keep renewing it.
Sources: ICANN renewal/expiration FAQs, ICANN general domain FAQs

Key roles you’ll see:

  • Registrant: the person/org responsible for the domain registration
  • Registrar: the company you register the domain through
  • Registry: the organization that operates the top-level domain (TLD) like .com

Fast pre-purchase checklist (expert defaults)​

Before you click “Buy,” make sure you can answer yes to the following:

  • I’ve checked the renewal price, not just the first-year promo price.
  • I’m using a registrar account email that will remain accessible (for teams: use a shared inbox/alias).
  • I will enable auto-renew and keep a valid payment method on file.
  • I understand my privacy/proxy choice (see below).
  • I’m ready to enable 2FA on the registrar account immediately after purchase.

Naming rules that improve trust and click-through​

For short links, the domain itself becomes part of your “brand UI.”

Strong defaults:

  • Keep it short and readable.
  • Avoid confusing characters (l vs I, O vs 0) when possible.
  • Pick something you can say out loud without spelling it.

For most teams, the simplest setup is a subdomain:

  • Main website: yourbrand.com
  • Short links: go.yourbrand.com (or link. / s. / r.)

Why this is practical:

  • You can keep your main site unchanged.
  • DNS setup for a subdomain is usually straightforward for SaaS integrations.

But for the shortest, most brand-forward links, using the root domain (apex) can be ideal—especially for SMS, print, and voice (“visit yourbrand.com/offer”).
To do that cleanly with most Shortlink SaaS setups, you’ll typically rely on CNAME flattening / ALIAS / ANAME at your DNS provider (explained below).

tip

If you don’t need your brand’s primary domain to be “the short link domain,” use a subdomain for Snipzr links.

Step 2: Pick a registrar using operator-grade criteria​

Choosing a registrar is a long-term decision. “Cheapest first year” is rarely the best filter.

1) Pricing transparency (renewals matter more than the first year)​

ICANN’s Expired Registration Recovery Policy (ERRP) requires registrars to send at least two pre-expiration reminders for gTLDs: one approximately one month before expiration and one approximately one week before expiration.
Source: ICANN ERRP

Still, you should treat renewal as your responsibility: reminders can miss you if an email changes, filters catch it, or a team member leaves.

2) Account security features​

At minimum, pick a registrar that supports:

  • 2FA (ideally authenticator app / security key options)
  • Simple domain lock/unlock controls
  • Clear access management if multiple people need to manage domains

3) DNS flexibility (critical for SaaS integrations)​

Not all “apex alias” features are the same. Some providers support generic apex CNAME-like behavior (works great for SaaS hostname targets), while others only support aliasing to their own cloud resources.

A few operator notes:

note

Different TLDs (especially country-code TLDs) can have different rules, pricing, and requirements. Always read registrar + registry terms for the TLD you choose.

Step 3: Purchase the domain (what matters at checkout)​

Most registrars follow the same flow: search → cart → term → checkout. The big differences are in the settings and add-ons.

Choose a registration term​

Domains are commonly registered for 1–10 years (varies by TLD).
Source: ICANN renewal/expiration FAQs

Longer terms reduce renewal admin but don’t eliminate the need to keep your account secure and contact info current.

Decide on privacy vs proxy intentionally​

People often say “WHOIS privacy” as a catch-all, but there are two concepts:

  • Privacy service: your contact details are replaced with alternate contact details (typically forwarding).
  • Proxy service: the proxy provider becomes the registrant of record, which can carry different legal/operational implications.

ICANN explains the distinction and why proxy is legally distinct from privacy.
Sources: ICANN privacy/proxy resources

Enable auto-renew (then make it reliable)​

Auto-renew only works if:

  • the payment method remains valid, and
  • the registrant email inbox is monitored.

Step 4: Immediately after purchase (do this before DNS)​

1) Verify your registrant contact details​

Under ICANN-related requirements, registrars may need to validate and verify certain registration data fields and can suspend or delete domains that aren’t timely verified.
Source: ICANN “About Verification of Contact Information”

Also note: registrars must take action if a registrant does not respond to registrar inquiries about contact data accuracy for over 15 calendar days (suspend/terminate/lock depending on the circumstance).
Source: ICANN specification explainer

caution

Treat registrar verification emails as high priority. Losing access to the registrant inbox is one of the most common “we lost our domain” failure modes.

2) Turn on 2FA and secure recovery methods​

Do this right away:

  • Enable 2FA on the registrar account
  • Confirm recovery email/phone are accurate
  • Use a password manager + unique password

3) Keep the domain locked unless you’re transferring it​

Many domains default to a transfer-protection status (that’s good). ICANN’s EPP status code reference explains clientTransferProhibited as a common protection against unauthorized transfers.
Source: ICANN EPP status codes

Step 5: Understand transfer locks (so you don’t panic later)​

Transfers are intentionally frictionful to reduce hijacking.

60-day lock after change of registrant​

ICANN’s Transfer Policy requires registrars to impose a 60-day inter-registrar transfer lock following a Change of Registrant (often with an opt-out option before the change).
Sources: ICANN Transfer Policy + Change of Registrant explainer

Auth-Code (EPP/transfer code) for transfers​

To transfer a domain to a different registrar, you typically need an Auth-Code (also called authorization code / EPP code / transfer code). ICANN states registrars must provide it in the account UI or within five calendar days of a request.
Source: ICANN “About Auth-Code”

Step 6: Prepare DNS for connecting the domain to Snipzr​

Most branded domain connections require DNS records. Two DNS concepts cause a disproportionate number of issues: CNAME rules and the zone apex.

Common DNS record types you’ll use​

  • CNAME: aliases one hostname to another hostname (common for SaaS integrations)
  • A / AAAA: points a hostname to an IP address

Important: CNAME must stand alone at its name​

RFC 1034 states that if a CNAME record is present at a node, “no other data should be present.” In practice, this means you can’t have CNAME and (for example) A, MX, or TXT at the same exact hostname.
Source: RFC 1034 (IETF)

Important: you generally can’t use a CNAME at the root (“zone apex”)​

The zone apex (e.g., yourbrand.com) must have SOA and NS records, so a pure apex CNAME conflicts with DNS rules.
A clear operator explanation is provided by ISC (BIND).
Source: ISC Knowledgebase

tip

If you want the shortest possible branded links (using the root domain like yourbrand.com/abc), prefer a DNS provider that supports generic apex CNAME-like behavior (often called CNAME flattening, ALIAS, or ANAME) to an arbitrary hostname target. Examples that support this style include:

Optional: DNSSEC (advanced)​

DNSSEC adds cryptographic signatures so tampering with DNS records can be detected.
Source: ICANN DNSSEC overview

If you’re here because you want a domain for Snipzr, the smoothest sequence is:

1) Follow a registrar walkthrough (buy the domain)​

Pick the provider you’re using:

2) Connect it to Snipzr (creates your “user zone”)​

Then follow Snipzr’s setup guide:

CNAME flattening (ALIAS/ANAME): how apex “CNAME-like” records work​

If you want to use the apex (e.g., yourbrand.com) for short links, apex CNAME-like behavior is the most practical approach with Shortlink SaaS platforms like Snipzr.

However, the label “ALIAS/Alias” varies by provider and does not always mean the same thing.

What you need for Snipzr-style apex setups​

If Snipzr gives you a target like ark.snipzr.com (a hostname), you want a DNS feature that:

  • accepts a hostname at the apex, and
  • returns A/AAAA answers to resolvers (flattening).

How it works (conceptually)​

Instead of returning a CNAME at the apex, the DNS provider:

  1. Accepts a “CNAME-like target” at the apex (ALIAS/ANAME/flattening).
  2. Resolves that target hostname to one or more IP addresses (A/AAAA).
  3. Answers DNS queries with A/AAAA-style responses, effectively “flattening” the target.

Sources (mechanism examples):

Provider reality check (important)​

Provider feature nameWorks for apex → arbitrary SaaS hostname target?Notes
Cloudflare CNAME flattening✅ YesDesigned to allow CNAME-like behavior at the apex. https://developers.cloudflare.com/dns/cname-flattening/
Namecheap ALIAS✅ YesALIAS resolves a hostname to A/AAAA “at the time of a request.” https://www.namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/10128/2237/how-to-create-an-alias-record/
Porkbun ALIAS – CNAME flattening✅ YesExplicit “blank host field” + “answer is the hostname provided by your hosting company.” https://kb.porkbun.com/article/85-how-to-connect-your-root-domain-when-your-web-host-wont-provide-an-ip-address
Squarespace Domains ALIAS✅ YesALIAS at @ points “one domain to another domain” (data field is a domain name). https://support.squarespace.com/hc/en-us/articles/31119879125645-DNS-records-for-web-hosting
Google Cloud DNS ALIAS✅ YesCloud DNS ALIAS is “ANAME / CNAME flattening” and synthesizes A/AAAA. https://docs.cloud.google.com/dns/docs/records-overview
AWS Route 53 Alias❌ Not for SaaS CNAME targetsGreat for supported AWS targets, but you can’t route apex Alias to a record of type CNAME. https://docs.aws.amazon.com/Route53/latest/DeveloperGuide/resource-record-sets-values-ipbased-alias.html
Azure DNS Alias record set❌ Not for SaaS hostnamesAlias record sets reference Azure resources (or same-zone record sets), not arbitrary external hostnames. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/dns/dns-alias
tip

If your DNS provider doesn't support apex ALIAS/CNAME flattening:

  • Use a subdomain like go.yourbrand.com (works everywhere), or
  • Migrate DNS to Cloudflare to enable apex domain short links like yourbrand.com/offer

Cost expectations (so you don’t get surprised)​

A domain’s total annual cost commonly includes:

  • Registration fee (varies by TLD and registrar)
  • Renewal fee (often different from the first-year promo)
  • Optional privacy/proxy
  • Optional DNS add-ons (varies)

If you register domains with AWS Route 53, note that a hosted zone is billed monthly.
Sources: AWS Route 53 domain register + pricing

FAQ​

Can I buy a domain forever?​

No. ICANN explains you don’t “own” a domain permanently—you register it for a time period and renew it to keep control.
Source: ICANN general FAQs

Do registrars have to warn me before my domain expires?​

For gTLDs, ICANN’s ERRP requires at least two pre-expiration notices (about one month and one week before expiration).
Source: ICANN ERRP

Why can’t I transfer my domain right after buying it?​

Common reasons include 60-day locks after registrant changes and other transfer restrictions.
Sources: ICANN Transfer Policy + Change of Registrant

What is an Auth-Code / EPP code?​

It’s a transfer authorization code required to move a domain between registrars.
Source: ICANN About Auth-Code

How do I look up public registration info (WHOIS/RDAP)?​

ICANN provides a free Registration Data Lookup tool for publicly available registration data.
Sources: ICANN Lookup + ICANN WHOIS/RDDS page