| Whatever business you are in, if you want to have a | | | | over to the registrar, type in your keyword into the |
| presence online, the first thing you need is a domain | | | | search box, and if the chosen name is available, you |
| name. Domains are the bedrock of the internet, the | | | | just have to pay for it. You never really "own" a |
| way you access websites, a powerful marketing tool, | | | | domain name. Rather, you register or 'lease' it for a |
| and the right domain can make it 10 times easier to | | | | period between 1 to 10 years. If you fail to renew it |
| rank high on search engine and even attract natural | | | | after this period, the name will go back into the pool |
| type-in traffic. The first step, however, is to register | | | | of names that are free to register. That is why most |
| the domain name. | | | | registrars will recommend that you auto-renew your |
| A domain is made up of the main domain name plus | | | | names in case you forget to renew them at the end |
| the extension. In some cases, there is an additional | | | | of the registration period. |
| country code. For instance, in the name Cigars.com, | | | | Often, you will find that the name you want has |
| "Cigars" is the domain name, while ".com" is the | | | | already been registered by someone else. In that |
| extension. On the other hand, in a name such as | | | | case, you can either pick an alternate name, or buy |
| Cigars.org.in, ".org" is the extension and ".in" (country | | | | the original from the owner. By buying, you simply |
| code for India) is the country code. | | | | take up his registration or 'lease'. Buying domains is a |
| You can register domains at a domain registrar. A | | | | big business with millions of dollars spent on it by big |
| registrar basically reserves your name with the | | | | companies and individuals alike. |
| registry, which is run by Verizon. There are hundreds | | | | Domains are the gateway to the internet, its |
| of registrars on the internet, but the most popular | | | | founding stones, and excellent branding tools. Choose |
| ones are GoDaddy (the largest), eNom (the second | | | | your name wisely for it becomes the gatekeeper of |
| largest), Moniker, and NetworkSolutions. | | | | your identity online. |
| Registering a domain name is easy. You simply head | | | | |