Why Domain Names Are Important

For your website to have a unique identity, a domain name is essential. The domain name has to be unique to ensure that no two parties hold the same domain name as this can create a problem and will defeat the purpose of building your brand identity. Your domain name is not only your identity but your online business card as well. Unfortunately, there are people who do not give importance to their domain name without realising that doing so will also result in losing their whole online identity.

It is easy to lose your domain name if you do not understand how it works. Technically, a domain name is used for identifying and finding computers on the Internet. Since computers use Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, a series of numbers are used for identification purposes. Since there are many IP addresses out there, domain names are created to form an identity unique to each website. Without a domain name, your web address will be translated into IP numbers. Imagine the ordeal of remembering a series of numbers.

Choosing a domain name

A word or phrase is used as a domain name. When it comes to exploring some possible options, it is essential to think of catchy phrases or words that potential customers can easily remember and will bring traffic to the site. As much as possible, use a domain name that represents your website. For instance, if you are a web developer, your domain name should be relevant to the product and service you are offering.

Keeping your domain name short is also recommended. Stick to 5 to 20 characters so it is easy to remember. Aside from keeping it short, ensuring that domain names are spelled correctly will also help you to avoid brand problems.

How do you obtain a domain name?

You can get a domain name in two ways: 1.)register the domain name yourself; 2.)get your web host service provider to register the domain name for you.

If you prefer to register a domain name yourself, choosing a Registrar will be the first step. Choosing from hundreds of registrars can be tricky and some of them may even offer a low yearly fee. If you choose to have a web host register the domain name for you, the provider will have their own approved registrar. Since providers are doing this process many times, the essential information they need are already available. The process can save time and effort.

Why register?

Private registration is encouraged to keep unsolicited e-mails and phone calls at bay. Registering a domain without private registration will make your information accessible to the public and  you can become a likely target of companies sending unsolicited mails, e-mails and phone calls.