| Your domain name is what people will type into their browser, e.g. www.yourname.com. This name must be registered with a central international agency and renewed every year. Think of domain name as the same as a street mailing address for a building. Now apply this concept to your website. Without a domain or address, mail (or in this case, viewers) can't find you. Its usually best to select the best "extension" for your web site we explain a few below:
.COM - represents the word "commercial," and is the most widely used extension in the world. Most businesses prefer a .com domain name because it is a highly recognized symbol for having a business presence on the Internet.
.NET - represents the word "network," and is most commonly used by Internet service providers, Web-hosting companies or other businesses that are directly involved in the infrastructure of the Internet. Additionally, some businesses choose domain names with a .net extension for their intranet Websites. Recommended for companies involved in Internet infrastructure.
.ORG - represents the word "organization," and is primarily used by non-profits groups or trade associations. Recommended for not-for-profit organizations.
Although there has recently been some discussion about possible moves to restrict the .org top domain to non-profits, as was originally intended, the current situation is that all 3 of these domain name extensions are accessible to anyone, without restrictions, and are widely recognized around the world. Here are some additional extensions for Internet domain names. There are several of them to choose from: - .biz is used for small business Web sites.
- .info is for credible resource Web sites and signifies a "resource" web site. It's the most popular extension beyond .com, .net and .org.
- .us is for American Web sites and is the newest extension. It has the largest amount of available names in inventory.
- .cc was originally the country code for Coco's Keeling Islands. It is unrestricted and may be registered by anyone, from any country.
- .bz was originally designated as the country code for Belize, but is now commonly used by small business who can't get the name they want using the .biz extension. It is unrestricted and may be registered by anyone, from any country.
- .tv is for rich content/multi-media Web sites, commonly used within the entertainment or media industry.
So, when selecting your domain name it seems the good names under the .com extension are always taken. Now you are faced with the question of whether a .net or .biz is any good. Well, it all depends… If you are concerned about search engine optimization then no, it doesn’t really matter. According to GoogleGuy no extensions get preferential treatment over others. As far as other search engines go I have never seen any hard core evidence that would prove that it matters. If you are concerned about marketing online or offline, then yeah, I would say your best bet is a .com but it’s not totally necessary. A .com extension is by far the most common and it is easier to remember than others. An extract from InterNICWhat is the domain name system?
http://www.directive.com/domains/domain_extensions.htm The Domain Name System (DNS) helps users to find their way around the Internet. Every computer on the Internet has a unique address - just like a telephone number - which is a rather complicated string of numbers. It is called its "IP address" (IP stands for "Internet Protocol"). IP Addresses are hard to remember. The DNS makes using the Internet easier by allowing a familiar string of letters (the "domain name") to be used instead of the arcane IP address. So instead of typing 207.151.159.3, you can type www.internic.net. It is a "mnemonic" device that makes addresses easier to remember. What does it mean to "register" a domain name?
When you register a domain name, you are inserting an entry into a directory of all the domain names and their corresponding computers on the Internet. How do I register a domain name?
Domain names ending with .biz, .com, .info, .name, .net or .org can be registered through many different companies (known as "registrars") that compete with one another. The registrar you choose will ask you to provide various contact and technical information that makes up the registration. The registrar will then keep records of the contact information and submit the technical information to a central directory known as the "registry." This registry provides other computers on the Internet the information necessary to send you e-mail or to find your web site. You will also be required to enter a registration contract with the registrar, which sets forth the terms under which your registration is accepted and will be maintained. How much does it cost?
Registering a new domain through Onlinein48hrs.com will cost you only $9.99 depending on the extension. Check for your domain name here! |
