Domain name - how to choose and get one for your business?
What is a domain name and how does it affect your business? Simply put, a domain name is an address on the Internet or World Wide Web that surfers use to access your web site. Excellent examples of domain names are Yahoo.com, Google.com, Pilipiinas.PH and yes, MagNegosyo.com, too! Anyway, here is a definition of domain names from Wikipedia.
The term domain name has multiple related meanings:
- A name that identifies a computer or computers on the internet. These names appear as a component of a Web site’s URL, e.g. wikipedia.org. This type of domain name is also called a hostname.
- The product that domain name registrars provide to their customers. These names are often called registered domain names.
- Names used for other purposes in the Domain Name System (DNS), for example the special name which follows the @ sign in an email address, or the Top-level domains like .com, or the names used by the Session Initiation Protocol (VoIP), or DomainKeys.
They are sometimes colloquially (and incorrectly) referred to by marketers as “web addresses”.
Ok, so now you know what a domain name is. And you want ONE! Whether for yourself, your hobby or your business - how and where can you get your own domain name? And for business minded people - how do you choose a domain name for your business. And for opportunistic investors - what’s all these talk about domain names selling for millions? Here goes.
Domain names are purchased and registered at Domain Name Registrars, these are companies authorized by the ICANN. There are Top Level Domain (TLD) names and Country Level Domain names for which the country’s authorized body is the one in charge. Anyway, you don’t really need to know this if all you want is to purchase a domain name. Below are reliable domain name registrars:
- 1and1.com domain names at $6 per year
- Aplus.net domain names at $7 per year
- Yahoo domains at $10 per year
- Network Solutions domain names at $35 per year
- Register.com domain names at $35 per year
Flush with country pride? Then get a Philippines country level domain names with .PH and .COM.Ph extensions - these are registered with Names.PH at $35 per year.
OK, so now you know where to register your desired domain names, but HOW do you choose a domain name to register? Here are a few thoughts which you can also refer to as guidelines:
- do you have a business which is a duly registered company or corporation? Then use your business name for your domain name. If your business is “Sonny’s Bake Shop” you may want to register SonnysBakeShop.com
- do you have a specific product or brand (which I hope you secured copyright and IP for) - for example, if Sonny had a product called “Super Brownies” and they are selling like hotcakes - he might want to secure SuperBrownies.com (oops, taken - not available anymore!)
- Aside from the company name and brand, domain name selection can also use generic terms of the products and services you’re selling, why? I’d explain but here’s a quote…
Say you buy Papercups.com. You may have no intention of selling paper cups, but because the name is so descriptive, chances are it will soar to the top of a Google search stack. (Forbes)
Well, hope you find this short business tip on Internet domain names a tad helpful. Should you have any questions, feel free to send your questins via the comment form on this article and we’ll try to answer your query.
see: related articles on Mag Negosyo Setting up an online business things to remember
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