| The Domain Name System (DNS) enables people | | | | domain name There are a variety of domain |
| to navigate their way around the Internet. | | | | extensions, and the one you wish to use may |
| Every computer that is connected to the | | | | well affect the price you will have to pay. |
| internet is identifiable by a string of | | | | |
| numbers called an "IP address" (IP stands for | | | | The range of TLDs includes .com, .net, .org, |
| "Internet Protocol"). As the internet | | | | .info and .name (used with a personal name |
| developed so did the DNS, so that now a | | | | e.g. JezLacey.name). None of these TLDs have |
| string of letters can correspond to a | | | | specific requirements. In addition to these |
| particular IP address. This means that | | | | universal TLDs there is also .biz, which is |
| instead of using a complicated sequence of | | | | for commercial and business use only. |
| numbers you can type which is a lot easier | | | | Finally, there are also country specific |
| to remember. | | | | TLDs, which can only be used by persons who |
| | | | are citizens and residents of that country |
| No matter what sort of site you are intending | | | | and by businesses and organizations present |
| building, you should consider getting | | | | in that country where domain extension is |
| yourself a domain name. Your domain name is | | | | applicable, example include .us (USA), .co.uk |
| your personal web address and can reflect | | | | (UK) and .fr (France). |
| anything you desire, including your own name | | | | |
| or the subject of your business. | | | | Step 2: Obtain the IP address or domain |
| | | | nameserver from your hosting company. A |
| There are several reasons why an internet | | | | nameserver is a special type of domain that |
| business requires its own domain name | | | | is used to identify a particular server. |
| including: • A domain name makes your | | | | After registration you will need this |
| site more credible and reliable • The | | | | information in order to set up your domain |
| URL of a domain name will never change even | | | | for use. |
| if you change you website hosting, so that | | | | |
| customers are not needed to be informed | | | | Step 3: Prepare for payment. The usual |
| should you change hosting. • Choosing | | | | method of payment with domain registrars is |
| a good domain name will make your site more | | | | via a credit card. |
| memorable to your clients, so that people | | | | |
| will recall your company easily which spells | | | | Step 4: Apply for your domain name. You can |
| more profits. • Advertisers and | | | | use your web hosting company to do this, or |
| sponsors are more likely to sponsor websites | | | | one of numerous accredited domain registrars. |
| who have their own domain name. • Your | | | | Good examples include enom.com, the ever |
| won domain name allows you to set up various | | | | popular GoDaddy.com, and many others. |
| email addresses for specific uses, e.g. and | | | | |
| The organization that is responsible for | | | | When registering your domain name, ensure |
| maintaining and co-ordinating the entire | | | | that you are the registered domain owner. |
| domain name system is called ICAAN. TO | | | | This important because a web host can set |
| register any domain name you need to use an | | | | themselves as the domain owner, and if they |
| ICAAN accredited domain name registrar. | | | | do, then you have no say in what happens to |
| | | | the domain name. For example, if you decide |
| There are numerous domain name registrars and | | | | to transfer your domain to another registrar. |
| fees for domain registration vary from $8.95 | | | | For this reason you should also ensure both |
| to $35+. Some web hosting companies now | | | | the technical and administrative contracts |
| offer a free domain name registration as part | | | | should be you. |
| of their hosting packages. | | | | |
| | | | When transferring a domain the new registrar |
| Registering your domain name is essentially a | | | | will try contacting the domain owner first, |
| four step process as follows: | | | | then if that fails the administrative and |
| | | | then the technical contact. There have been |
| Step 1: Carefully consider what domain name | | | | cases where the web host has registered |
| you would like, try to make your domain name | | | | itself as the administrative and technical |
| as concise as possible and specific to the | | | | contact for a client. They can then make it |
| site you have in mind. Construct a list of | | | | difficult for clients to move to other |
| alternative domain names, in order of | | | | registrars by pending the move or by even |
| preference. This is because with the huge | | | | refusing. So, stay in better control and |
| number of websites in the Internet, some of | | | | avoid this kind of situation. |
| your ideas for the ideal domain name might | | | | |
| have already been taken already so the more | | | | With these guidelines, you are now well |
| names you can think of, the better. | | | | equipped to register your own domain name. As |
| | | | good domain names are getting more and more |
| When deciding on your domain name also | | | | difficult to find, if you already have an |
| consider the top level domain TLD) extension | | | | idea for a great domain name, register them |
| you want. The TLD is the .com part of the | | | | now before it's too late. |