Aug 23 2008
Domain Name
One of the first things you should do in order to be present on the web is to choose a domain name. On the internet the domain name identifies your website. It makes the connection between a visitor and your website. As an example, a website domain name looks something like this: www.website.com
There are three major steps in order to get a domain name:
1. Choose a Domain Name
2. Check if a Domain Name is Available
3. Register a Domain Name
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1. Choosing a Domain Name
When deciding to choose a domain name, there are several choices you will have to make. To understand these choices you need to learn the basic structure of a domain name.
A domain name consists of three elements separated by dots.
The elements of our example website “www.website.com” are:
www -> convention for the web host/server (the initials meaning: World Wide Web)
website -> second level domain name
com -> top level domain name or TLD
The domain name in reality is: website.com and not www.website.com
Your website is accessible by both of these forms (however it depends how the web server is set up).
When choosing a second level domain name, there is always a possibility that others have already registered it. If the desired second level domain name is already registered, check the top level domain name with the same second level domain name to see if it’s free to register.
Example:
www.website.com -> if already registered check these:
www.website.net -> this can be free to register
www.website.info -> this can be free to register
There are many other top level domain names exists. It can be country specific domain name or generic domain name.
Example for country specific top level domain names:
United States: .us
Germany: .de
France: .fr
United Kingdom: .co.uk
Italy: .it
Example for generic top level domain names:
Commercial: .com
Business: .biz
Education: .edu
Information based: .info
Organizations: .org
Name: .name
Network: .net
Professional: .pro
Domain names are not case sensitive, so you can access the same website either using: Www.Website.Com or www.website.com
2. Check if a Domain Name is Available
It’s a simple checking process. Find a domain name registrar online, type your desired second level domain name, choose the top level domain name and let the program check it for you. But, before you rush and check your desired domain name, you should be careful, because some registrars will force you to buy the domain name from them.
As an example I am using a trusted one: www.name.com
3. Register a Domain Name
After choosing and verifying a domain name which is still available, you are ready to register it.
Well you can search in the internet and find the cheapest registrar to register the domain name. However I would advise to think before doing this - not as I have any objections to using a cheap registrar.
The problem when choosing a cheap domain name registrar is, that most of the cases the registrar companies are offering more packages, more options to choose, which can cost more, even if sometimes has advantages. So, the domain name is only one part of the package. The other part of the package is the website hosting. However buying a domain name can happen without buying a web hosting or any other packages in plus.
Generally your domain name provider should also be your website hosting provider. So you really need to find out enough information about website hosting and choose your hosting provider before proceeding. When find such a company and you are not sure about their offer, just feel free to contact them by phone or email to ask whatever question you have related to their offer.
While registering a domain name, make sure that the Web host company will not hold the administrative control over your domain name. Your domain name should always be registered in your name and with your contact details. The Domain Name provider should only be added as a technical contact.
Also remember that most of the domain names are only available for a limited period of time: minimum a year, maximum whatever you wish. It depends of your web-plan, how much years you plan to run your business. If you are not sure just choose to buy the domain for only a year. People usually buy it for a year, renew it in the next year and so on. This is normally done automatically by your name registrar, you just have to pay for it when the bill arrives, but check it as you don’t want to loose the domain name because you forgot to renew it.
Your choice of domain name registrar will be based by your choice of TLD extension. Almost all domain name registrars can register .com extensions but not every of them can register country based domain name extensions (.uk .de .it).
If you are not pleased with the services of your current domain name registrar or host, you can always move it. Just find another one, buy a web hosting from them and stop using the old one (usually letting them know by a politely written letter would make it). But make sure you know enough information about the new one before jumping into buying from them.
Once you have bought the domain name and put into use, you can divide it on more domains using subdomains. Examples: subdomain.website.com or something.website.com
Subdomains can be different websites, having different content, too. This well known technique is also used by very big websites like Google, Yahoo, BBC etc, but can also be useful for smaller websites.
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