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How does a domain name work?

Many new people to the internet often confuse a domain name with web hosting. Registering a domain with an (ICANN accredited registrar) will not instantaneously cause your Web site to appear when someone enters your domain into the Web browser. You must also upload your Web site (the group of files that make up your site) to a computer (server) that hosts the site and assigns a numeric address, called an IP address, to your domain. Your domain and related IP address are stored in a Whois database with every other registered domain and associated IP address. When visitors enter your domain into a Web browser, your domain works like an address forwarding service by forwarding visitors to the IP address where your Web site is stored. We use domain names instead of IP addresses because most people find it much easier to remember a name rather than a series of numbers. This system also helps businesses online establish a unique identity that creates brand recognition.

However, when you register a domain, you do not always have to create a website and upload the files to your hosting server. You can also:

Sell Your Domain Later. They can be a great investment! If you have registered a domain that you are not using, someone else might want to use it. Depending on where you registered, you can log in to your Account Manager and set up a For Sale parked page for your domain and sell it to the highest bidder. Don't forget to include your contact information.

Protect your identity, and brand online. Obviously, more domains you register, the better. This will help to prevent others from registering a similar domain to yours-just to pilfer away your customers. What can you do with all these names? Forward them to your main domain that way you will capitalize on all the names.

Hold on to it for a while. Perhaps you have a great domain name but you haven't decided what to do with your new domain. Don't worry about it, there's no big rush. You can leave it parked for the length of your registration until you decide.

For new .COM and .NET domains and updates, it can take up to eight hours for the changes to become effective. It can also take up to 48 hours for changes made to all other domain extensions to become effective. This reason is because of the number of networks and agencies involved in the process. These delays apply to all domains and registrars. In many instances the delays aren't nearly this long, but please allow for this delay when planning Web sites or configuring a domain to work with your email.

Tips for registering a domain name

If your preferred domain is obtainable, you can register it for a period of time that you will specify during the checkout process. You can use your domain to build your business and assist you in creating a dynamic online identity. You may also want to seriously consider registering multiple domain names to:

" Keep your competitors from recording a similar domain name that draws customers to them instead of you.

" Promote a specific product and/or service you provide.

" Help to drive more quality traffic to your Web site.

" Create more ways to market to customers, and be listed on various search engines.

" Develop strategies that reach different target markets.

" Give your customers even more ways to find you when searching the Internet.

" Capture common misspellings of your domain name, instead of sending visitors to an error page.

" Safeguard your brand and identity online from others who may have objectionable purposes.

To generate a good name on the web for our site, you will have to do a little research. Choose an authorized domain registrar that is approved by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) the authority that manages the international Domain Name Server database, and ensures that all domain names are unique and map properly to a specific IP address. While selecting the domain registrar scrutinize their trustworthiness through various means, such as their prices, special offers, twenty-four hour support services, etc. You should select only that registrar who is giving you complete control over your domain. There are many registrars who hide some critical information from the customers and secure the rights to some very important settings in a domain such as changing the DNS servers, forwarding, masking, etc.

Brainstorm numerous names, and don't get your heart set on one particular name. In the event that the desired domain name under the TLD you wanted has already been taken, other options are available. Most domain registrars have an intelligent interface that will automatically check to see if the same name is available to register with a different TLD extension like (.net, .org, .biz, .us, .name, .ws, etc.), and offer you the option of registering your preferred name with one of those extensions instead. It is also recommended that name be short if possible. Leave out dashes, dots, things that may confuse customers and certainly does not aid with search engines. Also, give some consideration to purchasing several other similar domain names, based on your individual or business needs, in order to protect your name, your brand, and your identity on the internet. This often helps to prevent others from stealing the identity you have worked so hard to establish. The need to do this will vary depending on your website and its intended purpose.

What if I misspelled my domain when I registered it?

Please be careful when registering your domain and make sure your spelling is correct before you secure a purchase. Unfortunately, registrars are unable to change or edit the spelling of a domain once it has been registered. They try to register the domain exactly as you enter it in the search box. If the registration succeeds, then you are charged, even if the domain you entered was not the one you actually intended to type.

You do have the right of canceling the domain you registered so that it is no longer registered to you. However, canceling it will not entitle you to a refund of any part of your registration fee due to all the processes involved in registering it. Once you cancel the domain it is a permanent action and cannot be undone.

We are committed to providing the general public with up-to-date useful information that will assist in helping to make informed decisions regarding web hosting, domain registration, SSL certification and other services necessary to create a high-quality online presence.

Visit us and get a Get A Great Domain Name Now

So you are ready to start up your online business. And you need to pick out and register a domain name. So how the heck do you go about picking and registering a domain name? Read on and find out.

Picking a domain name can be a nightmare unto itself. I can't tell you how many I went through trying to find one that had not already be taken by someone else. Unfortunately at this point in time it seems like everyone and his brother has jumped on the Internet Bandwagon and registered a domain name. Not to mention the latest craze which is to buy and sell internet real estate, which is, you guessed it, buying and selling domain names.

So what can you do? Well if you have an idea for a name already just head on over to Internic or GoDaddy.com or one of the many other places that do domain name registration and use their search feature to see if the one you want is available.

You really want to try and get one ending in .com. Many people will try and tell you to just go ahead and use .net or one of the new designations that are popping up, but in the long run if you are running a business you want to have a domain name ending in .com.

It's the most recognized by everyone out on the net and really the way you want to go.

It may take you quite a few attempts until you get one you are happy with but you will find one eventually.

So you now you have received that long sought after message, "Congratulations! That name is available"! Now what? Well next you need to decide who you want to host your site. Make sure you are positive before you register. Once you do you are stuck with it for at least the next 60 days. The law is set up so that once you choose a place to host your domain you must remain with them for 60 days before you can transfer to another hosting provider.

Now many hosting providers will offer a free domain name registration if you opt to have them host your site. So do some research for a bit and locate a hosting company you can be happy with. Compare services, rates, support, etc. You can find a wide array of differences between hosting companies. Ask around to anyone else you know who has their own site and see who their hosting provider is and how the service is.

You really want to make sure about your hosting provider as it can be a pain to switch over to another one once you have your site up and running. It's not impossible but obviously can be a logistical nightmare and one that is easily avoided by doing some research before you jump in and sign up with someone.

So get out there and pick that perfect name, get it registered and get your online business up and running!

To learn more information on this subject and how to actually make money online, head on over to: http://www.iloveworkingontheweb.com/articlelinksqz.html

Author: Mike Hagerty

I have been working and playing on the web since back in 1995 with my first computer, a Compaq 386, with the "lightning fast" 56k modem, that new fangled windows 95 OS, and my massive 40MB hard drive and omg 16MB of RAM! .....my how times have changed.