How to I choose the right domain name?

How do I know if the name I want is available?

How do I register a domain name?

Do I really need to know all of this stuff?

When you have a web site hosted, it will be housed on a remote server (computer), and will have an address consisting of a series of numbers (such as 66.218.71.198). Since memorizing number addresses for all your favorite web sites would be virtually impossible (unless your're a savant), domain names were invented to help humans remember the addresses.

However, when you type a web address into your browser (such as www.tejadadesign.com), how does it know where to go? Your browser requests assistance from a Domain Name Server (DNS), which is maintained by your Internet Service Provider. The browser sends a request for tejadaphoto.com to the DNS server, which then returns the IP address 66.218.71.198. Finally, the browser connects to that IP address and displays the requested site. This all takes place in the blink of an I (Internet).

You may be wondering how the DNS server knows the numerical address of a particular web site. The answer is that it doesn't, but it knows where to find out. Each domain name is associated with an Authoritative Domain Name Server. The Authoritative server maintains the physical IP addresses of the domain names that it manages. When a DNS server receives a request, it forwards it to the Authoritative server which returns the actual IP address.

These are the basics. Do you want to know more? Visit the article on DNS servers at http://www.howstuffworks.com/dns.htm

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Finding an appropriate name for your site depends on what you are trying to accomplish. For an established business or a business using a family name, it would be best to stick to something that matches your business name as closely as possible so your life-long customers can find you easily. For a new business or a personal web site, you can be a little more creative. If a domain name is not available, you may consider finding something that is similar to what you want and even changing the proposed name of your business to match!

In any case, here are a few general guidelines:

• Do use words that are short, easy to remember and easy to type.
• Do use words that represent your products and services.
• Do not use words that are easily misspelled.
• Do make sure that common misspellings and typos don't lead to a competitor.
• Do not use initials, dashes and abbreviations unless absolutely necessary.

Before registering your name, it's important to think about how you will market your site. If you plan to promote your site primarily through print materials such as brochures and business cards, users will have to manually type the address into their browser. In this case, it's very important that the name be short and hard to misspell. If you plan to use outdoor advertising such as billboards or car magnets, the most important factor is that your name is easy to remember. You should try to keep your name less than three words--longer names often look unprofessional.

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Any domain registrar you choose will have a way for you to check whether a name is available, and if it is not, who owns it and when their ownership is up for renewal or will expire (http://www.whois.net/). A domain registrar I am fond of, GoDaddy, has a very convenient process where you type in a name that you want, and it will let you know whether that name or the name with other extensions (.org, .net, etc.). Verio has a function that will actually help you find a domain name if you type in keywords (click here, go to the bottom of the page to "We can help you....").

If your .com name is not available, you often have the choice of using a different extension, such as .net, .org, .net. This could be an alternative if you really, really want to have a specific domain name that is not available as a "dot com" name. Personally, I prefer to work harder at finding a "dot com" extension, because most people still assume that is the extension on a web site they are seeking. You don't want to send people to your competition, or give up in frustration when they type in the wrong web address and can't find you!

Curious about what all the extensions stand for? There is an excellent explantion to be found at theWHIR.

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If you have already decided who you want your web hosting company to be, they will most likely offer domain registration as a convenience--one stop shopping--for you. However, this is not always the most economical way to go. Many web hosting companies charge $20.00 a year or more to register domain names (you are only "renting" your domain name, not purchasing it outright, and will have to renew this license regularly).

If you find an extremely cheap, new or unproven registrar, please make sure they are ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) certified. ICANN is responsible for managing and coordinating the Domain Name System (DNS) to ensure that every address is unique and that all users of the Internet can find all valid addresses. It does this by overseeing the distribution of unique IP addresses and domain names. It also ensures that each domain name maps to the correct IP address. If the registrar is ICANN certified, they will most likely display this information on their home page. If the information is not displayed, there is a list of ICANN-registered companies at http://www.internic.net/regist.html .

I have been registering domain names with GoDaddy for two years now, and so far they have proven themselves to be not only economical, but dependable and very quick to respond to support requests--something very valuable on the Internet! Their standard price for .com names is $8.95 a year (if you register for 10 years it drops down to $6.95 a year), and they often have sales and specials.

Regardless of where you register your domain name, you can have it hosted any where you like by changing the DNS servers (which should not cost you anything). For instance, GoDaddy could be the registrar for your domain name, but you can still have you web site hosted with Globat or Earthlink or any other host of your choice.

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Of course not! This page is provided merely for the curious folk. You can make things easier on yourself and let me register your domain name. I'll handle the registration and technical stuff. If you have any other questions, please email or call me (303-346-1525) and I'll answer them if I can. Your question may even be added to this domain name faq!

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