| To successfully sell online, you require a domain | | | | As a business, you need to register your own domain |
| name; this is literally your website home in the World | | | | name. An extension name such as the one in my |
| Wide Web. It's the domain name that gives your | | | | example makes you look like an amateur and will lose |
| ecommerce store an internet address. Domain names | | | | you business. Also, with an extension domain name, |
| as specified under the DNS (Domain Name System) | | | | every time you change your ISP or Web Host, you |
| are made up of four elements namely: (a) server | | | | will have to redo all your business cards and |
| prefix (b) Domain Suffix (the extension), (c) Domain | | | | promotion materials. |
| name, (d) Country code - this is the optional element. | | | | Domain names matter |
| "www" is known as the server prefix, the middle | | | | Just as when you originally named your business, |
| part that identifies your website is known as the | | | | names on the Net matter. You need a domain name |
| domain name and the "com" extension is the domain | | | | that not only identifies your business but is easy to |
| suffix. | | | | remember, as so many people type names or partial |
| Domain names are also classified according to the | | | | names into search engines to find the site they're |
| Domain suffix, in this case the "Dot-Com", in these | | | | looking for. |
| category we have Top Level Domain (TLD), generic | | | | The problem, of course, is that so many of the best |
| Top Level Domain (gTLD) and Country code To | | | | or most obvious names are taken. You may need to |
| Level Domain (ccTLC). There are currently 239 | | | | think deeply and explore many different possibilities |
| country top level domains in Existence. You can tell a | | | | to come up with a good domain name, unless you |
| ccTLD because the domain suffix identifies the | | | | are already running an established company off-line |
| country domain. I.e. Philippines ccTLD is dot.ph | | | | and are just giving your established business an online |
| Here are a few points to keep in mind about DNS for | | | | home. (In that case, the name of your established |
| business | | | | company is your best choice of domain name for |
| You have to register your own domain name | | | | your online business - if it's not already taken.) |
| If you can't afford a domain of your choice or it's | | | | If you are marketing a product or service |
| already taken, then you have the choice of | | | | internationally, you may wish to register your online |
| registering your domain through ISPs or web hosts | | | | business as a dot-com (or a dot-biz or whatever |
| who offer cut rate services by making your domain | | | | other generic Top Level Domain is appropriate). |
| name an extension of their. Say for instance the web | | | | Many people who remember a business's name try |
| host's domain is "cheapdomainserve", when you | | | | to access the business's site on the Web by typing a |
| register with them your domain could look something | | | | name directly into their browser, and dot com is |
| like www dot cheapdomainserve/geryshop/index dot | | | | most people's first "guess" as to what a domain |
| html. | | | | name might be. |