What is a Domain Name?
A domain name is like a telephone number. It is used to connect a web browser to a particular website. Like a telephone number, a domain name or URL can point to a website that can be moved from one location (server) to another. If you have a website that is being hosted by a company and decide to change the design and/or the company that designed the site for you, you still can use the same domain name for your new site.
It is very important to maintain ownership of your domain name. It is something that will be used for branding your company. Your site can change but most of your clients will remember the URL and may save it to their favorites for later reference. To maintain this customer base, you should make sure the only site that will use this domain will be yours. To do this, renew your domain on time. A competitor can buy your domain name if you do not renew it.
How to register a domain?
Technical registering a domain name is very simple. Use a domain registration company that is accredited by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Most of the popular registers are all ICANN companies, so your main issues will be costs. It is important to do your research on the web to find inexpensive companies that will also provide you with any support that you might need. A few of the most used domain registration companies are Godaddy.com, Register.com and networksolutions.com.
Once you have chosen a domain registration company, you will need to choose a domain name that fits your company. Start by using the domain name search tool that is provided by the registration company, to find a name that you like. It is best to have more than one choice because there is a great chance your name is already taken. It is suggested to use variations of company name. Please keep in mind that there are many types of domains you can register including .com, .net and .org. Depending on the kind of company you are, you may want to use a particular kind of domain. Most e-commerce sites use .com or .net as well as brochure website. Most non-profit organization use the .org ending.
How to purchase registered domain names?
If you have been searching for a particular domain name, and it is already registered with another company, you can make an offer to the company to buy the domain. This process can be time consuming and costly, if the other company is using the domain. Many companies including domain registration companies buy popular domain names in order to resale the domains at a later date. If you use a domain search site like Network Solutions’ Whois , you can find out who owns the domain and the companies contact information. From there, you may want to contact the company and make an offer for the name. If the name is registered with a domain company, you can buy the domain for the listed price.
