Domain Names: What, Why, Who, and How

WHAT, exactly, is a domain name?

The Domain Name System was originally developed to help us navigate through the internet. Every computer connected to the internet has it's own IP address, a string of numbers that identify it to other computers. Domain names are a way of pointing to a specific IP address to make things easier to remember - so now you shop at Amazon.com, instead of at 207.171.166.102!

The domain name is made of two parts, the name and the extension.The name is whatever you choose, it can be your personal name, your business name, a term or a saying. When choosing a domain, be careful to select something that is easy to remember and is representative of you or your business. There are numerous resources to help in choosing a great name, search Google.com for the term "choosing a domain name".

The extension is the part that comes after the name, the most familiar extension is '.com'. There are many extensions, some available only to educational institutions (.edu) or to citizens of specific countries. The most common domain extensions registered now are .com, .net, .org, .info, and .biz. It is often recommended that when you choose a domain name, you register as many of the popular extensions as you can, to protect your brand.

WHY would I want a domain name?

The main reason that people register domain names is because they are building a website, but there are other reasons, too. The registration of domain names has become relatively inexpensive, and the variety of uses for them has expanded. Some people register domain names for email only, so they can have a personalized email address. John Doe can now get email at john@johndoe.com, for example. Websites themselves have evolved in such a way that anyone can set up and maintain their own personal spot on the web - it isn't just for businesses anymore. Blogging and forums (bulletin boards) have become very popular ways for people to communicate with friends and family, post pictures, and share other information; and having your own domain name makes finding your blog easy. Web hosting companies offer personal accounts that allow you to have email, create a blog, and even build your own personal website at very low prices.

Even if you don't plan on having a website now, registering your domain name is a good idea - you never know what you may wish to do in the future, from starting a home business to wanting to post pictures of your grandchildren. As more domains are registered, it becomes more challenging to find the exact name you want. You can register a domain for from one to ten years, and registering now ensures it will be there for you when you're ready!

WHO should I buy my domain name from?

Domain name registrars are plentiful on the internet, but make sure you register with an ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) Accredited Registrar, and register in your own name and email address. There are people who may act on your behalf to register a name for you (such as a webmaster), but be sure they register it in your name, not theirs. Even if you want to distance yourself from the everyday operations of your website and domain, you will still want to be the real owner of that name. Domain registration is very easy on the internet, using the registrar's website interface to choose your name and place your order, even the least techno-savvy can get through it. Don't be afraid!

Domain registrars offer a tool to check to see if the name you want is available, or if it is already owned by someone else. If a domain is available, you will be asked to purchase or register it. You may see the option to transfer a domain listed instead. If you register a domain name with one registrar, and later decide you'd like to move, or transfer, that domain to another registrar to receive different services, you have that option. But you must actually own that domain name in order to be able to transfer it. Many people have made the mistake of thinking that if they choose transfer, the domain will be taken away from it's current owner and given to them - this is simply not possible, nor would you want it to happen to your own domain!

So then, Who owns the domain name I want? And how can I get it? are becoming questions that are heard more often. There is a tool called a WHOIS Lookup that can tell you who currently owns a domain name, and WHOIS tools can be found on the web - search for them on Google.com, and you'll see. Buying a domain that is currently owned by someone else is no longer out of the question, either. Many domain owners are willing to sell their domains, and often list the domains for sale with various domain sale and auction services. There are also services that will accept a backorder for a domain. These services allow you to list your desired domain with them, and if that domain expires and becomes available, the service will try to register it for you. These systems work like a lottery - or more precisely, like a concert ticket system. When the tickets go on sale, everyone is trying to get the front row center seat, but only one can get it. Drop or backorder services do the same thing, all competing for the same domain name. If you choose to try for an expiring domain, research several of these services and register with as many as you can. Remember there is sometimes a fee above and beyond the registration price when you use one of these services.

HOW to keep your domain name in good health (or the care and feeding of a domain name).

First and foremost, now that you've got your domain name, be sure not to lose it! The most common way for people to lose a domain name is by not renewing it before it expires. When you register the domain name, you will be asked to provide an administrative email contact. All future correspondence relating to your domain name will be sent to that address, including expiration notices. If you change email addresses and do not update your address with your domain registrar, notices will never reach you. Likewise, you should always update any change of physical address or phone number with your domain registrar, just in case. Put your registrar on your list of places you would inform if you were to move, and you will avoid this common trap.

Another common way to run into trouble is by falling victim to a competing registrar's advertising. Sometimes unscrupulous companies will send out email or physical letters informing you that your domain will expire soon, and asking you to renew it by transferring it into their domain system. These letters can be very persuasive, convincing domain owners that they must follow the instructions in the letter or they will lose the domain name. Often these cheaters charge a higher fee than your real registrar, and don't offer a refund once you've paid them for a transfer, even if you don't use it. The best way to avoid this scam is simply to know who your registrar is, and only respond to requests made by them. Keep a copy of your first registration letter in your files, so you can refer to it later if you have any doubts.

The Domain Name System has truly evolved since its inception, and now having a domain name has become a standard for individuals as well as businesses. Your domain name is your personality, your identity, your calling card in the internet world. Choose it wisely and take care of it, and you'll spend many happy years together!

Don't Steal Someone Else's (Domain) Name!

Putting together a good web site can be a difficult process for those who don't understand the ins and the outs of the process. When it comes to creating a really good site, every step of the process is very important. But, perhaps the most important step is the domain search itself.

Getting a good domain name is very important to the success of any site. A solid domain search prior to creating the site can really help in getting a name that's ideal for your purposes. As you do a domain search, you'll want to check on domain names that fit your business, follow the brand name of your product, use your name and so on.

Some of the best domain names found in domain searches reflect:

* A company's own personal name. This is a great way to do a domain search. If you want a site for your entire company, a domain search should include your business' name first and then variations of it if the main name is already taken by another company.

* Another great option for a domain name is creating a site whose name uses your main service offered in it. If, for example, you are an insurance broker and your company's name is already taken by someone else, consider doing a domain search for 'insurance' and seeing what's taken and what might still be available.

* Product names. Can you imagine Xbox.com being owned by anyone other than Microsoft? If you have a product that speaks for itself, do a domain search to see if your product's name is available for use. If it is, this might be the ideal name to go with.

Doing a domain search can be a frustrating process. Sometimes the very best names you can come up with will already be taken. If this is the case, however, don't despair, most domain search sites offer you an option of finding alternatives that are closely related to the site name you've typed in. If you have to go this route in your domain search, remember to carefully weigh the names available before choosing. A good domain name will:

* Be reasonably short. You want to make sure your domain search includes the shortest possible names that still reflect your company name, service or product.

* Uncomplicated. Don't accept site names that come up on a domain search that are too complex. If the name includes a series of letters, number, symbols or unrecognizable words, steer clear. The shorter and easier to remember your site name is the better.

Doing a good domain search before you decide on a site name can result in a plethora of good names you might not have even considered before. Carefully weigh the names and choose one that best fits your product, service or purpose and be certain the name is fairly easy to remember and type, as well.

It might seem like a little detail, but a domain name is very important to helping drive traffic to your site. You want a name that stands out and speaks for itself without being too complex for people to type or remember.

Top Things To Consider During A Domain Name Search

It might not seem like a big deal on the surface, but a domain name search is actually one of the most important steps in creating a good web site. This is especially so for businesses that intend to be reliant on the Internet for traffic and customers. Doing a solid domain name search to find the best possible site name is vital.

The importance of a domain name search and the subsequent naming of the site is key in making sure people can find your site, remember your site name and also pass it along to their friends and other fellow potential clients.

Think of some of your favorite web sites and the names they use, and you'll see why a domain name is so important. Business sites you frequent tend to use the business name in the domain. News sites either relate to the types of news they cover, or they use the publication name. Fun sites use names that spell out what they do or close to it. The catchier or shorter the domain name found during a search, the better.

As you do a domain name search to find the ideal business site name for your company, remember:

* Your search should include your business name and/or the topics your site will deal with. The more relevant the name to what you do or who you are, the better. This is important for helping potential clients remember your site name. If you can land your business name, or its main product, during a domain search, grab it.

* The domain name search tools provided by site building companies should be taken advantage of to find a name that's unique, short, easy to spell, easy to remember and even more importantly easy to type. Stay away from names that are too long, too complicated or too unrelated to what you do. The further away a domain name is from who you are or what you do, the more likely it is you won't have great success in marketing. Unless of course, the site name is so catchy, people can't forget it.

* Use a domain name search to find a site name that's uncomplicated. You don't want your site to get lost in the shuffle. Don't use a complex combination of letters, number and hyphens or underscores in your domain name. These tend to confuse people and make it difficult for them to remember how to find your site again.

As you do domain name searches, remember the site name you choose will likely be used by you to market your company, make sales and generally spread the word about who you are and what you do. Think marketing as you do searches and you'll be on the right track.

Before you settle on a name for your site, ask yourself these questions:

* Has my domain name search covered all the possible bases?
* Does the name I'm thinking of using for my domain reflect what I do?
* Does the domain I've chosen have a catchy sound?
* Is the domain name easy to remember? Easy to type?

It might not seem like a very big deal, but naming a web site is key in driving traffic to it. The more thought that goes into the process, the better. Use domain name search tools to help you find the best possible name for your site.

Navigating the Most Popular Domain Registrar Sites

Looking at the internet as a whole, one part of it's infrastructure that I think could be improved, at least from a webmasters perspective, is the major domain registrars. Many of them leave something to be desired. They are all similiar but have different details which differentiate them from one another. Moniker, for example, is radically different than any other domain registrar I have used (and I have used about ten). On the plus side, they are one of the most secure registrars out there. But unfortunately they are not very intuitive, although they are new and this may change soon. Finding the link to change my name servers was harder than finding a needle in a haystack. There really should be more standardization where these domain registrars are concerned. I have noticed that they are open to feedback on webmaster forums so I predict that they may streamline their process in the near future. Speaking of process, I recently renewed a domain at Godaddy, which is one of the largest (if not the largest) regitrars out there. Thank goodness I had a whole morning to do it. Instead of just clicking it and paying,

which should have been the case, it brought me (actually forced me kicking and screaming) through page after page of options. it seems like I clicked

'continue with order' ten times before brought to the 'checkout now' link which was a tiny, termite sized hyperlink at the bottom of seemingly eighty or ninety

gaudy advertisements. I mean blinking this, flash that. My eyes hurt after all that. I was looking for a bottle of carrot juice at this point. Was I registering a domain or playing the flashiest pinball machine of all time? But they were not done with me. It then gave me the option of

what payment type and I chose Paypal. Instead of me just putting my password in a slot and finishing the process on the site, instead Godaddy mercilessly

yanked me out of their site to some paypal site, not just to pay, but to "set up a Billing Agreement for Preapproved Payments with Go Daddy Software, Inc.". After I navigated that rather lengthy process

I finally saw a button that said 'return to merchant'. I had almost left at this point thinking that I a had already paid. Nope, I then had to complete the payment on go daddy's site, finally I saw the renewal amount, which they never bothered to show me untill step 99 out of 100 (note quite that many, but you get the point). I clicked it and I believe I finally finished the process although I never saw what you might call a clear cut 'submission complete' or 'order complete' type of confirmation page. it was a little more vague than that and I was further bombarded with extensive additional offers that filled the page, obscuring everything else. I was impressed with just how many advertisements these guys could imagine, create and fit on one page.

I think I saw it all. In all fairness to them, most people pay by credit card, a faster and easier process. I had logged into their site in panic after they sent me an email headlined 'Domain _ _ _ _ about to Expire at Godaddy!! After logging I discovered that the domain was still several months from expiring. In any case, they are one of many online domain registrars that could benefit from the old adage 'Less is More'. On the positive side, when I had to call Godaddy's customer service on a different occasion, they were effective and very friendly on the phone. In fact I would give them an A for telephone customer service. Namecheap and Idotz are a little bit easier to navigate online, although no registrars I have used so far have been perfect.

How To Pratically Turn A $10 Domain Name Into Profits Of Over $10,000 In 4 Months

This is not a fake.I have seen it happen. Wrestling.com was sold last 2 months for a whooping $500,000. This may seem overwhelming crazy.But it isn't. People are making money buying and selling domain names.

How is it done?Let us go on a journey.

1.If you would make money from domain names,you definitely must know what a domain name means.A domain name is the name of any website you see on the internet. E.g yahoo.com, clickbank.com, 10500weekly.com etc.

I guess you would have some domain names with phrases like whereblackpeoplemeet.com, howtoopenausbankaccount.com

2.You should now be ready to do alot of research to know the kind of topics most people would be interested in and be able to creatively produce domain names that carry power in them.For instance, when someone discovered how people were searching for how to open a US bank account,he simply registered a domain name (howtoopenausbankaccount.com)

To know what people look for most,search the search engines and visit forums to see what people are discussing the most.

It has also been discovered that domain names with .com format are usually trhe hottest selling ones folowed by .org, .net, .biz etc

This means that the domain name you are creating must be in .com format if you want a huge yield before going to the next step.

3.Get the domain registered at sites like godaddy.com for a very cheap price.

4.Get domain brokers to park your domain and sell it for you.Just go to the search engines and search for "domain name brokers." Also make sure that they are registered brokers.

5.Get a means of collecting your payments from your brokers especially if you are not in the US.

Read more about this and take action now.

I wish you success.

The Quick Guide to Transferring Domain Names

If you ever get a new webmaster or switch web hosting companies, you might also transfer control of your domain name (that's just the www.whatever.com) to someone else. This process varies from simple to extremely difficult, depending largely on the companies you're dealing with. Since I have done this several times with various clients, I thought I would provide some insight.

First, some concepts. A registrar a company you register a domain through. They almost always have some sort of control panel on their site you can log into. Ideally, they also have a phone number you can call if you lose all your login information. Generally, transferring your domain name involves transferring from one registrar to another.

Also, don't forget that a domain name is different from your web host. A web host (or web server) is like a house, and a domain name is kind of like a phone number. You can move houses and still keep the same phone number. Also, you can stay in the same house, but change phone numbers. It's the same way with domain names and web hosting.

Okay, on to what happens when you try to transfer a domain.

Most registrars have their own method of requesting a domain be transferred to them. First, the person who currently owns the domain needs to go into their registrar's control panel and make sure the domain is not locked. Then, the person who is going to receive the domain goes to their control panel and follows their registrar's method of requesting the domain be transferred to them.

At this point, the procedure can vary. Several emails will likely be sent by both registrars to both the requestor and the old owner. Both the new and old owners need to follow any instructions given in the email in a timely manner. The instructions differ greatly from one domain registrar to another.

The other situation you might run into is if you're transferring owners, but both owners use the same registrar. In that case, there is likely some method in the control panel of transferring ownership. This will probably be a completely different option from the first situation, where the parties have different registrars. If in doubt, call your registrar and ask what the procedure is.

Quick Tips on Choosing a Domain Name

Choosing a new domain name is a very simple task for most experienced internet network marketers but it can be a challenge for someone just starting out in business. Here are a few quick tips that will help to make the process a bit easier.

First, it is virtually impossible to do business on the internet without having at least one domain name. Even if your company provides you with some type of replicated web site, it is normally a good idea to acquire your own domain name and have it redirected to the company issued site.

One of the first questions that normally pops up is whether or not it's mandatory to get a dot com (.com) domain name. Yes, there are plenty of successful marketers that use domain names that end in other extensions such as .net, .name, .biz, etc. However, dot com continues to dominant the marketplace and most of the experts still recommend that extension whenever possible. Basically, dot com has been branded into our subconscious to such a degree that even when you are clearly given a .net web address, we will instinctively type in dot com.

Next, when you are in the process of selecting a new name, there are a few things that you will want to keep in mind.

1. Choose a domain name that contains keywords that apply to whatever it is you are promoting.

2. Make sure that your domain name is easy to read when it is typed or written (stay away from excessive vowels).

3. Long and descriptive domains were once frowned upon but are now more readily accepted.

When you are ready to actually purchase your new domain name, picking the right registrar can be tough because there are literally thousands of them out there on the web. We recommend two that have served us well over the years and for two very different reasons.

GoDaddy.com domain names are one of our favorites because they have a good price and they are fast with redirects. Some companies take many hours, and often days, before your web site is "live" and pointing to another domain name. However, we have purchased new domains and had them repointing to our site of choice in just a matter of minutes with GoDaddy.com. So, if you are looking for speed and a quick redirect, we recommend GoDaddy.com.

Another company that we like and have been using for many years is Dotster.com domain names. Dotster has a very easy to use back office and it is great for anyone that is managing multiple domain names. The system will alert you whenever it's time to renew a domain name and they also have many other features that you can use to make running your business easier. Ultimately, we like to keep our primary domain names secured through Dotster.com, and any redirect type domains are managed via GoDaddy.

If you are serious about marketing on the internet, learning the basics about buying and redirecting domain names is definitely a skill you will want to learn. Domain names are fairly inexpensive, simple to register, and equally simple to redirect. In the long run, a little creativity in choosing the right domain name can have a major impact on your new network marketing business.

How to Register and Secure Your Preferred Domain Name

Whilst most of the words in the dictionary have been registered as dotcom names by speculators hoping to sell them at a profit in the future, there are still many domain name options and combinations available with various extensions.

It is important to consider the following when choosing your domain name...

* Choose a memorable name

The right domain name allows your prospective customers an easy way to remember and find you. It's your location on the web and also your email address.

* Your Domain Name is your Brand

Secure the domain name that best represents your business name and keep it out of the hands of your competitors.

Domains are valuable online real estate and securing more than one helps protect your brand and increase your reach.

You can easily direct as many domains as you want to a single website.

* Build Credibility

Having an appropriate domain name and using it to personalize your business cards and email addresses helps establish credibility and professionalism.

For instance, an email address such as john@ebusiness.com is more professional than john112@freeemail.com

Therefore, do not use a freebie domain name - it is short sighted and gives your prospective client the perception that you are "out to get a quick buck" type of business.

* Your Domain Name is an Investment

Domain names, like real estate, appreciate in value as time goes by.

Furthermore, as a domain name ages not only does it become more valuable, it importantly gains more credibility & integrity with the search engines.

Therefore it is extremely important to secure as many appropriate domains as possible as soon as you can.

Not only can they all be directed to one website but it keeps them out of the clutches of your competition as well as adding to your business' online presence and credibility.

* If your preferred name has already been registered...?

The chances are that your preferred domain name has already been snapped up and that you'll have to settle for a name that isn't totally ideal.

Whilst you should always go for a top level domain (TLD) such as a dotcom extension if you’re a business, as people continue to assume that dotcom equals a business and professionalism, there are some good alternatives.

Other top level domains such as .net .org .biz are good choices for the appropriate type of business, eg. a computer network business should have a .net extension & a non-profit organization shouyld have a .org extension.

However if your business is country specific, you should consider using a country-specific top level domains (TLDs) like .de, .nu, .sg, etc.

However, if your name has been taken you can always consider adding a search engine friendly term or area to the name.

For instance if your preferred name is internetbusiness you could choose internetbusiness-startup or internetbusiness-texas or internetbusiness123 etc..

Also always once your domain is registered, remember to make sure your domain record remains locked.

This feature ensures that your domain remains secure and untouchable.

So if you want to transfer your domain name to a different registrar you have to unlock it before the new registrar can actually transfer it from your current registrar.

To start your Domain Name Search click the "how to secure your preferred domain name" link below to see with what extensions (TLD's) your preferred domain name is available and register as many appropriate domains as you can get - it's an investment in your business' future!

Tips To Create Good Domain Name

Domain name is an identity for a website. Each website has its own domain name. The function is similar to fingerprint as identity for human. The tips to create good domain name are memorable, short, dot com, global, nice sound, hyphen free, repeated alphabets, descriptive, keyword and brand.

Good domain name must be memorable. It shall go immediately to visitors mind. They accidentally easy to memorize the domain name. It will attract more unique visitors to the website. The domain name must be unique and different from others.

Good domain name must be short in spelling. It shall not be more than ten alphabets. It is easier to be memorized and spelt. Short in spelling can reduce the possibility of spelling mistakes. Visitors are always like to type the short name.

Good domain name normally with suffix dot com. Dot com is more popular and familiar. Most visitors tend to assume and write suffix dot com when they forget the actual suffix. Person who want to buy domain name also normally prefer to choose dot com as first choice.

Good domain name shall be a global name. It can be accepted by visitors from different countries, races and religions. Global name seems more elegant and attract more visitors. Global name can be generic or unique domain name.

Good domain name must be nice sound. It is easy in pronunciation. Easy pronunciation will easy to memorize and to spell. Visitors tend to appreciate more on the nice sound domain name. Most famous domain names are nice to be heard and pronounced.

Good domain name shall containing alphabets only. It shall not contain hyphen and number. Containing hyphen seems the name impression is not good. The domain name also can be spelt wrongly because the pronunciation and spelling is different.

Good domain name normally containing repeated alphabets. Repeated alphabets will bring nice sound. Nice sound means more memorable. Most popular website use this tips for their domain name. Their website sounds are nice and famous.

Good domain name must descriptive. It shall be reflective to the website activity. Visitors able to know immediately the website activity by just see the domain name. Use opposite domain name will cause real visitors will not reach the website.

Good domain name shall containing keyword respective to the website activity. Combination keywords can be used. The important things are the sound must be nice to be heard and memorized. Good combination keywords become unique domain name.

Good domain name shall be able to be branded name. Most branded domain name now started from unbranded domain name status previously. Create new branded name to be different from exist trademarks. Generic name can be customized to be unique domain name.

There is challenge to meet all above tips. Use our head and heart to create good and creative internet domain name. Get the domain name immediately before others get it. Trust and confident in our intuition. We must love our domain names. Then we will do better for our website.
Domain Name

Buying a Domain Name to Increase Site Traffic

Everyday thousands of domains names expire with the site owners simply abandoning them as one would an old rusted car at a junk yard. Why do they simply walk away? For some it may be that they have lost interest, while others it may be that they are not reaching their intended goals. The bottom line about all this is that this piece of junk now can serve as an opportunity for you to capitalize on.

So why would you and how do you take advantage of an abandoned website? Firstly, you will need to search for domain names that are about to expire. There are numerous sites that will provide to you for a small fee a list of domain names that are about to be thrown on the junk heap. Once you have a list, search for some domain names that are relatively close to your own. Chances are that the same site visitors that visited the site may be interested in your site. So you can take advantage of the site traffic from this forgotten site. Sure, it may not be much but even if it has a steady trickle of traffic you can make something out of it.

Once you have found a few domain names you think you can work with, you should then evaluate the power of the name. You can do this by checking its Google page rank. Many site owners spend a considerable amount of time and money building their page rank. Next, type in the URL of the domain in any search engine and see how many external sites are linking into the site. Link exchange programs take a long time to build, here again you can take advantage of another site owner’s effort.

After you have purchased the domain name, the only thing to do is to have the site traffic redirected to your website. This is easily accomplished by making some customized changes in your control panel which is usually located with your host company.

domain names