Things You Need to Know About Domain Names

Setting up your own domain name is an early step you can take to tell visitors coming to your site that you're serious about your e-business. Putting a free name on your Website makes your company look small and unprofessional.

Always try to pick a name that's catchy, memorable, and as short as possible. Some domain names are short as in www.business.com, others are longer as www.thebestbusinessonline.com.

Top-level domain names can end in .com, .net, .org, .edu, and .mil. The most popular and prestigious business domain names end in .com because this is the domain name that consumers recognize most. Countries also have domain name endings, so if you registered your site in Canada, your domain name could read: www.companyname.ca.

When you select a domain name, you'll need to check to make sure no one else is using it. Confirming the availability of your name is simply done at a number of places online. One easy source is Network Solutions Many of the really great names have already been snapped up by early online business owners or people who collect domains for re-sale or for domains parking.  Just enter your selected name in the search box and the system will immediately tell you, if the name is available.

When you find a name that works, register it immediately. To complete the process you'll need:

Your selected domain name

Two IP addresses which you must get from your host

Your phone number and street address

Your name and email address

Once your name is registered, call your ISP or Webmaster to have your name connected to your Website.

It costs 8.99$ to register your name for the first year with GoDaddy.com and BargainName.com. If you don't have a Website yet, you can "park" you name with Network Solutions, your ISP or several other services that will hold it for a small additional fee.

Great domain names can also be bought directly from online auctions or domain owners. The cost can range from a couple thousand to a couple million.

Before registering a domain name, go to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Website and do a trademark search. Check if the name you've selected violates any protected trademark. If you are planning to build a business, it's probably a good idea to trademark your domain name. You can do this yourself or use a company or attorney that specializes in trademarks.

If a registrar registers your domain name for you, do a domain search to make sure it is actually registered to you.