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Domains & Domain Names
Domains & Domain Names
Let's look at domain names.

What is a domain name?

A domain name consists of three parts separated by periods (dots). They need to be registered with the regulating authority and a registration fee, which varies with the domain, has to be paid. They are licenced, normally, for a period of two years, at the end of which the registration must be renewed:
  • www
    This is the identifier which indicates the World Wide Web.

  • The chosen name
    This is the name you have chosen for your business or web site. The choice of name is important, if you haven't already chosen a name for the business. Apart from indicating the type of business, web names should be as short as possible to be remembered easily. Alternatively, you may decide to choose a web site name which has no relationship to the business name but is catchy or trendy. Again, the choice is yours. A word of warning - most obvious names, including personal names, are no longer available, having been taken a long time ago. So, you will need to spend some time thinking of 2nd, 3rd, and possibly 50th choices! We will tell you how to check and register names later on.

  • The domain
    This is the domain itself which identifies the type of domain.
    Some examples follow:

    .co.uk - Commercial, UK based
    .com - International
    .net - International
    .biz - International, business
    .org - Organisation, International
    .info - Information, International

    A few more have been added recently:

    .uk.co - Commercial,UK
    .me - Personal
    .name - Personal, YourName


So, which should you choose?

A small UK based business, trading only in the UK, should opt for the .co.uk or .uk.co domains. There is no great advantage in using an international domain unless you are considering moving into the international marketplace as several small specialised businesses have done very successfully. If you have such aspirations you should consider the .com and .net domains.

The .biz domain would suit a business based company, such as an accountancy, or a solicitors. However, there is no hard and fast rule, and you can choose any domain you like (subject to restrictions imposed by the regulating body - some European and other domains are restricted).


How do I find out if my chosen domain name is still available?

This is quite easy - there are a number of domain name registration services, all of whom provide a search facility. Two in particular are www.simply.com and www.123-reg.co.uk . 'Simply' show you all the domains that are available or taken for a specified name. Just click on the links above to go to the sites.


How do I register my chosen domain name?

You can do it at the above sites, or find others in PC magazines. The process is quite simple and you are prompted on what to do next. You will need to enter your Credit Card details in the final stage and will receive a conformation of your order. It is a good idea to print each stage of the process for your records. But, before you go ahead and order your domain name, take a look at some of the combined domain name and hosting deals. You will find plenty of advertisements in the PC magazines, but a link is also given here for you to check out. Try www.compila.com .


How much will it cost?

The cost of domain names varies with the domain. Newly created domains are generally more expensive, as are some foreign domains. Scan the back pages of almost any PC magazine for domain name vendors. It is a good idea to stick to the larger vendors, such as Simply.com or 123-reg.co.uk.. Quite a number of Hosts (see our Hosting Guide) do a package deal which includes a domain name. At the time of writing, domain names such as .co.uk cost around £6 - £7, and there are some sites which do it even cheaper.




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