| Understanding the domain name is important for the | | | | Some of the generic top level domain names or |
| survival of your internet marketing business. After all, | | | | extensions are: |
| this is the name your business will be identified with. | | | | .com, .biz, .gov, .net, .org, .info, .edu, .biz, .name, .int, |
| So what is a domain name exactly? How does it | | | | .info, .jobs, .tel, .aero, .coop, .root, .arpa, .museum, .pro |
| work and are there any technicalities to it that you | | | | Top level domain names or extensions based on |
| should be aware of? | | | | territory use letters that help define an area, such as |
| What is a domain name? | | | | .uk, .us, .jp, .nz, .eu, .va, .la, etc. |
| A domain name is the term that identifies a website | | | | Second level and third level domain names |
| or a computer online. The domain name is often one | | | | Second level domain names, also called SLDs. An SLD |
| of the components of a URL. The most commonly | | | | is the name found on the left side of the top level |
| used domain names are host names, used often to | | | | domain extension. For example, the domain name |
| replace IP addresses, which are numeric. An | | | | en.wikipedia.org. The second level domain here is |
| alphabetical domain name is much easier to remember | | | | 'wikipedia'. The third level domain is the one found on |
| and find on the Internet or the intranet. | | | | the left side of the second level domain. In this case, |
| Domain names are designed to offer flexibility. A | | | | it is the 'en'. |
| domain name, for example, can be associated with | | | | It is also possible for domain names to have fourth |
| several IP addresses or several domain names may | | | | and fifth levels, depending on the subdomains found |
| be used with just one IP address. This allows a single | | | | therein. |
| server to have several roles at the same time. You | | | | The second level domain usually reflects the name of |
| could, for example, host more than one website | | | | the company or brand, such as or oprah.com, for |
| independently on a single server. Conversely, a single | | | | example. The third level is generally used to indicate a |
| role may also be distributed among several servers | | | | specific host server. So if you have a domain name |
| or a single IP address assigned to multiple servers. | | | | mail.mydomainname.com, your host server in this |
| To illustrate, one server with an IP address of | | | | case is your e-mail server. These days, however, this |
| 123.0.45.167 may manage several sites at once, [ | | | | isn't always accurate. Some subdomains may not |
| Each time a visitor or Web surfer types or searches | | | | have a purpose at all. |
| for that particular hostname, he is sent to the site | | | | Uses of domain names |
| itself. | | | | As a beginner in internet marketing, having a domain |
| Generally, a domain name would have its own IP | | | | name is essential to your business. A domain name is |
| address. A domain name is sometimes used | | | | part of a group, company or individual's identity. It is |
| interchangeably with a web address but they are not | | | | used as an address on the World Wide Web, to help |
| technically the same. | | | | find a particular website of a specific company or |
| What is a domain name made of? | | | | person. Without a domain name, it is difficult for a |
| Domain names are made up of the letters of the | | | | beginner in internet marketing to be recognized or |
| alphabet (A to Z) and are case-insensitive. They may | | | | have an identity that will be associated with a |
| also be made up of numbers from 0 to 9 or a | | | | particular product or service. Domain names are very |
| combination of numbers and letters. Sometimes, | | | | important for search engine optimization, brand |
| restrictions may be added, such as a hyphen. | | | | building, promotions and advertising. |
| Top level domain names | | | | Your domain name |
| A top level or first level domain name, also called a | | | | For beginners in internet marketing, finding the right |
| TLD, is the 'ending' to a hostname. This is made up | | | | domain name can be easy or tough, depending on |
| of at least three characters based on a generic code | | | | the brand or company and on what's currently |
| or it could be made up of two characters based on a | | | | available. However, once you have established which |
| territory code. Some top level domain name | | | | domain name to use, have it registered immediately. |
| extensions may also be based on technical and | | | | This will help establish your right to use it and will |
| linguistic subjects, as in the case of .mail, .web, .gal | | | | ensure that it is reserved for you and will not be |
| and .sco. | | | | used by anyone else. |