Domain names are the internet addresses that point people to your website.
"Just as postcodes are used for particular street names, computers connected to
the internet have unique numerical addresses so that electronic information is
delivered to the right place," according to the UK domain name registry, Nominet UK.
"The Domain Name System [DNS] translates the numerical IP addresses of
computers into more user friendly names. Domain names are easier to recall than
IP addresses and help people to find information on the internet."
Most domain names start with www. followed by your chosen name, and have a
variety of endings, but the most common are .co.uk, .com, .net, .org and
.ltd.uk.
Registration of a domain name generally lasts for one or two years. Prices
vary depending on which company you register the domain name with and the type
of domain name you choose. A .com domain name, for example, is usually more
expensive than a .co.uk address because of its worldwide status.
There are several different extensions for domain names,
ranging from the familiar worldwide .com to the UK-specific .co.uk. The final
part of the extension is known as the Top Level Domain (TLD). This can be a country code (.uk or .fr) or it can be a non-country specific
extension such as .com or .org. For extensions that include a country code,
there is usually also a subcategory such as .co or .ltd followed by the country
code itself. This sub-category is called the Second Level Domain (SLD). The main section
of the domain name, which you choose (after www.) is known simply as the
name.
If you find that a domain name you would like to use has already been
registered, you may be able to try an alternative extension. If the .com or
.co.uk version of your domain is already taken, the .net or .org name might
still be free.
Some restrictions apply, however. Domain names ending with .ltd.uk or .plc.uk
are registered with Nominet UK, and only company names that have been registered
with Companies
House can use these with their own company name. Similarly, domain names
ending in .net.uk are for internet service providers and .sch.uk domains are
reserved for schools.
There are also several restrictions concerning
the main name part of a domain name. The name must be between three and 63
characters in length and should be lower case.
Letters, numbers and hyphens can be used, but spaces are not allowed, and a
name cannot start or end with a hyphen. The use of a hyphen is helpful when
dividing a long name. Hyphenation also makes it easier for search engines to
find your website.
You might also want to consider registering
several different extensions for your domain name. If they are available, you
could pick up both the .com and the .co.uk domains to make sure that visitors
are sent to your site, whichever extension they use.
It's not essential to do this but bear in mind that, if you don't, people
looking for your site could end up somewhere completely different if they type
in a different extension.
Once you have decided on a domain name that nobody else has used and the
extension(s) you want, you will need to register it/them with an organisation
such as the ones we have already mentioned.
Nominet's website
contains plenty of advice and information on registering a domain name. The site
is a real oasis for anyone who is confused about the subject of domain names,
and it contains lots of useful, jargon free information.
The purpose of registries such as Nominet UK is to manage the different
domain names including registration of new and existing owners. If, for example,
you register a UK related domain name via a domain name registration website,
the details will be submitted to Nominet UK.
Once the registration is complete, Nominet UK issues a certificate containing
details of the legal registrant of the domain name.
It's best to try to ensure that the domain name you want
to register doesn't obviously conflict with any businesses that may pursue a
legal case to have the name removed.
Also, check alternatives of the domain name (different extensions and use of
hyphens) to ensure there are no other websites with a similar name, particularly
offensive ones.
As you can see, there's quite a lot to consider before registering and paying
for your domain name. But, if you think about it, choosing the right domain name
for your site is one of the most important aspects of creating a website and
it's not a decision you'll want to take lightly.
After all, you want your site to stand out from the crowd and a good,
memorable domain name can help increase traffic to your corner of the web
immeasurably.
