How to Register a Domain

Choosing a domain name is an important process with far-reaching consequences for your brand and for the way you choose to be identified online. Think of a domain as a billboard whose purpose is to present you to your target audience. Therefore, when you register your domain, first ask yourself a few basic questions:

1. How do you wish to represent yourself, your brand, product, company, etc.?
2. Who is your target audience? Who are your potential customers or clients?
3. Does a domain with this name already exist?
4. Is the domain name associated with a brand name protected by trademark or copyright?
5. The decision can be organized into two parts: the domain name and the domain extension.

Choosing a Domain Name

We recommend choosing a meaningful domain name that reflects the content of your website. The name should also be as short, catchy and memorable as possible. When creating a website for a company, organization or brand–the natural choice is generally to use its name for the domain.

Choosing a Domain Extension

The ideal domain extension depends on key factors like your target audience and the image you want to project.

If your organization is based in Israel, has a branch in Israel, or aims to engage with the local Israeli community, the .il or ישראל. domain extensions are excellent choices. For commercial businesses, we recommend using .co.il, while nonprofit organizations typically choose .org.il. Today, the vast majority of significant organizations with a presence in Israel maintain an Israeli domain name.

Fully Hebrew domain names using the .ישראל extension have only been available since late 2022, and their popularity is growing thanks to the wide range of available names and the unique benefits they offer within Israel’s digital economy. For more information, visit כולנו.ישראל/en

Why Choose the .il or ישראל. Extension for Your Website?

Choosing an Israeli domain extension comes with a host of advantages–both practical and strategic–especially if your audience includes Israeli users or if your organization operates in or is connected to Israel.

Once you’ve chosen a potential domain name (or several potential names), it’s time to see what’s available.

The WHOIS interface provides information about which domains are available and domains that have been taken. Click here to view the WHOIS interface. If the domain name is available–great, you can now move on to submitting a request for registration. Registration request takes place using any of the Israel Internet Association’s accredited registrars.

The registrars accredited to register domains are private entities accredited by the Israel Internet Association (ISOC-IL) do provide domain registration services to the public.

In order to register the domain you have chosen, you must select a registrar from this list of ISOC-IL Accredited Registrars. To register a domain in Hebrew with the extension ישראל. Search the list for those registrars with the ישראל. logo next to their names.

How to Choose a Registrar

The various registrars offer the end user registration services as well as a variety of optional supplementary services–such as hosting, sitebuilding, email service and more.

To ensure you get the best deal, it is wise to compare services and prices before choosing a registrar. It’s important to know: If you’re not satisfied with your domain name’s registrar, you can always transfer domain management to another registrar of your choosing. Read our full guide here for a summary of the most important points to consider in choosing a registrar.

Over the course of the registration process you will be asked to provide the domain name holder details (name, address, e-mail and telephone number), administrative and technical contacts, and the DNS servers where the domain is hosted. We recommend preparing this information before you begin the registration process.

Holder

The domain holder is the sole owner of the rights to use a specific domain for the period of time that the domain is registered under the holder’s name. It is critical to make sure you enter the correct holder name upon registration, since that is who will have the rights to the domain and the authority to make changes regarding contact information, DNS management, administration, and any other matters concerning that domain.
You can register your domain using the name of an individual or a legal entity (such as a company, organization, etc.).

DNS

Any website or email address that you have is hosted on DNS servers. When you enter the DNS server names, you are directing your domain to present your website content or to activate your email mailbox. When asked to enter DNS server details, enter the server names of your chosen hosting provider.
If at the time of registration you do not have the DNS server information available, you can come back to the management portal to update it later.

Registration Period

You can choose to register your .il or ישראל. domain for a period of one to five years. When the registration period is about to end, the holder may renew the registration for an additional period of time. Renewal requires the payment of a renewal fee.

Have you built your website on Wix or WordPress.com and want to connect it to an .il or ישראל. domain you’ve registered–or are planning to register? It’s easier than you think. With just a few simple steps, you can point your domain to your website and give it a professional, local identity.
Once your domain is registered, simply follow the instructions provided by Wix or WordPress.com to connect your domain.