 What
is a domain name?
A domain name is the web address of your site, usually proceeded
by a "www." For example: www.amazon.com and www.npr.org
are two popular domain names.
What makes a good domain name?
One that is easy for people to remember. If it is too long
or too difficult to spell, then it becomes a barrier to your
site.
Using your company's name may be a good choice (www.yourcompany.com),
but you might also want to consider a memorable phrase that
communicates who you are or what you offer (www.crazywidgets.com,
www.greencigars.com... no, they're not real!).
Be sure to ask for opinions from a variety of people. Find
out what others think about your domain name choices. Their
comments will help you determine what name is best from a
user's point of view.
Should my domain name end with .com?
The .com extension is the most common and is the one most
people will try when looking for a web site. For that reason,
I recommend that businesses use the .com suffix whenever
possible . But, as you may have already discovered,
it's very difficult to find good .com domains anymore, since
most have already been purchased.
Originally, the three letter extension indicated whether
the domain name was used for commercial (.com), network (.net),
or non-profit (.org) purposes, but those distinctions have
become quite blurred over the years. You can feel free to
use .net or .org or any of the other many extensions now
available for domain names.
Does it matter if I use uppercase or lowercase letters?
No. Domain names may contain letters, numbers, and dashes,
but capitalization does not matter.
Should I use a dash in my domain name?
You may find that your desired domain name is taken (www.companyname.com,
for example), but the same name with a dash (www.company-name.com)
is available. Sometimes, that may be your best choice, but
be aware of the problems you may have when using a dash in
your domain name:
- It's harder to communicate. When giving someone your
web address, you have tell them where to put the dash (and
they have to remember to put it there), or else they'll
likely end up at someone else's site.
- It's harder to use. Dashes are often left out or put
in the wrong place, sending users to some other web site.
How much does a domain name cost?
You're actually renting, rather than purchasing, your domain
name. You'll pay an annual fee for the right to use your
chosen name. This fee may range anywhere from $6 to $50,
depending on what registration service you use.
Where do I go to look for and register a domain name?
Type "domain name registration" into any search
engine, and you'll find information on many services. I offer
this service to my clients, but many choose to register their
own domains. The two most popular services among my clients
seem to be register.com and godaddy.com.
Is it okay to let someone else manage my domain name?
Sure, but make sure that you are listed as the
owner or administrative contact of the account. If not, you
may have difficulty making future changes. For example, if
you ever move your site files to a new web server, you'll
have to edit the information in your domain name setup so
that it directs browsers to your site's new location. If
you're not listed as the owner or administrator of the domain
name, you may not be able to make that change.
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