Domain Name Basics

What is a Domain Name?

A domain name (sometimes erroneously called a URL) uniquely identifies a website. It is a name that allows others on the Internet to easily find your website, (i.e., YouBuildwebsites.com and IloveXSitepro.com are both domain names). Your domain name is how the rest of world finds you on the Internet (also called the World Wide Web).  

How Does a Person Go About Owning a Domain Name?

There are three basic ways:

1. Purchase a domain name through a Registrar
   These are companies such as Godaddy.com, 1and1.com and others. If the domain name you have chosen is available, the registrar will register the domain name in your name, making it unavailable for anyone else to legally sell, purchase, access or control it without your permission. This process is called registering a domain name.
2. Purchase a Domain Name Through a Domain Name Broker                            These companies usually own (register) hundreds or thousands of domain names and market them to the public at whatever price the market will bear. They also serve as brokers for domain name owners for a fee.
3. Purchase a Domain Name Through a Domain Name Investor                       These are individuals who invest in domain names and markets them until they find a buyer.  

The Domain Name I Want Is Already Registered, Now What?

When the domain name you desire is already registered, you may be able to purchase it from the current registered owner. You can find out who owns it, by performing a WHOIS search and e-mailing the person about the possibility of selling it. In many cases, with these domain names, you will pay a premium due to the fact that the name is no longer available on the open market.

The Anatomy Of A Domain Name
A domain name is broken down into two parts. Let's use www.Fabulouslawns.com as an example:

1. The first part, "Fabulouslawns"
   This is the unique part of the domain name that represents your: company, product, service, vision, subject matter or brand name. It is how you will be known and branded on the web. In this example, everyone can see that this domain name is about lawns.
2. The second part ".com" is called, “the extension”
   In this example the extension is ".com." Other popular extensions are .net, .org, .biz, .mobi and .gov. Studies have shown that the average person automatically types in .com after any domain, making it the more popular extension.

What Do The Different Domain Name Extensions Mean?

• .COM — Abbreviation of "Commerce" — currently available to all
• .NET — Abbreviation of "Network" — currently available to all
• .ORG — Abbreviation of "Organization" — currently available to all
• .INFO — Abbreviation of "Information" — currently available to all
• .BIZ — Abbreviation of "Business" — currently available to all
• .GOV — Abbreviation of "Government" — reserved for government institutions
• .EDU — Abbreviation of "Education" — reserved for educational institutions

As the Internet grows, more and more extensions will be added. For example, the .asia, extension went live on March 26, 2008. If you got in on the rush to grab up the popular names, you will make a mint.

How Many Characters Can a Domain Name Have?

Currently you can register domain names up to 67 characters in length (including the period and extension). Be advised; the longer the domain name, the more likely it will be that someone will miss type it. Try to keep your domain name short and easy to remember. Many search engines will give your domain name greater relevancy during a search if your domain name contains some or all of the words, which someone is searching for.

Can Spaces Be Used in a Domain Name?

The answer is, “NO!” All domain names must conform to domain name standards set forth by ICANN.

Can Hyphens Be Used in a Domain Name?

The answer is, “Yes!” However, hyphenated domain names don’t bode well for offline advertising such as television, radio, newspaper, etc.

Can Numbers Be Used in a Domain Name?

The answer is, “Yes!” However, domain names combined with numbers fall into the same rule as hyphenated domain names; they don’t bode well for offline advertising such as television, radio, newspaper, etc.  

To Your Success

Joe Elliot - YouBuildWebsites.com

Better known as “Average Joe”
I’m Not an Internet Guru