Domain Registration and Setup: How to Launch Your Own Homepage

A custom domain gives your project professionalism, recognition, and greater control. Whether it’s a blog, online shop, or company website: A personalized web address is the digital business card—and often the very first impression visitors receive of you.

  • Independence: You choose where your website is hosted.
  • Branding: The right domain name strengthens your brand.
  • Credibility: Email addresses under your own domain (e.g., “info@yourdomain.com”) appear more trustworthy than @gmail.com, @web.de, or @gmx.de.

Avoid Mistakes: Be Careful When Checking Domain Availability

Don’t carelessly enter your desired domain name on random portals to see if it’s available. Why? Some providers or third parties track frequently searched domains, register them themselves, and then sell them at much higher prices.

📌  Tip: Only use reputable registrars (e.g., EuroDNS, Namecheap, DomainFactory, etc.). We offer domains at particularly low prices and always register them under the customer’s name—ensuring that you remain the rightful owner.

Two Methods for Domain Registration & Setup

Method 1: Automatic Setup by the Provider

This approach is the easiest—especially for newcomers. You purchase web hosting and a domain as a bundle. Specifically, this means:

Select a hosting plan

  • Providers like Alfahosting, Webgo, or SiteGround offer packages that often include one or multiple domains.

Check your desired domain

  • During the order process, enter your chosen domain to immediately see if it’s available.

Enter contract details

  • Provide your contact info, payment method, and optionally set up additional features (e.g., email accounts).

Automatic configuration

  • The provider sets up everything: nameservers, DNS entries, and website forwarding.

Advantage: Quick setup without technical expertise
Disadvantage: If you later switch providers, you often have to move the domain in a lengthy transfer process.

Method 2: Buy a Domain Separately & Connect It to Your Website Manually

If you want to stay independent, choose this method. You simply purchase the domain from a registrar and book web hosting elsewhere (or use an existing server).

Choose a domain registrar

  • Examples include:
    eurodns.com (from €9.00/year for .de, from €12.00/year for .com)
    Namecheap.com (from $5.98/year for .de, from $8.88/year for .com)
  • You get domains registered in your name so you keep full control.

Register the domain individually

  • Ensure you are listed as the owner (WHOIS entry).

Book hosting separately

  • If you don’t have hosting yet, choose a provider of your preference.

Manually configure DNS entries

  • Nameservers: Set them in the registrar’s customer area if your web host uses custom nameservers.
  • A record: Points the domain to the IP address of your web server.
  • MX record: For email delivery (if you set up email separately).

Advantage: Maximum flexibility, since domain and web space are separate
Disadvantage: Slightly more effort for beginners

📌 Pro Tip: Don’t want to handle these steps yourself? We (addleader GmbH) can take care of the entire setup—from DNS configuration to website launch. We’ll be happy to serve as your personal contact!

Price Comparison: Domain Providers at a Glance

(Example prices for .de / .com domains, as of 2025; subject to change.)

Domain Registration at addLeader GmbH

united-domainsIONOSStarTOaddLeader
.de / year19,00 €15,60 €14,40 €from 5,00 €*
.com / year27,00 €24,00 €21,60 €from 14,25 €

Note: Prices provided are not guaranteed and may change at any time. Special conditions or promotional offers are not included here.

Do you want a .de domain at a low price while keeping full control? Our DE domain offering gives you all of that—and more!

How to Choose the Perfect Domain Name

A great domain name is short, snappy, and easy to remember. Here’s what to watch out for:

No Umlauts

  • Characters like Ä, Ö, or Ü often cause typos and complications.

Few Special Characters

  • Ideally just one hyphen, if truly necessary.

Consider Branding

  • The name should reflect your brand or offering.

Use Keywords Wisely

  • “autohaus-berlin.de” can help with Google searches, but avoid excessive keyword stuffing.

Keep Emails Practical

  • Extremely long domains are awkward for email addresses.

📌 Tip: A short, memorable domain usually makes a stronger impression than a complicated string of keywords.

Email Providers & DNS Settings: The Essentials

Once you have your own domain, you can create addresses like “info@mydomain.com.” To ensure everything runs smoothly:

Choose the Right Email Provider

  • Google Workspace: Includes cloud storage, calendars, team features (e.g., Gmail, Chat, Drive).
  • Microsoft 365: Similar offerings via Outlook, OneDrive, Teams, etc.

Both systems provide automated sorting, email snooze features, and much more.

Set Up Your DNS Correctly

  • MX Record (Mail Exchange): Indicates where incoming mail should be delivered.
  • TXT Record: For SPF and DKIM, which helps spam filters treat you as trustworthy.0

📌 Tip: If you’re unsure about the configuration, addLeader is here to help!

Building Your Website: Website Builder or Your Own CMS?

Once the domain is set up, the next step is creating the actual website.

Website Builders (e.g., Jimdo, Wix, Squarespace)

  • Pros: Quick start, drag-and-drop functionality, no coding skills needed.
  • Cons: Less flexibility, switching providers is tricky, sometimes higher running costs.

A Custom CMS (e.g., WordPress, Joomla, Typo3)

  • Pros: Maximum creative freedom, huge selection of themes and plugins, full control.
  • Cons: Steeper learning curve, you’re responsible for updates and maintenance.

Attracting Visitors: How to Get Your First Traffic

A website without visitors won’t thrive. Right after launch, focus on building traffic:

Social Media & Content Marketing

  • Post your website link in your profiles.
  • Produce useful content (e.g., blog posts, YouTube videos, Instagram Reels) for your audience.
  • Regularly share new pages and blog updates.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

  • Keyword Research: Find keywords your users search on Google (e.g., “domain registration,” “domain setup”).
  • Content Optimization: Incorporate keywords logically into headings (H1, H2) and body text.
  • Internal Linking: Link to relevant subpages on your site.
  • Backlinks: Encourage partners or other portals to link to your site—this boosts your authority.

Email Marketing

  • Build a newsletter mailing list.
  • Offer sign-up incentives like free checklists or e-books.
  • Stay in regular contact with your subscribers.

Directories & Local Listings

  • Google My Business: Ideal for local businesses.
  • Online Directories & Industry Listings: Increase your online visibility.

Conclusion: Step by Step to a Successful Online Presence

From domain registration and email setup to the completed website—the tips and methods above lay the foundation for a professional online presence. Whether you opt for an all-in-one hosting package or keep domain and hosting separate depends on your personal needs:

  • Beginners benefit from hosting packages that handle everything automatically.
  • Advanced users and those with specific requirements may prefer a manual approach for full flexibility.

If you need additional support—be it domain configuration, DNS setup, or building a modern website—feel free to leverage our extensive experience in the field. We act as your personal point of contact, guiding you every step of the way and ensuring that your online presence is both technically and visually convincing.

Start now—and harness the impact that a custom domain can have on your brand or project!