| How does a domain name work? | | | | provide. |
| Many new people to the internet often confuse a | | | | " Help to drive more quality traffic to your Web site. |
| domain name with web hosting. Registering a domain | | | | " Create more ways to market to customers, and be |
| with an (ICANN accredited registrar) will not | | | | listed on various search engines. |
| instantaneously cause your Web site to appear when | | | | " Develop strategies that reach different target |
| someone enters your domain into the Web browser. | | | | markets. |
| You must also upload your Web site (the group of | | | | " Give your customers even more ways to find you |
| files that make up your site) to a computer (server) | | | | when searching the Internet. |
| that hosts the site and assigns a numeric address, | | | | " Capture common misspellings of your domain name, |
| called an IP address, to your domain. Your domain | | | | instead of sending visitors to an error page. |
| and related IP address are stored in a Whois | | | | " Safeguard your brand and identity online from |
| database with every other registered domain and | | | | others who may have objectionable purposes. |
| associated IP address. When visitors enter your | | | | To generate a good name on the web for our site, |
| domain into a Web browser, your domain works like | | | | you will have to do a little research. Choose an |
| an address forwarding service by forwarding visitors | | | | authorized domain registrar that is approved by |
| to the IP address where your Web site is stored. | | | | ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and |
| We use domain names instead of IP addresses | | | | Numbers) the authority that manages the |
| because most people find it much easier to | | | | international Domain Name Server database, and |
| remember a name rather than a series of numbers. | | | | ensures that all domain names are unique and map |
| This system also helps businesses online establish a | | | | properly to a specific IP address. While selecting the |
| unique identity that creates brand recognition. | | | | domain registrar scrutinize their trustworthiness |
| However, when you register a domain, you do not | | | | through various means, such as their prices, special |
| always have to create a website and upload the files | | | | offers, twenty-four hour support services, etc. You |
| to your hosting server. You can also: | | | | should select only that registrar who is giving you |
| Sell Your Domain Later. They can be a great | | | | complete control over your domain. There are many |
| investment! If you have registered a domain that you | | | | registrars who hide some critical information from the |
| are not using, someone else might want to use it. | | | | customers and secure the rights to some very |
| Depending on where you registered, you can log in | | | | important settings in a domain such as changing the |
| to your Account Manager and set up a For Sale | | | | DNS servers, forwarding, masking, etc. |
| parked page for your domain and sell it to the | | | | Brainstorm numerous names, and don't get your |
| highest bidder. Don't forget to include your contact | | | | heart set on one particular name. In the event that |
| information. | | | | the desired domain name under the TLD you wanted |
| Protect your identity, and brand online. Obviously, | | | | has already been taken, other options are available. |
| more domains you register, the better. This will help | | | | Most domain registrars have an intelligent interface |
| to prevent others from registering a similar domain to | | | | that will automatically check to see if the same name |
| yours-just to pilfer away your customers. What can | | | | is available to register with a different TLD extension |
| you do with all these names? Forward them to your | | | | like (.net, .org, .biz, .us, .name, .ws, etc.), and offer |
| main domain that way you will capitalize on all the | | | | you the option of registering your preferred name |
| names. | | | | with one of those extensions instead. It is also |
| Hold on to it for a while. Perhaps you have a great | | | | recommended that name be short if possible. Leave |
| domain name but you haven't decided what to do | | | | out dashes, dots, things that may confuse customers |
| with your new domain. Don't worry about it, there's | | | | and certainly does not aid with search engines. Also, |
| no big rush. You can leave it parked for the length of | | | | give some consideration to purchasing several other |
| your registration until you decide. | | | | similar domain names, based on your individual or |
| For new .COM and .NET domains and updates, it can | | | | business needs, in order to protect your name, your |
| take up to eight hours for the changes to become | | | | brand, and your identity on the internet. This often |
| effective. It can also take up to 48 hours for | | | | helps to prevent others from stealing the identity |
| changes made to all other domain extensions to | | | | you have worked so hard to establish. The need to |
| become effective. This reason is because of the | | | | do this will vary depending on your website and its |
| number of networks and agencies involved in the | | | | intended purpose. |
| process. These delays apply to all domains and | | | | What if I misspelled my domain when I registered it? |
| registrars. In many instances the delays aren't nearly | | | | Please be careful when registering your domain and |
| this long, but please allow for this delay when planning | | | | make sure your spelling is correct before you secure |
| Web sites or configuring a domain to work with your | | | | a purchase. Unfortunately, registrars are unable to |
| email. | | | | change or edit the spelling of a domain once it has |
| Tips for registering a domain name | | | | been registered. They try to register the domain |
| If your preferred domain is obtainable, you can | | | | exactly as you enter it in the search box. If the |
| register it for a period of time that you will specify | | | | registration succeeds, then you are charged, even if |
| during the checkout process. You can use your | | | | the domain you entered was not the one you |
| domain to build your business and assist you in | | | | actually intended to type. |
| creating a dynamic online identity. You may also want | | | | You do have the right of canceling the domain you |
| to seriously consider registering multiple domain | | | | registered so that it is no longer registered to you. |
| names to: | | | | However, canceling it will not entitle you to a refund |
| " Keep your competitors from recording a similar | | | | of any part of your registration fee due to all the |
| domain name that draws customers to them instead | | | | processes involved in registering it. Once you cancel |
| of you. | | | | the domain it is a permanent action and cannot be |
| " Promote a specific product and/or service you | | | | undone. |