Are you a budding entrepreneur in the Philippines looking to make your mark online? Well, look no further because we’ve got the ultimate guide on how to register a domain name!
In this article, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of securing your very own online address and help you navigate any challenges that may arise along the way.
Whether you’re starting an e-commerce business or simply want to establish a professional web presence, our friendly guide will ensure that you’re equipped with all the knowledge and resources needed to get your domain name up and running smoothly.
How to register a domain name in the Philippines.
- Decide on the domain name you want to register
- Check domain name availability
- Choose a domain name registrar
- Provide registrant information
- Make payment for the domain
- Complete domain registration
- Configure your domain
Steps To Register a Domain Name in the Philippines
1. Decide on the domain name you want to register
Choosing the right domain name is one of the most important steps when registering a domain. Here are some tips on deciding on a domain name in the Philippines:
- Brainstorm keywords related to your business or website. Make a list of words that describe what you do and the location.
- Check for availability. Before getting attached to a name, verify it’s available as a
.phdomain. Use a registrar’s domain search tool. - Be specific. Domains that are short, brandable and contain your main keyword have the most impact. Avoid vague, generic names.
- Add location. If you serve a specific area, city or region, add it to your domain for better SEO. E.g.
companynamemanila.ph - Consider common misspellings. Registering minor misspellings prevents competitors getting them.
- Use hyphens if needed to get a clear, readable name. E.g.
red-apple.phis better thanredapple.ph. - Check for trademarks. Do research to ensure your name doesn’t infringe on an existing trademark. This can lead to legal issues.
- Test it out. Say your name out loud, run it by others, and check how it looks in search results. Ensure it’s easy to remember and spell.
- Consider future plans. If there’s a chance your business may expand outside the Philippines someday, register the
.comversion too.
| Domain Name Considerations | Examples |
|---|---|
| Keywords related to your business | webdesignmanila.ph, ceburealestate.ph |
| Location name if relevant | baguiohotels.ph, davaoweddingphotography.ph |
| Short and brandable | red-apple.ph, cebulobster.ph |
| Avoid hyphens if possible | manilacatering.ph is better than manila-catering.ph |
| Check for trademark conflicts | Avoid using trademarked terms like “Nike” or “Coca-Cola” in your domain |
Taking the time to carefully think through your domain name will pay off in the long run.
An ideal .ph domain accurately represents your business and is easy for customers to find and remember.
2. Check domain name availability
Once you have some domain name ideas, the next key step is to check availability.
Here is a guide on checking if your desired .ph domain is available:
The easiest way is to use a domain name search on a registrar’s website. Leading registrars like Truehost.ph, Namecheap and Namesilo have search tools where you can enter a domain and instantly check availability.
For example on Truehost.ph:
- Go to the domain search page
- Enter your desired domain name, like
blueseashotel.ph - Select “.ph” from the extension dropdown
- Click “Search”
- It will tell you instantly if it’s available for registration
If it’s taken, try similar variations by:
- Adding a location name:
blueseacebuhotel.ph - Using hyphens:
blue-sea-hotel.ph - Pluralizing:
blueseahotels.ph
Keep experimenting until you find an available option you’re happy with.
Some tips when searching:
- Try both the
.comand.phversion – register both if available. - Test common typos –
bluseashotel.ph - Check if the .net, .org, .info versions are free.
You can also do a WHOIS search which looks up the owner and status of any existing domain. WHOIS shows:
- If a domain is registered
- The registrant’s name
- The registrar it’s registered with
- When it expires
So it confirms whether a domain is truly available or not.
To do a WHOIS search:
- Go to a WHOIS lookup site like Whois.is
- Type in the domain name and hit Enter
- The results will show the registration status
If it’s blank, that indicates the domain is available. If registration details appear, someone owns it.
| Domain Name Check Methods | Details |
|---|---|
| Domain search on registrar sites | Instantly see if a domain is available to register |
| WHOIS lookup | Retrieve ownership and availability details for any existing domain |
| Typo variations | Try common spelling mistakes like bluseashotel.ph |
| Location additions | Add region or city names like blueseacebuhotel.ph |
| Pluralization | Test if plural version like blueseahotels.ph is available |
Thoroughly checking availability across .ph and .com extensions using registrar searches and WHOIS lookups will ensure you find the ideal available domain name for your business or idea.
3. Choose a domain name registrar
Once you’ve found an available .ph domain name to register, the next step is selecting a domain registrar. Here are some tips for choosing a registrar in the Philippines:
- Accredited registrars. Make sure the registrar is accredited by PH Domains to register
.phdomains. PH Domains authorizes and oversees all.phregistrations. - Prices. Compare registration fees across registrars. They typically range from ₱350-₱700 per year. Some have promotions or bulk discounts.
- Interface. The registrar’s website and domain management interface should be easy to use.
- Support. Look for 24/7 customer support via phone, live chat, and email in case any issues arise.
- Extra services. Consider registrars that provide added value like free WHOIS privacy, email forwarding, hosting deals.
- Renewal terms. The renewal cost and term length (1 year, 2 years, etc) may vary between registrars.
- Refund policy. Check if the registrar offers refunds in case you change your mind shortly after registering.
Some of the top accredited .ph domain registrars include:
- Truehost.ph – the cheapest domain registrar in the Philippines!
- GoDaddy – Global leader with excellent support and prices around ₱550/yr.
- Namecheap – Reputable with free WHOIS privacy and prices from ₱350/yr.
- Namesilo – Low-cost registrar from ₱399/yr with free WHOIS privacy.
- Dynadot – International registrar with competitive .ph pricing.
- Porkbun – Highly rated newer registrar with low prices.
| Registrar Factors | Importance |
|---|---|
Accredited for .ph domains | Vital – verifies the registrar can register .ph domains |
| Registration/renewal pricing | Compare costs between registrars |
| User interface and dashboard | A smooth, easy domain management experience |
| Support channels – phone, chat, email | Crucial in case any problems occur |
| Included extras – WHOIS privacy, email | Value-added services are a bonus |
| Refund policy | Ability to get a refund if unsatisfied |
Taking the time to evaluate and choose a trusted .ph registrar will ensure a smooth, frustration-free domain registration experience.
4. Provide registrant information
The registrant is the person or entity that officially owns and controls a domain name.
When registering a .ph domain, you need to provide registrant contact information which will be listed in the public WHOIS records. Here’s what to know:
- Legal registrant name. This must be the full legal name of the individual or business registering the domain. Using a pseudonym or fake name is not allowed.
- Organizational documents. Businesses may need to submit SEC, DTI or other registration documents to prove the legal registrant name.
- Address. A complete physical address is required, including country, city, street name, etc. Avoid PO boxes.
- Email. A valid email for the registrant where domain and renewal notices can be sent. Can be private or role-based.
- Phone. Working phone number where the registrant can be reached. Typically a mobile number.
- Administrative contact. The admin contact manages the domain and can be the same as registrant or someone else like a web admin.
- Technical contact. The tech contact handles technical aspects like DNS records and can also be the same as registrant.
- WHOIS privacy. Most registrars offer WHOIS privacy or proxy services to protect your info. This displays the registrar’s details instead of your personal information.
Here’s an example WHOIS record displaying the required registrant details:
Domain Name: exampledomain.ph
Registrant:
John Doe
123 Main St
Angeles City, Pampanga
Philippines
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +63 9123 456 789
Administrative Contact:
Jane Doe
Email: [email protected]
Technical Contact:
John Doe
Email: [email protected]
Registration Date: 1-Jan-2023
Expiry Date: 1-Jan-2024Providing complete, accurate registrant information ensures your domain ownership can be verified.
WHOIS privacy services help protect sensitive personal details from appearing publicly.
5. Make payment for the domain
Once you’ve selected a domain name and provided your registrant info, it’s time to pay for your .ph domain registration. Here’s an overview of making payment:
- Choose registration term. You can register for 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, etc. Longer terms may have a discounted yearly rate.
- Select add-ons. Add services like WHOIS privacy protection, email forwarding, Google Workspace email accounts.
- Enter payment method. Options include credit card, debit card, PayPal, bank deposit, GCash, etc. Depends on the registrar.
- Complete payment. Finalize payment by entering your payment method details and completing any authentication steps.
- Check email confirmation. You’ll receive an email confirming payment from the registrar. Save this for your records.
- Log into registrar account. Payment logs into your registrar account where you can access invoices and manage domains.
- Get receipts. Download or print any payment receipts from your account dashboard for accounting needs.
Some tips for smooth payment:
- Enable email invoices for records and reminders.
- Use auto-renewal to avoid expiration.
- Add multiple years for lower pricing – but don’t overbuy.
- Use WHOIS privacy to hide payment details.
Watch out for these common payment issues:
- Typos or errors in payment details. Double check!
- Payment fraud flags or blocks. Contact the registrar if this happens.
- Outdated payment methods. Keep card details current.
- Exchange rate fluctuations on international cards.
| Payment Step | Details |
|---|---|
| Choose registration term | Typically 1-10 years. Longer = lower yearly rate |
| Select add-on services | WHOIS privacy, email forwarding, etc |
| Enter payment method | Credit/debit card, PayPal, bank options |
| Complete payment | Finalize by entering details, confirming |
| Check email confirmation | Retain for your records |
| Login to registrar account | Payment will login your account automatically |
| Get receipts | Download/print for accounting, records |
Paying promptly, keeping payment details updated, and saving receipts ensures you securely gain access to the domain services without interruptions.
Read also: How Much Does it Cost to Register a Domain Name in the Philippines?
6. Complete domain registration
After making payment, there are a few final steps to complete the registration process for your new .ph domain:
- Verify email. Click the verification link sent to the registrant email address to validate ownership. This is an important security step.
- Accept terms. Read and accept the
.phdomain registration terms and conditions. - Set domain privacy. Enable WHOIS privacy or proxy service to protect your info, if offered and desired.
- Login to registrar account. Your new domain will appear in your registrar account dashboard. This lets you manage it going forward.
- Point nameservers. Update the nameservers in your registrar account to direct your domain to the right IP address.
- Set up hosting. If hosting on a separate provider, configure hosting and link to your domain.
- Test propagation. It may take up to 48 hours for your new domain to propagate globally in DNS systems. Test it repeatedly.
- Enable auto-renewal. This prevents your domain from accidentally expiring if you forget to manually renew.
- Use registrar tools. Take advantage of management tools in your registrar account to configure email, forwarding, etc.
Some final checkup steps:
- Confirm WHOIS shows the right registrant info.
- Verify the site/app loads properly at the domain.
- Check email receipt and invoices for records.
- Back up login details in a safe place.
| Completion Step | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Verify registrant email | Confirms domain ownership |
| Accept .ph terms | Legal agreement with PH Domains |
| Set WHOIS privacy | Protects your contact data |
| Login to registrar account | Manage domain settings |
| Point nameservers | Links domain name to hosting |
| Setup hosting | Displays site/app on your domain |
| Check propagation | Allows global DNS resolution |
| Auto-renewal | Prevents accidental expiration |
Following through with all domain setup steps ensures your .ph registration is fully activated and enabled for your website or application.
7. Configure your domain
Once your .ph domain is registered, the last recommended step is some initial configuration:
- Update nameservers. Change the nameservers at your registrar to the ones from your host. This points your domain to the right server IP.
- Customize DNS records. Add records like A, CNAME, MX to enable services like email, subdomains.
- Forward domain. Set up forwarding to redirect your domain to another URL, if desired.
- Create email accounts. Use your domain for professional email addresses through webmail or an email client.
- Set up SSL certificate. Add an SSL certificate to enable HTTPS and build trust.
- Enable CDN. Using a content delivery network can optimize site speed.
- Check site performance. Use tools like PageSpeed Insights and WebPageTest to optimize your site.
- Submit sitemaps. Upload XML sitemaps to boost search engine crawling.
- Monitor uptime. Use uptime monitoring to track website availability and response time.
- Back up site. Schedule regular backups to avoid losing data and time if issues arise.
Here are some core technical areas to optimize:
| Area | Optimization Tips |
|---|---|
| DNS Records | Add core records for mail, subdomains |
| Create professional branded email addresses | |
| HTTPS | Install SSL certificate for security, SEO |
| Performance | CDN, caching, image compression |
| Accessibility | Follow standards for images, ARIA roles |
| Indexing | XML sitemaps, robots.txt |
| Monitoring | Track uptime, speed |
Properly configuring and optimizing your new domain provides the best speed, security and functionality for visitors.
Continuously monitoring and enhancing performance over time is key.
Related:
- What Type of Hosting Do I Need for My Website? A Guide for Blogging Beginners in the Philippines
- Is Web Hosting the Same as a Domain Name? What To Know
- Google Domains vs GoDaddy in the Philippines
Key Takeaways
- Choose a domain that represents your brand and is available as a
.phand.com. - Verify availability using registrar searches and WHOIS lookups.
- Select an accredited
.ph registrarlike GoDaddy, Namecheap, Namesilo. - Provide accurate registrant contact information and enable WHOIS privacy.
- Pay promptly and retain the receipt for your records.
- Complete domain setup like email verification and DNS configuration.
- Optimize performance with steps like HTTPS