Can I register a domain without having a website?
Yes. If you have decided on a domain name, and it's available, you can go ahead and register it - even if you don't want to actually put up a website.
In fact, if your preferred domain name is available, we recommend that you go ahead immediately and register it, to avoid the risk that someone else will snap it up.
Most registrars have a free service called domain parking which you can avail of - this means that they will register the domain name and point it to their servers, where a simple page will appear - often with text along the lines of 'This domain has been registered by one of our clients'. Some registrars also offer email at this point, so you can set up addresses using your domain name.
Then, when you're ready with a hosting account and website, you can change where your domain points to - away from the parked page, towards your actual site.
always check the small print in registration contracts, to make sure that you're free to choose whatever hosting company you wish, without penalty. Most registration companies also run web hosting, and some attempt to trap you into taking all of their own services.
Making money on a parked domain
One thing to be aware of is that many registration companies, when parking your domain, will create a page that includes advertising. So, for example, you'll browse to yourdomain.com and get a page that contains a list of ads. This is increasingly common practice - though it should always be clearly stated in your contract terms and conditions.
You may then ask yourself, why let the registration company make money out of my parked domain, while I get nothing. In fact, you can choose to park your domain elsewhere, with one of the many different companies set up to exploit parked domain names hidden revenue potential. Simply register your name as normal, and then organise to park the domain with one of these companies. In practice this means signing up for a free account with them, and then changing the nameservers on your domain account to point towards them.
If you'd like to try to earn revenue from your domain name, we can recommend Sedo, one of the market leaders for parked domain revenue. You can sign up with them, point your domain to their nameservers, and they will serve up contextual ads on your parked domain. You will receive a share of the profits made on click through advertising.
The advantages? Well, rather than sitting idle, or making money for someone else, you can maximise the potential to earn from your domain name while it's simply parked.
The disadvantages? Well, there are plenty of people who argue against placing ads on parked domains. A parked domain, for purists, should be a placeholder for an upcoming site and so a visitor should not be 'ambushed' by unwanted advertising. On a more practical level, contextual ads may include your competitors, so while you're making some money in the short term, in the long term you may be damaging your business.
The Bodu Web advice? Either ensure that your registration company does not place advertising on parked domains - or else, make sure that you're getting a percentage of the profits!