How To Choose and Secure a Domain name

Before you can create a website it needs a name.

www.google.com is a domain.  www.gofindyourself.net is a domain.

Even though it seems like putting the horse before the cart, what it does is get you thinking about what you are about. This is a good thing.

If possible a domain name should serve at least one if not all of these qualities:

• To be memorable
• Makes it clear what it is you do
• Easy to spell and write down
• Describes the benefit you provide
• Contains keywords relevant to your audience (this has an SEO benefit)
• Talks directly to the people that will be interested in what you have to offer.

Once you know what your website is about and what it’s focus is, this should suggest some keywords to you.

Next, jot down some of those keywords that relate to your website. It may simply be your name.

For example my music website is a combination of my name and what I do. i.e. www.herrinmusic.com

Next you want to be able to find what domains are available right?

Here is a great little domains search tool from a website called Domize.com.

Here is another good domain search tool. This one gives some suggestions of other names as well. http://namedroppers.com/

Once we have settled on a domain we need to find a good domain provider.

Domain Provider Reviews and Comparison

http://smallbusiness-domain.com/

Some Domain Providers

http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/domains/

http://www.godaddy.com/

Most domains cost around $9 to $15 dollars per year.

I have been using a crew in Australia for the last year or two with no troubles but whoever you choose, keep these few crucial things in mind:

Important!

• Use the one Gmail account for all your domains and web hosting accounts. Make it separate from your everyday email but be sure to check it often.
• Save your account names, passwords and links in Firefox for convenient, quick access.
• Keep your contact information up to date on the Registrar site, especially the contact email address. This ensures that you are contacted when the domain needs renewing.
• Every domain has a control panel. Make a note of where the DNS (Domain Name Servers) settings are so that when you get hosting you can update them and get started!

The Domain Name Servers simply tell the domain where the actual website for that name is hosted so that when people type in your address it opens the correct site.

NOTE: Having the one account for all your domains makes it easier to administer but you can transfer from another to consolidate your domains.

Confused by all the terms used with domains? Check out this Glossary

Where Do I Find my DNS settings you ask?

Well if you don’t have hosting yet there won’t be any.

If you do have hosting the DNS settings will probably be in your welcome email or on your Cpanel. For example the Hostgator welcome email looks like this (with fake information of course):

Once you have found the settings, enter them into your new domains control panel. It will probably look something like this:

Having completed this we are ready to either organize our hosting, or prepare the space on our current hosting to accomodate our new website.

But for the moment, rejoice for your site has a name!

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