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The
Facts About Domain Names
Register your domain name TODAY! Domain names are being
registered by the thousands every day. Your domain name may
be registered by someone else if you wait!
What is a domain name? Practically speaking, your web
address is the name that represents your Internet identity,
your online brand. Your customers will remember this name
and use it to find out about your products and services. And
since no two parties can ever hold the same web address
simultaneously, your Internet identity, is totally unique.
Technically speaking, a domain name represents your Internet
address. While computers use Internet Protocol (IP) numbers
to locate each other on the Internet, people find them hard
to remember. Therefore, web addresses were developed to
permit the use of easily remembered words and phrases to
identify Internet addresses.
For example, the web address "yahoo.com"
represents the web site Yahoo!. When you type "yahoo.com"
in a web browser or send email to me at yahoo.com, the
Domain Name System (DNS) translates "yahoo.com"
into the IP numbers used by the network and connects you to
Yahoo!.
Why should I register a web address? A web address is more
than your Internet address, it's your Internet identity,
your online brand name. It puts your business on the map of
today's business world, opening your business to over 100
million Internet users worldwide.
If you're serious about your business, then it is vital that
you have your own easy to remember domain name. The main
reasons are twofold:
No one will take any company seriously that has their Web
site hosted by one of these free Web page hosts. It doesn't
say a lot for a company that can't even afford to pay for
their own Web space You will have a domain name that is
relevant to your company and is much easier to remember for
future reference. My domain name is "yahoo.com".
Now imagine that it is "freespacehost.com/uk/business/yahoo".
Which one is easier to remember? What makes a good domain
name? The name of your company is always a good choice. If
your company name is rather long and hard to remember, then
choose something easy to remember and associates with your
product or service.
What characters can I use in my domain name and how long can
it be? A web address can have up to 26 characters (including
the four characters in .com, .net or .org). You may use any
combination of letters and numbers, as well as a
"dash" (-), as long as you do not begin or end
your name with a dash. No special characters (@&(*^$#)
are allowed. Please note that there is no need to begin your
domain name with "www.".
The different types of domains
.com is for commercial organizations. .net is for entities
and computers that represent part of the Internet's
infrastructure. .org is for miscellaneous entities that do
not fit under any of the other top level domains; typically
used for nonprofit organizations. .edu is for four-year,
degree-granting colleges and universities. .gov is for
agencies and branches of the United States Federal
Government. What's the difference between ".com"
and ".com.au"? Most businesses in the U.S. as well
as thousands around the world choose a domain name ending in
".com". Some businesses outside the US also choose
to end the name in a country code, such as ".com.au"
(Australia). Unless your customers are mainly based within
your country and you want to make a point of being a local
business, then it is best to just use ".com". Many
businesses outside of the US use a country code preceded by
".co" for commercial, such as "yourdomain.co.uk".
Do I need to put the "http://" on? No. Most web
sites just advertise "www.yourdomain.com". The
"www." is a good enough clue to people that it's a
web address, so you don't need to say it. All popular
browsers let you simply type "www.yourdomain.com"
into the URL window. Now most servers even recognize
requests for "yourdomain.com", without the need to
type in the "www".
How can I determine whether the web address I want is
available? You can search the databases of the particular
web address registrar. For example, for ".com, .net and
.org" domains, you would search the "Whois"
database. If your first choice is not available, you can try
another web address. If you can't think of a name, some
providers can even generate some relevant available options,
when you enter some keywords describing your business.
What does "hosting" my web address mean? Every web
address must reside on a host computer, a domain name host.
Domain name hosts are connected to the Internet and use
special software to translate web addresses into the
numerical addresses used by the network. When users enter
your web address, the domain name host directs them to your
e-mail or Web site Without it, your web address is invisible
on the Internet
Do I need to have an Internet service provider or a domain
name host before I can register a web address? Contrary to
popular belief, you don't. You can reserve a web address
today to assure you that your name will be there for you
when you are ready to use it.
When my web address expires in two years will I be able to
renew it? Yes. When you are ready to renew your web address,
simply go back to the registrar of the domain name and renew
it.
Can I register more than one web address? Yes! You can
register as many web addresses as you like.
Can I register a web address by myself? Yes! All you need is
a few minutes, some basic information about yourself, your
business and your credit card. You can simply order over the
Internet
What if the domain name I want is already taken? An
incredible number of names are being registered everyday.
Some are just registered by entrepreneurial opportunists
hoping to make a fast buck by selling it on. If the name you
want is registered, you might be able to purchase it from
one of these domain name brokering companies. But be warned!
It is likely to cost a few thousand dollars or more for a
name. Your best bet would be to try another name. |
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