As society has become more mobile, virtual, and online-focused, businesses and sole proprietors alike need to have an online presence in order to capitalize on their market. If you've been looking at creating a website or an online marketplace for your business, the first step is ensuring that you have a domain name. When you're looking for cheap domain name registration, there are a few factors that you should also consider. Here's a look at some of the things you should look for in your domain name registrar.

Accreditation

Perhaps the most important factor when you're choosing a domain name registrar is whether or not the provider is ICANN-accredited. This is an important consideration because ICANN is the controlling authority for domain name system management. They set the policies and procedures for domain distribution and use, and any registrar that is ICANN-accredited is one that has been shown to be financially viable, responsible, and legitimate. This accreditation ensures that you don't risk the loss of your domain name from a registrar that goes bankrupt or disappears.

Security

When you're evaluating your domain name registrars, you also need to consider account and domain security features. Any time you own a domain, that registrar account is vulnerable to hacking. 

If your account is breached, you risk losing your domain name to the offender. That's why account security is so important. Look for a registrar that provides two-factor authentication for your account so that you can ensure that your domain is secure.

Additionally, look for domain registration privacy. This is a beneficial feature because it allows you to hide your personal information from the registration database. This will prevent spam calls from people looking to sell domain and website services as well as protect your identity.

Interface

As you compare your potential domain name registrars, you should also look at samples of their user interface. You'll have to be able to easily make changes to your domain, including updating the name servers, locking the domain to prevent unauthorized transfers, and more. Take time to explore each user interface to be sure that you find one that's intuitive and straightforward.

Support

Finally, you should research the online reviews to find out about the company's customer support reputation. If you run into any problems with your domain or your account, you should have a company with reliable and responsive customer support. That way, you can be sure that any problems are resolved quickly and easily.