Thursday, January 08, 2009

Domain Names, Steps to Choose and Register Your Own

By Ricardo d Argence

You register a domain name by registering with a domain name services registrar. The domain name industry is regulated and overseen by ICANN, which is an organization responsible for providing standards and procedures for certifying companies as domain name registrars.

Only a domain name registrar is permitted to access and modify the master database domains that are on InterNIC servers. The fee is determined by the registrar as far as getting a domain name and some registers have special domain name packages.

Domain names can be used for branding purposes, and also you use a domain name to create an identity on the Web. You must come up with a domain name that will catch people's attention. You can use your business name as your URL. If the name of your company is currently in use, then obtain a URL name similar to what your business is. Purchasing a business name domain name isn't the only way to go, and when a keyword domain name could do just fine.

The URL of your businesses website has a great effect on online and offline marketing. So, use your common sense when you choose your domain name. Domain names that are complicated for any reason can drive people away from your site. Short domain names register better with people's memory and are easy to remember.

First you pick a domain name and then you register the name with an official registrar. A one time only set up charge will probably be included in the fee for the technical work that needs to be completed. For your Web site hosting you could pay your provider in a monthly, semi-annual or annual fee.

Many domain registrar services have competent online tools to help you get your domain name and hosting site up and running.

I strongly recommend purchasing a .com domain name as opposed to a .net, .info, .biz or anything else. If your chosen domain name is not available in a .com, keep looking until you find one that isn't taken. There is nothing wrong with the other extensions but when you have a .com extension, it sounds like you've been on the net a long time.

One strategy for staying ahead of your competitors is to investigate how long they have had their domain names registered. If your domain name expires, there's a good chance that someone will register your domain name immediately after it expires. If you lock your domain name down with a long-term renewal, you push off its expiration for a while, keeping those who jump at the chance to scoop up expired domains at bay.

Remember, your domain name is an extension of your business and your brand of product or service.

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