Domain Names - What You Need To Know
A Domain name is a name that identifies a particular website, technically speaking, one or more IP addresses and is used in URLs to identify particular Web pages.
It is important that you choose a a name that will help identify what your website does or is about! Here are three rules to keep in mind when choosing a domain name:
- It should be relevant (to your site);
- It should be memorable: a short word or phrase; and
- it should not contain any trademarked terms or phrases for which you could be later sued!
Type of domain name - extensions
Generally, you will want to use .com for your web business, but sometimes one of the others is a better fit.
- .com - commercial business
- .edu - educational institution
- .gov - government agency
- info - informational, non-commercial websites
- .org - organizations (non-profit)
- .mil - military
- .mobi - websites for mobile devices, like smartphones
- .net - network organizations
- .us - United States
- .co.ca - Canada
- co.uk - the United Kingdom
- .XX - there are 2 letter combinations for almost every country in the world, but you usually must be a resident of the country to obtain a name with that extension
Registering your chosen domain name
After picking a name, you need to register it through an official ICANN-certified domain name registrar. The prices vary: currently, our top choice is 1and1.com.
Another good registrar is cheap-domainregistration.com
Some web hosting companies will register the name for you, either included in their hosting plans as a free service, or for a fee. Be sure that you own the domain name the web host gives you; that you can continue using it, even if you change hosts later.
Just to provide a number of alternatives; here is our top 7 best value and performance domain registrar list:
-
1and1.com -
by far, the best value and lowest prices!
- GoDaddy.com - good, but more expensive than 1and1.com. Becoming less competitive. Occasionally there are discount codes: Enter the promotion code "Alex" or "DIIG" to get a discount; the latter 10%! If these codes don't work, try this page for the current set!
- cheap-domainregistration.com - very similar to GoDaddy. Slightly more expensive than GoDaddy.
- AIT Domains - ICANN-accredited registrar, charges $7.99 per domain per year.
- GKG.net - Charges $10 per domain per year. Free Parking.
- Joker - German company,$10.50 ($12 inc. VAT).
- Registry at Info Avenue - Ranges from $13 to $24 per domain per year. They have a partner program for multiple registrations. Free parking.
- ItsYourDomain $15 per domain per year. reliable, easy to use, but not the cheapest for the same service.
Typical Domain Name Pricing
This is just a snapshot from one registrar, merely t give you an idea. Dated February 2009.
|
Extension |
1 year |
2 year |
5 year |
10 year |
|
.com* |
$9.99 |
$9.99 |
$9.99 |
$9.99 |
|
.net* |
$9.99 |
$9.99 |
$9.99 |
$9.99 |
|
.org* |
$9.99 |
$9.99 |
$9.99 |
$9.99 |
|
NEW! |
N/A |
$19.99 |
$19.99 |
$19.99 |
|
NEW! .mobi* |
$14.99 |
$14.99 |
$14.99 |
$14.99 |
|
.biz* |
$8.99 |
$8.99 |
$8.99 |
$8.99 |
|
SALE! |
$1.99 |
$4.99 |
$5.99 |
$7.39 |
|
.us |
$9.99 |
$9.99 |
$9.99 |
$9.99 |
|
SALE! |
$19.99 |
$19.99 |
$19.99 |
$19.99 |
|
.ws |
$10.75 |
$9.88 |
$9.55 |
$9.05 |
|
.name* |
$8.75 |
$8.74 |
$8.74 |
$8.74 |
|
.co.uk |
N/A |
$19.98 |
N/A |
N/A |
