Domain Names 101
September 16, 2009 by Web Hosting Watch
Filed under Domain Registrations
Somehow you’ve found your way to the internet, and if you’re
reading this article, then you are one step closer to
registering your first domain name. Whether you’re looking to
register a name for a personal blog, or for your online
business, the right domain name can mean the difference between
success and failure.
Once you are familiar with the basics, you will feel confident
enough to make a sensible decision, and find the best domain
name solution for your specific needs.
What is a domain name? The best way to understand the
concept of a domain name is to think of it as a mask, or the
alphanumeric equivalent of an ip address. This mask allows you
to access web pages on the internet in an easy to remember way.
For example the domain name for this site is
is a lot easier to remember than something that looks like
24.195.85.161, which is what the ip address that the domain name
is masking. Your domain name will essentially become your online
identity, and how your visitors will be able to find your
website in the endless sea of sites that is the web.
Understanding the parts Now that you have a basic
understanding of what a domain name is, you are ready to
understand the individual parts of the domain name. Again we
will use
example. The www stands for “world wide web” which encompasses
all things accessible on the internet. The second part, which is
the part where some minor creativity will help, is the domain
name – in our example, this would be domainbash. This, more
often times than not, is also the name of your website, or
business. Last, we have the TLD – Top Level Domain, or the
extension. There are various extensions available for your
consideration.
TLDs In Depth TLDs can be further broken down into gTLDs
(generic top level domains) and ccTLDs (country code top level
domains).
Generic Top Level Domains gTLDs .aero – airport
industry
.biz – business
.com -
commercial, unrestricted
.coop -cooperatives
.edu – US education
.gov - US government
.info – informational, unrestricted
.mil – US
military
.museum – museums
.name -
individuals
.net – networks,unrestricted
.org – organizations, unrestricted
Country Code Top Level Domains ccTLDs
There are over 240 ccTLDs which correspond to country codes.
Some ccTLDs offer open registration, while others restrict their
usage. Some that offer open registration are .cc – Cocos
(Keeling) Islands, .bz – Belize, and .ws – Western Samoa, to
name just a few. See the full list
top level domain list">here.
Using ccTLDs that are available to you in your area is a good
way to get a quality domain name that suits your website or
business.
Using a ccTLD is no different than using the more popular
gTLDs, and you will have a better chance of obtaining the domain
name you really want, rather than settling for a .com domain
name that is just so-so.
Where should I register my domain?
I have been dealing with domain names for quite some time now,
so I’ve dealt with many domain name registrars. An important
factor that you may not consider right away is how much control
you have over your domain name(s). The key is going with a
company that has a well known reputation. Reputations speak for
themselves. The company you choose should have outstanding
customer support and a simple control panel so that you can
easily control your domain name settings.
For domain name registration, I recommend two companies. 1)
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these companies have outstanding reputations, plus offer the
best control panels I’ve seen. The last thing you want is to be
overwhelmed by your domain name. If it so happens that you don’t
like the registrars I’ve recommended, feel free to do your own
research, and find a company that works for you and your
business.
The Aftermarket
Unless the domain name you want to register is very unique, I
wouldn’t count on it being available for registration using the
..com extension. That’s not to say that it’s not for sale,
however. After you try to register your name, and you find that
has already been registered, go directly to the web address on
the net, and see what’s there. Sometimes there will be a
developed website, sometimes there will be nothing but an error
page, and sometimes you will find that the domain name is for
sale by owner. You can then attempt to contact the current owner
to purchase the domain on the aftermarket.
Domain names are generally more expensive on the aftermarket,
so expect to pay more than you would if you were registering the
domain name through a company like GoDaddy.com. Keep in mind the
domain name market is competitive. The cost can be tremendous
depending on the demand for the name. If you are just starting
out, using an alternative extension would be a better option for
you. Those will a larger budget should seriously consider
investing in their first choice domain name if the option is
available.
Whatever you decide to do, remember that your domain name is
your web presence. You want people to remember your domain name,
and never forget it. Try to choose something that represents
your website or business, while being memorable and pleasant to
say aloud. People tend to forget cumbersome domain names with
too many words. Try to keep it as short as possible, if possible
and let it flow.
I chose DomainBash.com because it related to domain names,
without being restrictive. It is also unique which allows me
trademark or brand the name. Combining a more common keyword, in
this case “domain” with another word that is less commonly used
“bash” is always a good idea if you want to include keywords in
your domain.
If you have any questions relating to this article, and you
still don’t feel prepared to register a domain name, please feel
free to
and I will help you in any way that I can
Getting Cheap Domain Registration
August 31, 2009 by Web Hosting Watch
Filed under Domain Registrations
With the phenomenal growth of the Internet, information access and other communication has been made a simple thing. How information stored in the online world? They are interlinked to form a huge web thus World Wide Web. The way we access this information is by giving particular location or address to our software or in simpler terms, transport. The last part of this address is the domain that has been assigned to that particular section of information or web site.
So what exactly is a domain? A name that is entered into a computer (e.g. as part of a Web site or other URL, or an e-mail address) and then looked up in the global Domain Name System, which informs the computer of the IP address (The exact coded location of the information on the net) with that name.
Every domain name ends in a top-level domain (TLD) name, which is always either one of a small list of generic names three or more characters, (com, net and org) or a two characters territory code (ca) based on ISO-3166 (there are few exceptions and new codes are integrated case by case). We need to understand that although the I CAN or Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers has the overall management of all the domains. Governments of each country manage all of the domains in each.
Why is it important? Without a domain like dot com, dot net and dot info it is impossible to own web sites and e-mail accounts. People need to purchase and reserve their domain names before they are taken. For example, if you wanted a site who’s address was world.com then you would have to register and reserve that address before some one else took it. When you are reserving the address, remember that you are only reserving the first part. That is world. The last few letters like com net and info are owned by every one as they are assigned by the I CAN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers).
Now that you understand domains, let us look at on how to own one? Earlier, domains were expensive. They still are from some sites. However if you buy wisely, then you can save some big bucks.
First decide if you need a hosting package with your site. If you do so, buying everything together might be a good deal. Look for a good web host provider with all the features you want at a good price. I recommend squarebrothers.com. They are cheep and affordable. They offer a nice package of 25 mb of space and domain for $15 per year.
Now if you just want a domain and want to point it at a free web space provider like fsphost.com and c topcities.com, then you can choose adimeadozen.com or active-domains.com. They offer good rates and reliable features.
How to Appraise a Domain Name’s Value
April 24, 2009 by Web Hosting Watch
Filed under Domain Registrations
Knowing the value of an internet domain name is crucial in today’s business industry. Altough there is no exact formula to appraise a domain, there are a group of things to consider before putting a value to a domain. A majority of people will base their immediate appraisal on TLD extension, word length and keyword popularity but won’t really consider backlinks, brandability or emerging trends part of the equation. There are a few factors that a person must be aware of before they can feel they have thoroughly assessed the domain and attach a valid appraisal amount. The first thing a person can do to is recognize that there are many subtle components that need to be assembled and viewed as a whole to get a comprehensive perspective on the domain. It seems every domainer has their own method used to appraise a domain so I’ve listed a few factors that I feel are necessary in being considered before a domain can be appraised.
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TLD Extension
TLD or Top-Level Domain is the ending extension attached to a domain such as .com, .net or .org. The .com extension is considered the most sought after even though there are other TLD’s that are gaining huge popularity and acceptance. CC’s or Country Codes are also seeing their fair share of registrations.
Name Length
Now that all the 2, 3 and 4 letter .com’s have been registered, the letter count on a domain is fast becoming a huge factor in a domain’s worth. The desire for a short domain is at an all time high and values are steadily climbing due to the limited supply of shorter length domains. Seems shorter names are easier to remember and with that a value increase.
Characters, Numbers and Hyphens
Hyphens integrated between letters are often viewed as separators between keywords. Although there is much dispute whether or not the hyphens negatively impact a domain’s search engine optimization, there is considerable preference that a domain not include anything extra in it’s name. Number digits are beginning to see their popularity rise and can be included with relevant keywords or letters to make a great domain.
Keyword Popularity
Marketable search terms and keyword popularity are extremely relevant in appraising a domain name. The frequency of a given search term helps to indicate the brandability or popularity of the keyword. Generic word domains, such as flowers.com or poker.com are the strongest in their keyword popularity genre.
Traffic and Revenue
Traffic or visitors to a particular domain is one of the most important factors to consider when appraising a domain. More traffic usually means more revenue due to pay-per-click income and possible advertising opportunities, therefore increasing the value of the domain.
Brandability and Trends
Any domain that is easily memorable, short and non-descript is considered brandable and therefore increases it’s value. It would be easier for a person to remember TVrepair.com instead of the longer fix-my-broken-television.com . Not only is the first choice shorter and has better word flow but also there is less of a chance of someone incorrectly typing in the URL. Also keep tuned in to current trends that may seem to increase an otherwise meaningless domain into a treasure. An example is when Apple Computers began to incorporate the letter i into their products descriptions, such as iPhone, iPod and iLife.
Automated Domain Appraisals
This is a tricky one. Although I feel automated domain appraisal systems such as Estibot are helpful in assisting to appraise a domain, I don’t feel they should be the “end all” decision used to obtain a domain’s value. If used more as a reference tool, they can be one of the greatest resources that help determine an appraisal value. Any script/applications can have some bugs, especially ones with complex algorithms as Estibot. Make automated domain appraisals one of the tools to find an appraisal, not the only tool.
Future Potential Interest and Overall Appeal
As time goes by, new words, trends and fads explode onto the scene, and with each new word or trend created, a domain is born. Stay up with current events and become a regular visitor to news aggregate sites, such as Digg and domain industry specific DNHour to stay on the cusp of emerging potential interests.
Backlinks
I like to keep my eye on the number and quality of backlinks to evaluate an domain appraisal. While tons of irrelevant backlinks might negatively effect a domain’s search engine optimization, it can still be a positive thing for a domain names’ value. With more and more domains being “parked”, the links tend to lean towards relevant backlinks and therefore less likely to be bogged down in the SEO nightmare of page rank. And, it’s hard to argue that backlinks don’t increase traffic.
Relevance, Region Specific and other Fuzzy Logic
As said earlier, there is no exact formula to appraise a domain name, and therefore the not-so-exact elements must come into play. An example would be that veteran domainers tend to skew their entire method of appraising when it comes to country specific or region specific domain names. Different factors are incorporated to determine non-English domain word values and domainers across the globe are becoming better in detecting future potential interests in foreign markets. Another example is the continuously growing popularity of “long-string domaining”, or stringing multiple words or keywords to achieve a brandable and memorable domain name. TacoBell has ThinkOutsideTheBun.com and Amazon has the domain BuyABook.com. By definition, these would not be very valuable but that’s when the fuzzy logic creeps in. A domain’s value can be perceived in multiple ways.
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So keep in mind that even though there isn’t one exact correct formula being used by the domain industry to appraise domains, a reasonable appraisal can be determined by anyone if they keep all the factors in mind and how they each interact with each other.
I’d suggest you monitor the pulse of current domain sales by frequently visiting
DNJournal’s Domain Sales Chart. This will show you weekly and even yearly to-date domain sales for the industry. And don’t forget to visit the front page of Sedo to view ongoing live auctions. Each of these great resources will help you in creating your own customized method of domain appraising by seeing what domains are selling and for what amount.
Get an Online Identity With Domain Registration
February 16, 2009 by Web Hosting Watch
Filed under Domain Registrations
Easy Ways for Grabbing Quality Domain Name
You all must be knowing the purpose of a domain name but what purpose does a good quality domain name serve? Well the answer is simple. It drives quality traffic to your site thus increasing your sites popularity as well as search engine ranking. To avail a quality domain name following tips would be helpful.
• Short domain name: It is advisable to keep your domain names short because longer domain names are difficult to spell & remember. With little bit of creative thinking you surely could come up with one.
• Use of keywords: Keywords as well as the name of your company could be used as domain name. This would increase search engine ranking for your website.
• Reputable registration companies: You should look for an accredited company which would not just provide you with alternative option for domain name but at the same time clarify you about the availability or non availability of a domain name.
• Quick registration: Since every second sixty domain names are registered it is advisable that you register as soon as you select an appropriate domain name.
Importance of Domain Registration
• Your domain name is an online identification for you. It helps your client to remember as well as contact you.
• On changing your web host, your web domain name does not change & your clients can get back to you.
• Domain name registration is cheap & at times could be availed free of cost.