| No matter what you do a large number of your | | | | Network Solutions, and then transferred the hosting |
| customers will find you through the internet. It is | | | | rights to a hosting provider. Fortunately, Network |
| important for businesses to maintain a good online | | | | Solutions is no longer the only accredited registrar so |
| presence. Here is how to choose, register, host and | | | | the process is easier and shorter. |
| renew your domain name in a timely and effective | | | | If you go to almost any Web hosting company - like |
| fashion. | | | | GoDaddy, SiteGround or Yahoo! Web Hosting - you'll |
| This starts with the name you choose for the | | | | notice an embedded search box on the main page |
| website. A domain name is any combination of letters | | | | that lets you see if the domain name you want is |
| and numbers followed by .com, .net, .TV, .cc, .biz or | | | | available. If it is, the hosting company can register it |
| other top-level domain designations. It is the kernel of | | | | for you directly. The hosting company notifies you |
| the URL, or Uniform Resource Locator. Within this | | | | when the domain name is active, and warns you |
| URL, is the domain name. | | | | when you need to renew. |
| Most companies use .com or .net, but you can try | | | | There are also hundreds of other companies that act |
| more appropriate names like TV. For furniture for | | | | as registrants and hosts for domain names. You can |
| television rooms or .biz for a more casual image. | | | | use them to register a domain name and host the |
| However, some domain names (i.e. .edu and .mil) are | | | | domain on your own server(s). However, most |
| restricted to specific organizations. Some newer | | | | businesses can't afford the costs of hosting their |
| top-level domains (such as .cc) are not widely familiar. | | | | own Web presence, which is usually handled by a |
| There are millions of active domain names which | | | | hosting specialist on your behalf. |
| presents a problem as your ideal name may have | | | | Note that there are unreliable companies among the |
| already been registered. Fortunately, there are ways | | | | hundreds of companies legally qualified to register a |
| that you can make this situation work if you can't | | | | domain name on your behalf. Be certain to research |
| get | | | | your registration/hosting company of choice before |
| 1) Conceptualize: The irrigation company Aqua-Tech | | | | committing to it. |
| registered If you offer or fulfill a specific experience | | | | Renewing Your Domain Name |
| or need, turn it into an imaginative domain name. | | | | Renewing your domain name is NOT trivial. Failing to |
| 2) Add words. The Spencer Company, an office | | | | renew your domain name, can result in a takeover |
| furniture and accessories business, owns Adding | | | | by someone. There is nothing as frustrating as |
| "buy" or "try" before your domain name makes it | | | | watching an Internet squatter hijack your domain |
| more unique and | | | | name because you were too distracted to renew it. |
| A domain name suggestion service such as the one | | | | Thankfully, it's easy to prevent problem by instructing |
| VeriSign offers may be another solution. You feed in | | | | your hosting company to automatically renew your |
| service keywords (including your business name and | | | | domain name every year. Despite this, know when |
| other important business concepts) and it | | | | your domain name registration expires, and remain |
| automatically offers domain name suggestions. | | | | extra vigilant at this time. |
| Registering a Domain Name | | | | Making your domain name a company trademark or |
| In earlier Web days, individuals and businesses | | | | otherwise protected intellectual property, means you'll |
| registered domain names with the registry service | | | | be less susceptible to domain name hijacking. |