YOUR DOMAIN NAME CHOICE 

A domain name is a unique name for your website. It’s more than just an address that enables people to find your site, though. It’s a brand, and something to be remembered by. It’s important to choose the right domain name for your website if you want to entice people to visit and then keep coming back.

There are two important things to consider when choosing a domain name. First, your chosen name should be both memorable and relevant to the content of your site. There’s little point in choosing www.wedysvideos. if your name isn’t Wendy and you haven’t got any videos to show. Your choice of domain name should also make easier for people to find you. If you run a shoe shop in Newtown, people might guess at www.newtownshoes.com if they’re not sure of the exact address. It therefor makes sense to register the domain with a related name

Domain names come in various types dictated by their endings. (.com/.co.uk/ .com.au/ etc.,) but you can also register .org or .net extension, or even Info, .me or .tv.

Most.web-hosting providers also act as registrars and, although you are not obliged to buy the domain from your chosen host, it’s far more convenient to do so. Prices vary between registrar services, though, so it could be worth shopping around before you buy.

Many companies on the internet will register a domain name on your behalf,  You can also use these services to find out whether or not your desired domain name is available. Remember also that there’s little chance of general, popular names being available, such as www.billjones.com or www.knittingclub.com. However,more descriptive names such as www.newtown-knittingclub.com may well be available.

A Name You Can Trust

If the particular domain name you want is not available, there are other options. You don’t have to think of another name. Instead, you could find out if the same domain name is available with a different ending, such as .info or .biz. Of course, this means that another website will have a similar domain to your own, which may lead to confusion. An alternative for those who simply must have a certain name is to find out who currentlently owns the domain name and try to buy it. To do so enter the URL into a browser’s address bar and look at the site that appears. If it’s related to the domain name, you may have an uphill struggle, but if you are directed to a holding page with contact information, there’s a good chance you will be able to negotiate a purchase.

When you have purchased your domain name, you must link it to your website. A website is a collection of pages about a particular subject, all stored on a server, while the domain name is the information used to find those pages — like an intenet postcode. When www.newtownshoes.com  is entered in a web browser, the visitor must then arrive at the Newtown shoes website.

When signing up for a web-hosting package, you’ll usually be given the option to search for a new domain to buy, or to associate the web space with a domain you already own. This is a straightforward process. Simply follow the step-by-step instructions provided by your chosen host. 

Forward Thinking

If your website is hosted by a free service that wont allow personal domain names, you can use a domain forwarding service to associate your own domain with your website. This means that even if the Newtown shoes website’s URL is www.newtownshoes.com.freehost.com, you could buy the domain www.newtownshoes.com  and automatically forward visitors who type in this URL to the one at the free host. Usually this service is provided free or perhaps for a nominal fee. If you want to cosider a domain forwarding service, shop around before you buy your domain name.