What is a Domain Name?
A domain name is an address at which your web site can be accessed. It essentially works like this:
- Someone types in the address of your web site (www.yahoo.com)
- The domain takes the user to your web site
The files, which are accessed every time the user goes to your web site, are physically stored by something called a host. This is a topic that will be addressed later on in the guide, but for now, just realize that when you register a domain name, all it does is direct people to the physical location of your web site files.
The Best Practices
There are 5 best practices for domain name selection and these are:
- The Shorter the Better. Having a domain name that is easy to remember is really a key thing here, and when it is a bunch of letters long, it's not going to be so easy to remember. People are more likely to remember a name like eBay.com rather than something like websitesaregreat.com. Obviously, there will be some circumstances where it is necessary to have a longer domain, but for the most part, it's best to get it as short as possible.
- Be Descriptive. Now wait, you may be saying. We said in the last practice that it was best to be as short as possible. But now we're saying you need to be descriptive. So which is it? Well, it's both. You need to be both descriptive and as short as possible. In other words, instead of registering a domain name that is mft.com for a music site, why not describe the domain by registering musicfans.com instead? It tells perspective visitors what your site is about, while also being short and easy to remember. While you won't be able to register that domain name, as it's taken, you should be able to find a short, descriptive domain name for your site.
- Avoid Copyright Names. Have you ever visited a site with a domain name that contains the word “myspace” but isn't at all a part of MySpace? Unfortunately, these domain names are commonly the target of lawsuits by the copyright holder, which is why you should avoid using a copyrighted word within your domain name. For instance, a domain name like googlerocksalot.com could get you in trouble because the word “Google” is copyrighted.
- Go with a .Com First—Unless You are an Organization. As we previously mentioned, .Com's are the most recognized type of domain name, and are thus preferable. If you can register a .Com with your desired name, rather than a .Net, you should do this. If, however, you are an organization—particularly a non-profit—then .Org might be a better choice.
- Don't Be Afraid of .Net. You might be thinking that .Net domain names should be avoided. That couldn't be further from the truth. In fact, .Net domain names have only continued to gain in popularity over the past decade and are now almost as popular and recognizable as .Com's. If you have picked out a name and can find it in .Net, but not .Com, take it. It should work out as well as if you registered a .Com, as long as you give it time to grow in popularity.
II. Where to Get It, Top Registrars
Now that you know exactly what domain names are, it's time to discuss where to get them. Thankfully, domain names have greatly decreased in price over the years, and now range from $3.95 to $10.95 a year.
So how does domain registration work? Basically, you go to a domain registrar web site and type in the desired domain name. If the domain hasn't been claimed by someone else, you can click to add it to your cart and then buy it. When you pay the money to them—either by PayPal or Credit/Debit card—the domain becomes legally yours. That means no one else can touch your domain name without your consent.
There are literally thousands of places where you can register a domain name at. Unfortunately, not all of these are legitimate, and some rip people off by making them pay ridiculous fees for domain names. Thus, it is important to know about which registrars are legitimate and are the best in their field.
The Top Registrars
GoDaddy.com – Have you ever seen the GoDaddy Superbowl commercials? If so, you'd know that GoDaddy prides itself on affordable domain names, and that's just what they deliver. On GoDaddy, you can register virtually every type of domain name available, and all for very cheap prices. For instance, .Com domains can be registered at the low cost of $6.95, while .Nets are priced around $7 per domain name. GoDaddy is known for being very prompt with setting up domain names and for having great customer service. That's why they have become so popular in their short existence.
Smallbusiness.Yahoo.com – Since you're new to creating a web site, and may be a little confused by the domain registration process, you might find Yahoo's domain registration a little easier. For just $9.99 a year, you get 24-hour support, and private domain registration—which makes it so that your information (name, address, phone number) is not posted in the WHOIS web site, a database of domain registrations—among other features. This is definitely a good option not just for small business owners, but also for others who are new to web site building.
Register.com – Around since the 90's, Register.com is one of the oldest domain registry services around. For many years, they have been registering domain names to customers. They have continued to stay in business for one reason: consistently great domain registration and great customer service. While you will pay a little more to register with them—usually over $10—you'll get enough great customer service to justify the extra cost. They're reliable and quick as well, which definitely makes it worth it to register with them.
Networksolutions.com – Looking for an alternative to GoDaddy or Register? If so, Network Solutions might be ideal for you. Offering $9.00/year private domain registration, Network Solutions is commonly regarded as being a great choice for first time domain registers because of how affordable and user-friendly the service is. Simply put, they make domain registration fast and easy.