Who else wants unusual last-minute gift ideas for the special occasion?
Our favorite gift idea, if the Someone You Love does not already have one, starts with a domain name. From there, you can make it into a web photo gallery, beautiful custom website, personalized email address and much more.
It can be a great gift by itself or can be combined with a nice-looking website to become the most amazing unique gift.
Here are the top ten reasons to give a domain name as a present:
- No instructions in Chinese to fumble through. No assembly required.
- It is easier to find a good domain name than an iPhone 5.
- It’s surely hypoallergenic.
- Enables someone personalized, cool, and permanent, photo gallery.
- Save a tree — you don’t have to wrap it!
- Give someone the secret identity they’ve always wanted.
- Domains are cheap; you can register one for a year for as little as $6.95
- No storage space required
- It can be passed down from generation to generation like a great framed portrait.
- You can buy it at 11:59pm on the day before the birthday, wedding, anniversary or any special day, and still have it in time.
Owning a domain only gives you the rights to the name, e.g., johnandmary.com. It is like a declaration that the name is yours. You can go to any of the web domain registration companies such as Godaddy or Namecheap to purchase a domain name.
Making the Domain More Personal and Useful
But in the event you in fact need to use the domain name for a website, email, etc., you should have the domain hosted. Owning one with no hosting it can be known as “parking” the domain. Less than $10 a month gets you hosting for that domain. We have been using Hostgator for more than 8 years and it has been the best one out of 30+ hosting companies that we have tried. So bottom line, $120 (or less) buys a hosted domain for a year.
Now once you have a domain hosted, you can create a pretty website based on the templates given at the hosting company. You can also get an online photo album for the domain. You can even help that special someone to have an online photography portfolio. But you need to get the right hosting service. See further below about how to choose a good host.
A domain is so techie that you may want something solid to go along with it. And the apparent option might be a set of gorgeous business cards using the new domain details on them. VistaPrint will print 250 business cards in color for 20 bucks (or totally free for new clients, with a sub-$10 shipping-handling charge).
Recommended Sites to Use
You will discover about 92 gazillion websites that let you register domain names, and another 92 gazillion that can host that name for you. And there is a lot of overlap. There is a huge number of of sites that will help you find a hosting company; check out Cheap Web Hosts and best hosting services.
If you do not have the time to research for the best domain registration company or web hosting, then here is our recommendations:
- Hostgator for most comprehensive DIY hosting including Sitebuilders with 4000+ unique templates, one-click-installer for lots of web applications, shopping cart, forum, and much more. You can easily install the photo gallery application such as 4images, Coppermine, and Piwigo or choose a more popular platform such as WordPress, Joomla or Drupal to create an online photo gallery. Click here to try for a penny.
- Weebly for simple website builder with beautiful templates. Nothing fancy but straightforward easy-to-use website creation tool. Click here to try for free.
The longer you wait, the higher the chances you will lose the name you want.
Go to Godaddy, Netfirms or Namecheap to purchase a domain name now.
Domain Name Suggestions
What do you do if the name you want is taken? Be creative. Change the word order. Use .net, .org, .name, & others. Try synonyms. Here are more ideas:
- Use names: www.PamsPlace.com or www.CarlysCreek.com
- Small business owner name: www.PeterPawnShop.com or www.SallysStudio.com
- Use nicknames: www.RockRhumney.com or www.AwesomeAthur.com
- Incorporate job: www.LouiseaLawyer.com or www.DrDawsonCowell.com
- Incorporate a persons interests: www.GolferGeorge.com
- Incorporate a quirks: www.ScreaminSamantha.com
- Make a statement: www.ILoveLucy.com or www.BewareOfChristian.com
- Name of pet: www.MollysDad.com
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