What is a Domain Name?
by Todd Mumford
Technically, it is the “text name that corresponds to the numeric IP address of a computer on the Internet.” For the lay person, a more palatable definition would be that, “it’s the name of a particular web site that is unique in identity in order for Internet users to find certain websites.“ All domain names are unique with the exception of the extension. “Extensions” are the letters that follow the first portion of a domain, e.g., .com, .org and .net which are the most common.
Do I need a domain name?
In a word, no, however, there are instances that having a domain name is preferred. One example would be if you have intensions of starting an online business site. Businesses use domain names to express a professional corporate identity and also to make finding their online business as easy as possible. A good example of this marketing ploy is Dell.com. One need not have an online business to own a domain name. Some individuals prefer to have domain names for the same reason businesses do; easy to find and easy to remember. The cost of a domain name is very reasonable and within the grasp of all those that choose to have one.
What’s a good domain name?
There are a few elements one should consider when choosing a domain name. Firstly, most try to choose a domain name that somewhat reflects the content of their website. For example, if one chose locksales.com, one would quickly realize by the name that the website sells locks and/or sells associated lock products. It’s always more prudent to try to choose a generic domain name. i.e., if we use our lock example, we can always add directories such as locksales.com/brandname x or locksales.com/brandname y. You get the point.
There are articles on the Internet that suggest that domains should include one or two keywords from one’s website content, however, this is arguable.
Domain names should also be easy to spell and most importantly, they ought to be easy to remember. After all, the point of having a domain name is to make it easier for Internet users to find you and to remember the name in order to return at a later date.
Todd is staff writer for GDO Web Hosting offering high quality web hosting with dilligent customer support service and high uptime. For more information on the services they offer, please visit www.gdohosting.com
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