Choosing Your Domain Name for Registration
A Web Hosting Article Contributed by Frances Rhea
What is Domain Name Registration?
The domain name registration is the process of securing a URL on the Internet where visitors will go to see what your web site is about. It is important to register a domain name that is easy to remember and accurately represents what is on your web site.
It is much easier to remember a web site if the address is www.grandmascookies.com instead of www.tripod.com/napavalley/3612/. Besides www.grandmascookies.com tells your visitor exactly what to expect.
How to Choose a Domain Name
Usually if you currently have a company name the registration process is as simple as using your company name strung together with no spaces. Maybe you can make it even shorter by using just company initials. The thing to remember is that the shorter and more memorable is better. Also search engines work in an alphabetical manner. This means that if your domain name starts in the last part of the alphabet, you will be listed nearer the bottom of the links provided. So a good rule of thumb would be to use some of the first letters of the alphabet in your domain name.
What If Your Domain Name Has Been Registered?
At other times, determining the domain name for registration involves a little creative thought. This can happen when someone has previously registered the domain name you have chosen. Some times separating the words with a dash (-) can be the answer to owning the name you want. Other times it takes a little more creativity to come up with a domain name for registration that has not all ready been selected.
Your own domain name registration is available for as little as $4.95 a year depending on what suffix you choose to register.
What is a Domain Name Registration Suffix?
The most common suffix (or ending) is .com which stands for company. Other popular suffixes are .org for organization, and .net for network. The new alternative domain name registrations include country abbreviations, .agent, .arts, .auction, .chat, .church, .club, .family, .free, .game, .golf, .inc, .kids, .law, .llc, .llp, .love, .ltd, .med, .mp3, .school, .scifi, .shop, .soc, .sport, .tech, .travel, .video, and .xxx. These new additions make it lots easier to have the exact domain name registration that you choose.
Using the New Net Domain Name Registration
A plug-in for use with these new domains is only necessary for customers that do not currently access the Internet with one of New.net's ISP partners. Customers using one of New.net's ISP partners are able to resolve all New.net domains without the need for the New.net plug-in.
The plug-in installation is only supported by Netscape Navigator/Communicator, and Internet Explorer v4.5 or higher. To install the Internet Explorer and AOL plug-in go to http://www.new.net/download/instructions win ie.tp. The Netscape Navigator/Communicator plug-in is located at http://www.new.net/download/instructions win netscape.tp.
