Domain Name Registration

Contributed by Gloria Greer

Registering a Domain Name

For the many people who are looking for domain name registration deals, there are many places where they can turn. These days, it seems that every web hosting server also has domain name registration services too. Of course, domain name registration is easier and cheaper to get than ever, however it is not always necessary.

For example, if you are hosting a private website that shows family photos, you will not necessarily need to deal with domain name registration because it is simply easier to host your site through any number of the free websites like Yahoo's Geocities or Tripod which will give you a domain name registration with your site for free.

However, if you are using your website for business purposes, you would be better off in using a paid domain name registration instead because it is your domain name registration that will identify you as an individual website rather than a piece of a whole.

Why Bother With Domain Name Registration?

Anyone who runs a website will tell you that you have to have a domain name registration for your website if you are planning to post your website on the internet because without it, your website will not be published. It is the domain name that makes your website viewable on the internet. You should think of a domain name like you would think of your name in that if you did not have a name, technically, you would not exist. It is the same thing with a domain name.

How Does Domain Name Registration Work?

Domain name registration basically works like this; you will get to choose your website's name (say you call it 'John') and provided that the name doesn't already exist, you will register the name under either of these title which are dot com, dot net, dot TV, or dot org etc. I like to think of these as the website's last name.

If the domain name that you choose is available, you will then register it by following the directions that the website gives you. if either the first name or the last name is already taken the website will offer you suggestions on choosing your domain name or you can simply choose another one.

More »