What is a domain name?

Your identity is known as a domain in the vast Internet world. A domain name is an online address your target audience search to easily find you. This name should be unique and relative to what you are or do, or your business.

A domain name plants a stake in the ground for your brand. They are just like real estates in the Internet. When you buy a domain, you are taking it off the market so that nobody else can use it.

A domain name can be any combination of letters and numbers, and it can be used in combination of the various domain name extensions, such as .com, .net, .org, .biz, .info and many more. Every domain name is unique and must be registered before it can be used.

HOW DO YOU REGISTER A DOMAIN NAME?

Anyone can register a domain name and getting it is cheap and easy. Domain names come with a huge variety of different extensions and they only take a few minutes to register.

Firstly, do a quick research on your preferred domain name to make sure it is not already taken. There are many available websites and online tools to help you with this. Once you have ensured that your preferred domain name is available to use, find a registrar or a provider who can help you with the registration. There are lots of reputable providers from which to pick. One of my personal favourite provider is Pump IT Solution. Registration fee can be as low as $23 per year.

During the registration process, the registrant will be asked to provide the contact and technical details which will then be submitted to the central registry so that other computers on the Internet can look-up the necessary information to find your website.

CHOOSING A DOMAIN NAME

Your domain name is more than an online address. It is your online identity and the public face of your brand. It is important to choose a domain name that suits you best.

For example, Bob is selling burgers. He decided to expand his business further and set his presence in the Internet world. He intends to set up an online store or e-commerce website for his burger business. Therefore, he decides to choose “bobsburgers.com” as his domain.

Choosing a domain name is quite straightforward although it needs lot of thought and consideration. It is as similar to choosing a company name. Most companies will choose their company names, brand, products or even their motto as their domain identity, while other Internet users who need an online presence for personal or professional reasons will either use their names or something relative to them as a domain identity. You want to make sure that your domain name is easy to find, promote and fits your business.

PERFECT DOMAIN NAME TIPs

Keep it short
Use Keywords
Choose a domain name that reflects your business, name or brand
Avoid numbers and hyphens
Be memorable
Don’t use words that are easy to misspell
Use an appropriate domain name
Act fast before someone else gets it

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A DOMAIN NAME?

Once you acquire your own domain, you can do anything you want with it. If you are a business owner, you can use it to host your online store or share important information about your products, services or company information with a global customer base. Not only that, it helps your overall branding exposure to your customers and soon to be customers. Having domain names even helps businesses to protect their brands against people running scams by using your name or try to sell them to you for a higher price.

It is recommended to have several extensions of your domain name so that nobody can start to use them. Domain names are so affordable so it is a wise investment to make.

If you are an individual, you can create a digital home base that you can use to communicate with friends, use it for blogging, put up your resume online and many more. Best of all you can even use it to set up your own custom email with your own domain name. For example me@yourname.com

How cool is that!

Here are some cool stuff you can do with your domain name;

Website
E-commerce
Online resumes
Virtual business cards
Blogs
Picture gallery
Online file storage space
Custom Email Address

For both individual and businesses, having a domain lends credibility and makes them appear more established and professional. Remember, your domain name is a huge part of your branding. However, domain name you pick today does not have to be the one you stick with forever. You can always get a new one and change it along the way. It’s all a part of an on-going branding effort.

What is a domain name?