Are you baffled when you hear people talk about domain names? What are they? Do you need one? How do you get one?
This article will give you the low-down.
What is a domain name
A domain name is a unique combination of characters used to identify a website. You type the domain name into the address bar of your web browser in order to access a website. Examples of domain names are: http://www.example.com, http://www.example.co.uk, http://www.example.net.
The right hand part of the domain name – .com, .co.uk, .org etc – is known as the top level domain (TLD). Originally, .com extensions were intended for commercial ventures, while .net’s were intended for use by Internet Service Providers and .org’s by non-profit organizations or groups. These days these distinctions have become blurred and we now have many TLD’s different countries and organizations.
What top level domain should you go for?
A common misconception is that .com is used for American companies. In actual fact .com can be used by anyone in any country. This is also true for other TLD’s such are .co.uk.
So what TLD should you go for if you’re searching for a domain name?
As a rough guide, if your business is global go for a .com domain name. If it’s local to a specific country then go for the country TLD because your site will be looked upon favourably, and show up in better positions, by the local versions of search engines.
If you’re a business, I would advise against using .org or .net or similar. Also, don’t be tempted to go for .biz, it reeks of amateurism. If the domain name you want is not available in the .com or country TLD’s, then go for another variant of the domain name.
What domain name should you choose?
Many people will advise you to choose a domain name that contains keywords relevant to the product or products that you sell. The rationale here is that search engines will give you a higher position if the domain name contains relevant keywords. Opinion is divided on this but if this is the case, at best, your site is only likely to receive a slight boost in the rankings.
My advice is to go for a domain name that reflects the name of your company if it is a website for the company. Go for a keyword domain name if the website if for a specific product or range of products.
Long domain names
Many companies have relatively long names. For example, supposing your company has the name Internet Products International. Should you choose the domain name www.internetproductsinternational.com? That’s 37 characters for people to type. Or should you try to shorten it to just www.internetproducts.com or even www.ipi.com? Many short domain names are now already registered as are two, three, and four letter mnemonics, so the chances are that the shortened versions will already have been taken.
I don’t see anything wrong with choosing a long domain name if it accurately reflects the name of your company. It’s easier for people to remember www.internetproductsinternational.com than it is some convoluted shortened form such as www.intprodint.com.
What About Hyphens?
Forget them. Whilst you’re allowed to include hypens in domain names, for example www.internet-products-international,com, just think how cumbersome it becomes when you’re telling someone your domain name – e.g. internet hyphen products hyphen international.com.
What if you don’t have website?
Even if you don’t have a website and never intend getting one there is nothing stopping you getting a domain name for your email. If you want an email address such and yourname@yourcompany.com your will need to own the domain name yourcompany.com.
Don’t be tempted to use a hotmail or yahoo address instead of an address with your own domain. They just make you look cheap.
How much should you pay for a domain name?
If you’re paying more than about £10 to £10 per year then you’re being ripped off. There are still companies around that will try and sell you a domain name for £50 or more. Bypass them. You can buy and register a domain name yourself.
How do your find and register a domain name?
Simply go to a company such as 123-reg.co.uk. Set up an account. It’s free. You will find a search facility where you can enter your choice of domain name and you will be told whether the name is free. If it is then you simply go through an online-shop-like facility to register and pay for the domain name yourself. It’s easy.
What if your choice of domain name is already registered?
There are many companies around who register domain names and then put them up for sale. I once bought a .com domain name on behalf of a very well known, high profile UK client for £4000 from a company that specialized in registering and selling .com domain names.
Should you pay this kind of money? Personally I wouldn’t but the choice is yours if you think it’s going to be worth it particularly if you think a competitor might buy the domain name and use it to your disadvantage.
So there we have it
There is really no technical magic involved in domain names. If you want your own. you don’t have to pay a fortune and its easy to register your choice yourself.
Have you registered your own domain name? Have you had any bad experiences trying to get a domain name? Have you been ripped off? click the read More link to give me your comments.