Domain Name Registration
No matter what the nature of your business is, the chances are a fair percentage of your customers will find out about you online. It's imperative for small-business owners to develop an Internet strategy, the first component of which is registering a domain name. Here's how to choose, register, host and renew your domain name in a timely and effective fashion.
How to Choose a Domain Name
A domain name is any combination of letters and numbers followed by .com, .net, .tv, .cc, .biz or other top-level domain designations. A domain name is the kernel of the URL, or Uniform Resource Locator, which takes the form of http://www.gatewaywebs.com. Within this URL, gatewaywebs.com is the domain name.
The majority of companies use .com or .net, but don't let that limit you. If you sell furniture appropriate for a television room, use .tv. If you want a more casual-sounding image, try .biz. Keep in mind that some domain names (such as .edu and .mil) are restricted to specific kinds of organizations and that some of the newer top-level domains (such as .cc) aren't widely familiar.
There are tens of millions of active domain names, which means that it is more difficult than ever to find an appropriate domain name, because your first choice may already be registered by someone else. Fortunately, there are ways that you can make this situation work to your advantage if you can't get yourcompanyname.com.
* Think conceptually. For example, irrigation company Aqua-Tech registered the domain name watermylawn.com. If you offer a specific experience or fulfill a specific need, turn it into an imaginative domain name.
How to Register a Domain Name
In the early days of the Web, individuals and businesses registered their domain names with the registry service Network Solutions, then transferred the hosting rights to a hosting provider. Fortunately, there's no need to deal with two separate parties when registering and hosting your domain name because Network Solutions is no longer the only accredited registrar.
If you go to almost any Web hosting company - such as www.GoDaddy.com or www.lunarpages.com - you'll notice an embedded search box somewhere on the main page that will let you see if the domain name you want is available. If it is, the hosting company can register it for you directly. The hosting company will notify you when the domain name is active, and warn you when it is time to renew.
In addition to the well-known hosting companies, hundreds of others can act as registrants and hosts for your domain name. You can use one of these companies to register a domain name and host the domain on your own server(s). However, few small businesses can afford the costs of hosting their own Web presence, which is almost always handled by a hosting specialist on your behalf.
Note that although hundreds of companies are legally qualified to register a domain name on your behalf, not all are equally reliable. Be certain to research your registration/hosting company of choice before committing to it.