What is a Domain Name?
Domain names were developed so that easily remembered names and phrases could be used to identify Websites in the Internet. No two parties can ever hold the same domain name.
A domain name represents you and your business. If you don’t have your own domain name you won’t be able to promote your business on the Web.
How to Choose a Domain Name
Remember the following:
- Try to use a domain name that is relevant to your Website. If your Website is a business site, it is a good idea to use the companies name as the domain name or if your site is a personal site try to think of a domain name that is related to the topic of your Website.
- Use words that your customers use in search engines. This helps your site rank higher in the search engines. You can use a keyword tool such as the Overture Inventory Search (now Yahoo) to check which keyword combinations are searched more frequently.
- Keep your domain name as short as possible, around 2-3 words. The shorter it is, the easier it will be to remember.
- Spelling is key. If your domain name is hard to spell or uses words that your average Joe doesn’t know, then seriously consider other options.
- It is best if you use .com as your top-level domain. Generally .net and .org domains are not seen as being as professional as .com domains.
- Say it out loud. If you need to tell someone your domain name over the phone, will they be able to easily spell it correctly the first time?
- Make sure that your domain name is not infringing upon some other company’s trademark. If not, make it your trademark.
How Do I Register a Domain Name?
There are two main ways you can get a domain name. You can either register your domain name yourself or you can get your Web host or ISP (Internet Service Provider) to register it for you.
To register a domain name yourself you will need to choose a Registrar. A Registrar is an ICANN accredited domain registration company.
Another option is allowing your Web host to register your domain name for you through their own approved registrar. An advantage to having your web host register your domain name for you is that, they have probably done this process many times before; they have all the necessary information ready at hand. This process will save you time and, as long as you give the ‘correct’ domain name desired, there will be no unfamiliar dealings with Registrars.
Don't Lose Your Domain Name!
If you loose your domain name you can lose your whole online identity. Because you can only register a domain name for a year or so, you will need to make sure that you renew it before the expiration date. Once your domain name expires you will no longer own that domain name. Your Registrar will then own it and be able to sell your domain name to the highest bidder.
