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How to buy a domain name: choosing a domain, .com.tr rules and prices
A domain is your company's address on the internet and stays the same for years. Buying one takes minutes; choosing the right name and registering it in your own name is what really matters.
In short
- A domain name isn't bought outright; it's rented yearly from a registrar and must be renewed before it expires.
- Since 14 September 2022, .tr domains are allocated through TRABİS, under Türkiye's Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK), via authorised registrars; .com.tr is now given to the first applicant with no documents required.
- Domain prices vary by extension, registrar and the gap between the first-year and renewal price; compare renewal prices.
- A domain should be registered in the company's own name and with an email address the company can always access; registering it in the name of whoever built the site makes moving later harder.
- Heyşirket doesn't sell domains yet; you buy the domain from any provider and connect it from the company panel, and one custom domain is connected free on the Başlangıç package.
Your company will have a website, and you want your emails to look like info@examplefirm.com instead of yourname@gmail.com. The first step is buying a domain name.
The short answer to how to buy a domain name is simple: you search for the name at a registrar and, if it's free, you pay and register it. But a few details affect you for years: which name and extension you pick, whose name you register it in and the renewal price.
In this article we explain how to choose a good domain, the difference between .com and .com.tr, the .com.tr rules, what drives domain prices and what to do after buying.
Part 1 · Concepts What is a domain name and how does it work?
A domain name is your site's address on the internet, like examplefirm.com. It has two parts: the name you choose (examplefirm) and the extension (.com, .com.tr, .net and so on).
- A domain is rented. It's taken from a registrar for one or more years and renewed before it ends. A domain that isn't renewed becomes free after a while and someone else can take it.
- The registrar and the site platform are separate. You can buy the domain from one company and publish your site on another platform. DNS records make the connection.
- The domain is also used for email. Addresses like info@examplefirm.com are tied to the same domain.
If you don't have a domain yet, your site can still go live. In Heyşirket every site opens straight away on a free subdomain like examplefirm.heysirket.com; you connect your own domain later. Details in what is a subdomain.
Part 2 · Choosing the name How do you choose a good domain name?
A good domain is one people can spell correctly after hearing it once on the phone. Your customer will see it on a business card and type it, tell someone else, or remember your email address.
Domain name checklist
- Short and memorable; ideally your company or brand name itself.
- Easy to spell when said on the phone; not prone to letter confusion.
- No Turkish characters (ç, ğ, ı, ö, ş, ü). Domains with Turkish characters are technically possible but cause trouble in email and typing.
- No hyphens or digits, or very few.
- Not similar to another company's registered trademark. If in doubt, check the trademark search of TÜRKPATENT (the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office).
- The same name is free, or already yours, for your social media accounts.
- Broad enough to carry what the company will do in future, not just today's product.
Part 3 · Extension .com, .com.tr or another extension?
The extension is the last part of the domain. For companies operating in Türkiye the most common options are .com and .com.tr. The table below sums up the differences.
| Extension | Who manages it? | When is it suitable? |
|---|---|---|
| .com | The international domain system; registration through ICANN-accredited registrars | Companies of any size; if you also serve customers abroad |
| .com.tr | TRABİS (under BTK); registration through authorised registrars | Companies operating in Türkiye that want to highlight their local identity |
| .tr | TRABİS | Those who want a short, Türkiye-focused address |
| .net, .org and others | The international system | If .com is taken, or it suits the organisation (associations, foundations) |
| Professional extensions such as .av.tr, .dr.tr | TRABİS; documents required | Professionals such as lawyers and doctors |
Practical advice: if your name is free as both .com and .com.tr, take both, make one the main address and redirect the other to it. That also stops someone else taking the same name with a different extension.
Part 4 · .tr rules How do you get a .com.tr domain?
For many years .tr domains were managed by nic.tr at Middle East Technical University (ODTÜ). On 14 September 2022 this role moved to TRABİS, under the Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK). Since then, applications, renewals and transfers are made through registrars authorised by TRABİS.
- No documents needed: .com.tr, .net.tr and .org.tr used to require a trademark or trade name document. Under the new system these extensions are allocated without documents to the first applicant.
- Some extensions still need documents: Extensions such as .av.tr, .dr.tr, .gov.tr and .edu.tr are still allocated with documents.
- Identity details must be correct: The name, ID or tax details in the application must belong to the real owner. These details are what count in disputes and transfers.
- Disputes: If you think a domain infringes your trademark, under the new system you apply to dispute resolution service providers.
Part 5 · Buying How do you buy a domain name? Step by step
Steps to buy a domain
Search for the name
Search for the name you want, with its extension, on a registrar's website. If it's free, it shows as available. If it's taken, try another extension or a small change to the name.
Choose a registrar
For extensions such as .com, choose an ICANN-accredited registrar; for .tr extensions, a registrar authorised by TRABİS. When deciding, look at the renewal price rather than the first-year price, how usable the DNS panel is and whether two-step verification is supported.
Register it in your company's name
Enter your company's legal name as the owner and an address the company can always access as the contact email. It's better if this address isn't on the domain itself; if something goes wrong with the domain, you'd lose that address too.
Choose the term and auto-renewal
Choose a one-year or multi-year registration. Turn on auto-renewal and keep track of the expiry date of the saved card.
Protect your account
Use a strong password and two-step verification on your registrar account. Keep the transfer lock on if offered; it makes it harder for the domain to be moved to another company without your knowledge.
Connect it to your site and email
After buying, you connect your site and email to the domain with DNS records. We explain this in the next part.
Part 6 · Price What drives domain name prices?
Giving a single figure for domain prices would be misleading, because the price depends on several factors and registrars change it often with promotions. When comparing, look at the items below.
| Item | What to watch |
|---|---|
| Extension | .com, .com.tr, .net and new extensions are priced differently |
| First year vs renewal | Discounted first years with higher renewals are common; the real cost is the renewal price |
| Registration term | A multi-year registration sometimes lowers the yearly price, but brings the payment forward |
| Premium names | Some short, high-demand names sell far above the standard price |
| Extras | Privacy protection, email or hosting bundles raise the price; you may not need most of them |
| Transfer | Moving a domain to another registrar is usually done with a one-year extension fee for most extensions |
You may not need to buy hosting and SSL separately for your website. In Heyşirket your site is published on the platform, and the SSL certificate is set up automatically when you connect your own domain. Buying a domain directly from Heyşirket isn't available yet; it's coming soon, so for now you buy the domain from any provider. For the total cost of a site, see website cost.
Part 7 · Connecting What should you do after buying a domain?
A domain shows nothing on its own. It becomes useful once it's connected to your site and email. Both are done with DNS records.
- Domain — At the registrar
- Company panel — Settings › Domains
- DNS records — In the registrar's panel
- Verification and SSL — The panel does it
- Live — examplefirm.com
In Heyşirket you enter your domain without www on the Ayarlar › Alan adları (Settings › Domains) screen of the company panel. The panel shows the records to enter in your registrar's DNS panel; once you've entered them, it handles verification and SSL itself. One custom domain is connected free on the Başlangıç package. The general steps are in connecting your own domain, and a summary on the domain connection page. Step-by-step help in the panel: Help › Connecting your own domain.
Once the domain is connected, you can also open addresses like info@examplefirm.com; the Başlangıç package includes a one-address mailbox on your domain, with incoming and outgoing email visible in the company panel. For the steps, see the business email page.
How do you buy a domain name?
You search for the name you want, with its extension, on a registrar's website. If it's free, you register it in your company's name and pay for one or more years. Then you connect the domain to your site and email with DNS records.
Do I need documents to get a .com.tr domain?
No. With the move to TRABİS on 14 September 2022, .com.tr, .net.tr and .org.tr are allocated without documents to the first applicant. Professional extensions such as .av.tr and .dr.tr still require documents.
How much do domain names cost?
The price depends on the extension, the registrar and promotions. Discounted first years with higher renewals are common, so compare renewal prices. Premium names sell above the standard price.
What happens if my domain expires?
Your site and email stop working. Registrars usually allow a short grace period, but if that passes too, the domain becomes free and someone else can take it. Keep auto-renewal on and make sure reminder emails go to an address the company actually reads.
Can I buy a domain from Heyşirket?
Not yet; domain sales are coming soon. For now you buy the domain from any provider and connect it on the Settings › Domains screen of the company panel. One custom domain is connected free on the Başlangıç package and SSL is set up automatically.
Can I move my domain to another registrar?
Yes. To transfer, you remove the domain lock, get a transfer code from the current registrar and start the transfer at the new one. Transfers may not be allowed for a short period after registration or a previous transfer.
Connect your domain Add the domain you bought to your company panel; the panel shows the DNS records and handles verification and SSL. Open Domains
Author: Heyşirket Editorial Team