What is a Domain Name?
A domain name is an easy-to-remember, common-language name that, once properly registered and configured, points to a particular computer (a server) on which an individual or organization stores files that they wish to make accessible over the Internet. In most cases, those files collectively constitute a website that is intended to be viewable by anyone with an Internet-connected computer.
A domain name allows individuals to access a website by typing an easy-to-remember phrase into a web browser, rather than the server's all-numeric IP address.
The World Wide Web is the most efficient communications medium in the history of humankind. For as little as pennies a day, you can reach the world with your message, whether that message be commercial, artistic, musical, inspirational—or virtually anything else, for that matter. And your first step toward harnessing the power of this medium is to register a domain name.
Becoming a Dot-Something
Registering a domain name is very easy. What's hard is thinking up a good one that isn't already being used. Here are some important points to consider:
- Ideally, your domain name should be short, catchy, easy-to-remember, and at least somewhat descriptive of you, your company, or whatever it is that the domain will represent.
- You should avoid domain names that infringe on registered trademarks (unless you enjoy spending time in court), as well as those whose meanings may be easily misconstrued.
- If the domain name you are considering is already in use under a different TLD, you may want to consider another. At the very least, check out what will come up if someone types the domain with the other TLD instead of the one you are considering
Top-Level Domains
A top-level domain (or TLD) is the right-most label in a domain name. In other words, it's the letters that follow the dot in .com, .net, .biz, and so forth. (So for next-design.com, the TLD is .com.)
Several new unrestricted TLD's have been added such as .biz (businesses), .us (a generic TLD restricted to United States citizens and organizations with a bona fide presence in the United States), and .info (intended for informational sites, but unrestricted).
So which TLD is the best?
Well, for businesses, .com is still considered the most prestigious TLD. Even people who don't own a computer know what .com means. But if the domain name you would like isn't available in .com, consider one of the other TLD's, like .biz, .net, or .us. Many businesses also own the same domain name in multiple TLD's. For example, tesla-pc.com owns domain names in the .com and.net TLD's, as well as variations like teslapc.net. No matter which one you type in your browser, you will wind up here. (We still use .com as our primary domain out of tradition, because it was the first one we registered.)
If you are an individual who simply wants a personal, non-commercial site to post pictures you've taken with your new digital camera, then any of the unrestricted TLD's will likely do just fine.
Contact us today for a free consultation.
Abridged and reprinted, with permission, from Geek on the Run
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