What is a domain name, and why should I have one?
Loosely, a domain name is the part of an Internet address that usually follows the "http://www." and is often followed by "/index.html" or some other web page's name. Many other parts might appear in an Internet address; however, the domain name particularly identifies the entity taking responsibility for the site at large. The domain name is used to replace an IP address in the Internet Domain Name Service (DNS), and in the universal resource locator (URL) that forms the web address you see at the top of your browser.
Apart from their technical functions, domain names reinforce your identity both on and off the Internet. Many people today put no more contact information on their business cards than their web address. If this address does not contain a reasonably easy to remember and type domain name, it becomes less effective in directing potential visitors to your site. |
How can I check to see if the domain name I want is available?
You can look up domain names on the web. |
How can I do a domain name lookup?
You can check to see if your desired domain name is available using the InterNIC whois utility at www.internic.net/whois.html. Enter the domain name and dot prefix (for example: myawesomewebsite.com) in the search field. If the utility returns "no match," then your desired domain is free. Note that you cannot use spaces or special characters in your domain name, except for dashs or dots, and since most people don't find it easy to remember dashes or dots in domain names, Web People Media recommends you do not use them.
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Where should I register my domain?
A good Internet service provider (ISP) should have a means for you to register a domain through their member services. If you need advice on obtaining the right ISP, Web People Media can help. You can also register your domain through a domain registration service, but you might end up paying too much if you do it this way. Don't pay more than about $10.00 a year for registration.
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