Whether or not you really need a domain name will depend on your
best case scenario.
If your ultimate goal is just to have a place
for the latest round of family photos, your resumé or the neat links you've
collected, you probably don't need to spend money on a domain name.
Even if you want a short and sweet uRL to pass on to your friends,
there's still a way around actually paying for it. It's called a uRL
redirection service.This type of service allows people to type in a short
uRL that takes automatically takes them to a longer uRL.
If you'd like to eventually build your site into
a beehive of worldwide activity, a domain name would be a smart investment. Domain
names ending in "com" are your best bet, since most Web surfers are
in the habit of typing "com" after everything. You'll want to make sure
that the name you want isn't already taken. Be safe and use Internic's official
WHOIS database to check.
The companies that register domain names are called registrars.
There are many and they offer a wide range of pricing plans and options. There
are also companies that buy registrations in bulk from registrars, then resell
them. These are called resellers. To find out if a company is a reseller or a
registrar, you can look them up in the ICANN-Accredited
Registrars list.
Keep in mind that the lowest price isn't always the best deal.
The wording of your contract can be crucial to your website's future, so read
it carefully. Ease of use is also an important factor. Check ahead to what's required,
for instance, to update your registrant information. You may want to use a registrar
based in your country, just in case you ever have to call their offices.
When you register a domain name, you'll be required to provide
your name, address, phone number, email address and other information. This information
will be made available to anyone who wants to look it up. Some people may have
good reason to want to keep their information private. For them, there are some
acceptable ways to protect that informaton:
If you
don't have a separate business address, consider renting a post office box.
You can
use a web-based email address that forwards messages on to your primary email
address. (Keep it active! This is your registrar's primary means of contacting
you.)
Your administrative
contact should be your hosting service.
Fax numbers
are optional.
If you're going to sign up with a paid
hosting service (providers of space for your site), they will register your
domain for you. While this makes the process painless, make sure that the registrar
they use is one you'll be happy with.
If your intent is to be a commercial site, then having "keywords"
in your domain name can be important. Keywords are words that people might type
in at a search engine to find your site. Having those keywords in your domain
name gives you a higher ranking in many search engines.
If it seems like every domain name you want is already taken,
it's time to either come up with a more unusual name or to look to domain
brokers. These handle the sale of domains that have already been registered.
Most listings invite you to make an offer. Don't be shy about starting low.
When you purchase a domain name from a broker, remember that it's
already attached to a registrar. If there are problems with that registrar, you
may have to transfer the domain elsewhere, and that costs money. Your best bet
is to research the registrar in advance of your purchase. Try searching the newsgroups
to see what others have to say about the company.
