DOMAIN NAME REGISTRATION

WHAT IS A DOMAIN NAME?

Your business  has a unique address on the Internet and it is called the "Domain Name".  It provides your business or web site with its own address where your customers can visit whenever they wish to contact you or review information on your website.  Domain names are in the form of www.microsoft.com.

The last part of the domain name is know as the Top Level Domain.  Top level domains currently in wide-spread use are

• .com - for commercial entities
• .org - for non-profit organizations
• .edu - for 4 year degree granting educational institutions
• .gov - for government entities
• .net - for Internet related entities
• .biz - for businesses

There are currently approximately 180 top level country domains such as ".hk" for Hong Kong and ".uk" for Great Britain/United Kingdom.

The section of the domain name immediately to the left of the top level domain is known as the secondary level domain.  This is the name that identifies the business or organization, eg. www.microsoft.com.  "Microsoft" is the second level domain and .com is the top level domain.

Entries to the left of the second-level domain are referred to as the sub-domain.  Many companies use these to designate geographical content or differentiate services such as support.  In the example www.support.microsoft.com "support" is the sub-domain.

DO YOU NEED A DOMAIN NAME?

There are many avenues to free web space on shared servers however these do not afford you the unique "address" benefit that a personalized domain name does.  

• An easy to remember, personalized name will facilitate visits to your web site
• Your domain name contributes to your corporate image and is an important addition to your marketing program
• Your domain name permits customized and personal e-mail addresses to facilitate communication with you and your staff

Domain Name Lookup