Domain names play a major role in the internet world and every website has one. A domain acts as an alias for an IP address, which is naturally expressed in numeric codes that read something like “00.111.222.33.” Instead of trying to remember a lengthy and easily forgotten code, we enter domains that access the sites we want to visit. This would be a website address or URL like “yoursite.com”. Everything from Google to small personal sites have a domain name that represents a specific IP address.
The Importance of Domains
Domain names are highly sought after because they help establish credibility on the web. This holds true whether you use it for a website or email address. Thus, rather than being attached with a third-party company domain like AOL.com or Yahoo.com, you can have one that reflects the name you personally selected. mailto:mymail@aol.com When it comes to establishing yourself online, the domain name can make all the difference.
Picking Out a Name
After getting a basic familiarity with domain names, it’s time to learn a little more about the registration process. Choosing a name often appears to be easy but that isn’t always the case. You need to be very selective and choose one that is easy for potential visitors to remember. There are also certain factors that need to be considered when your business is involved, especially if you want to increase visibility and marketing value. One of the most important things you should know is that the domain name you want might not be available. This is why you may want to come up with a few choices and narrow down the list based on relevance and availability.
Leading Registrars
You have plenty of options for registering a domain. For example, you can choose to register with the company hosting your website or a standalone service. Companies who specialize primarily in domain registration are called registrars. GoDaddy and Yahoo are among the most popular in this category. Here are a few more details on some of the leading registrars on the market.
GoDaddy - The most widely recognized of all registrars, GoDaddy is a major domain provider and one of the first places you should consider. The average price for a single domain registration is around $10 a year but the company runs many discount offerings as well. You can get a great deal from GoDaddy when bundling your original order with additional items.
Yahoo - The Yahoo domain registration service is somewhat similar to GoDaddy. The price is about $10 a year but you don’t get as many add-on options. While they specialize in domain names, Yahoo and GoDaddy both offer web hosting among other complimentary services.
Domains at Retail – Though not as well known as the companies above, Domains at Retail is another option that provides great service on domain names. You can always find a deal on this site and may be able to get a name for under $5 a year. Domains at Retail also has other offerings that include web hosting, SSL certificates and marketing services.
Choosing a domain name could end up being a lengthy process, but the time invested is certainly worth it. This is often protocol for making the best selection posssible. Good luck.
June 8th, 2009 at 4:49 am
Great post. Here is some caution we all need to look out for!!
The beautiful thing about a good domain name is that every domain name is unique and can be a sustainable competitive advantage even for the “little guy”.
But beware, I do put a word of caution out into the community that there are a lot of registrars that when you type in the name to see if it is taken, they immediately register it for themselves (if you don’t). This is a disgusting practice and from what I understand http://www.rnrstuff.com does NOT do this. That is why I use them to do the first uploads. Cheaper than almost all the big time sites but honest thus this far. Work 1 to 2 hours at any job or odd job and own yours for a year.
The domain business is still “finding its way” so be careful out there.
November 7th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
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January 1st, 2010 at 1:34 am
It is not difficult to process an Internet domain registration. Anyone with access to the Internet can register one or several domain names. The basic requirements are a domain registrar, a domain name, entry of essential information, and payment to the registrar. Of course, lack of knowledge of the basic terminology or about how the process of Internet domain registration is managed can make it seem anything but simple. This can result in a reluctance to initiate the process. Registrar, domain, domain name…what exactly does it mean? Fortunately, all this can be put into perspective.The term domain refers to the actual website. The domain name is the address that allows people to access the site. A website that has been accredited as a domain registrar will manage your Internet domain registration, collecting the necessary information, sending it to a central directory, and maintaining your registration records. There are many domain name registrars available. A Web host will not only process your Internet domain registration, but will help you build and maintain a website as well. If you do not have a strong technical background, filing your Internet domain registration through a Web hosting site may be the answer.Sometimes the part of the Internet domain registration that seems the easiest, like creating your domain name, may be the more difficult than expected. Like postal addresses, Internet domain names must follow a specified format and be unique. Following the standard www the domain name consists of a name, then what is known as an extension. The most common extension is .com, but there are several others available. An example might be www myownwebsite dot com. The name should be reflective of the website it will represent. Together, the name and extension must form a domain name no one else has registered. The Internet has a governing body, ICANN, which ensures each domain name is unique, and that the required information is collected during the Internet domain registration. Access to the information stored from the Internet domain registration process is available on the InterNIC website. The registry itself is WHOIS.Fortunately, most Internet domain registrars provide a search to determine availability of the name you want. The search will tell you it is available or offer suggestions. If none are satisfactory, you can enter a new name and search again until you find an available name that suits your need. Now you are on your way. Provide the data required. File the form. Your Internet domain registration is complete and your registrar will alert you when it is ready to use.
January 10th, 2010 at 5:29 am
Thanks for sharing these nice stuffs!! I’ll certainly put it into practice!!
January 14th, 2010 at 12:09 am
It is strange to see just how many sites there are about this topic I don’t know if I will ever have to be back, but it is great to know I found the one that has a lot of practical info if this should come up for me another time.