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1. What is a domain Name?
2.
Why should I register a domain name?
3. What does it mean to "register" a domain name?
4.
What are the components of a domain name?
5. Should I choose a .com, a .net, or a .org domain name?
6. Can I register a domain name containing only digits?
7. What extra services can I expect when I register a domain name?
8. What if the domain name I want is already taken?
9. I registered a domain name, but I made a mistake while registering and registered the wrong name/changed my mind about registering it after paying. Can I cancel my registration?
10. I'm thinking of registering the ".org" of a well-known .com domain name. Is that a good idea?
11. I'm thinking of registering a misspelling of a popular site's domain name (example: Yahhoo.com, AOLL.com). Is that a good idea?
12. What is a URL?
13. What is an IP address?
14. What is a DNS?
15. Country Codes
16. Once I have secured my name, how long may I use it?
17. How do I choose a good domain name?
18. Can anyone register to own a domain name?
19. Should I register all three extensions of my domain name?
20. How long before changes I make to the name servers associated with my domain become active?
21. When should I renew my domain name?
22. I just registered a domain name and it’s still showing as available! Is it registered?
23. Will my name and contact information be publicly available?
24. How long does a registration last? Can it be renewed?
25. How much does a domain-name registration name cost?
26. Can I change registrars after registering a domain name?
27. What is ICANN?
28. If I have customer service questions or problems related to my domain name registration, who should I contact?
29. What are the rules for registration of .biz, .com, .info, .name, .net and .org names?

What is a domain Name?
A domain name is a unique name that can be entered into a browser to resolve the numeric address (called the IP address) of your web site or email server. A domain name tells people (and the computers they use) how to find your homepage on the Internet. Your hosting provider assigns each domain name to a numerical IP (Internet Protocol) address. It takes the form of a name of your choice coupled with an extension relating to the type of site. Current gTLD ("generic Top Level Domain) extensions are .com (meant for business sites), .org (meant for non-profit organizations), and .net (meant for internet service providers). People remember names better than numbers, but computers translate www.yourname.com into IP address numbers.



Why should I register a domain name?
Registering a domain name for your business or organization is essential to your marketing efforts. A domain gives your business credibility and a unique identity on the World Wide Web.
If you use the Internet, you will eventually want your own presence on the world wide web. Post your interests and hobbies on the web. Soon you will begin receiving emails from others around the world who share your interests. Families researching their genealogy post their web sites and are found by relatives they didn't even know they had. People are making new friends from the four corners of the world simply because of the ease of communications, and the ability of this tool to virtually eliminate distance.
http://www.yourname.com
Registering your own domain name gives you presence on the web that is easy to remember, descriptive, and an enhancement to your professional image. And, if you ever need to switch Internet service providers, you can take your domain name with you, whether across the street or to the other side of the world. You'll never need to reprint your business materials, change your email address, or send notifications to your clients.

What does it mean to "register" a domain name?
When you register a domain name, you are inserting an entry into a directory of all the domain names and their corresponding computers on the Internet.


What are the components of a domain name?
A domain name consists of two or more words separated by a period. The last word (the far right) is called a "top-level domain". Here are some common top-level domains and their use:

.COM
Used for commercial entities. It is the most popular top-level domain. Anyone can register a .com domain.

.NET
Originally used for networking organizations such as Internet Service Providers and backbone providers. Today, anyone can register a .net domain.

.ORG
Designed for miscellaneous organizations, including non-profit groups. Today, anyone can register a .org domain.

.EDU
Four-year, accredited colleges and universities.

Should I choose a .com, a .net, or a .org domain name?
There is no doubt but that .com is trump. It is the most popular extension on the Internet, and it is firmly established in the public mindset as associated with all things Internet. Even your newer browsers automatically search for the .com version of a name first.
What characters can be included in a domain name?
You can use the characters a-z and 0-9 (in any combination). You can also use hyphens (-). Mind your domain name cannot start or end with a hyphen. You cannot use any other characters, nor should you use punctuation. Other special characters like the underscore "_" or an exclamation mark "!" are NOT permitted. Example: your name.com (not correct, no spaces allowed) Example: your-name.com (is correct) A domain name can be up to 72 characters long -- including the 4 characters used to identify the Top Level Domain (.NET, .COM, .ORG, or .EDU). Do not type the www. before your domain name when registering.

Can I register a domain name containing only digits?
Yes.

What information will I receive when ordering a domain name?
Some registrars will mail you a paper record of your domain name registration. The e-mail confirmation is also available as a form of documenting a domain name opening. Others simply display a confirmation screen in your web browser upon completing an order. It is always a good idea to print out any information supplied by your registrar during the registration process so that you will have access to it later.


What extra services can I expect when I register a domain name?
Some registrars offer "name only" services, where they do nothing more than register the domain name for you. Others offer a wide variety of other services (but they may charge a higher registration price to reflect these additional services). The most common such services include:-
• email forwarding: email sent to [email protected] is forwarded to your current email address. This is a very cheap and easy way of having your own "custom" email address
• website forwarding : This comes in two flavours: pointing your website at a given IP address, and pointing your website at a directory. The latter is great for anyone hosting a site on an ISP's site, as you will not need to move the site. The name will automatically be resolved to point to the correct directory.
• under construction page : depending on your personal preference, you may prefer to have www.YOURNEWNAME.com point at a standard "under construction" page rather than not point at anything at all.
• sample page : some registrars allow a single free "sample" page so that visitors to the site www.YOURNEWNAME.com would see your company name and address and maybe a phone number or a simple description of the services your company provides.


What if the domain name I want is already taken?

You can offer to buy the name off its current owner, or look for an alternative domain name. If your company holds a trademark on the terms in the domain name, it may be worth seeking legal advice about the possibility of recovering your domain name.
When you do your domain name search on the whois, you may find that someone else on the Internet has already registered that name for his or her own site. Try a slight variation on that name. Consider a hyphenated form. Think of a name that might be a synonym. Consider a name using "the", "this", "e-" or other additions that may be suitable. See if the same name is available with a different domain extension.


I registered a domain name, but I made a mistake while registering and registered the wrong name/changed my mind about registering it after paying. Can I cancel my registration?
Under the current Domain Name Service Agreement that all accredited Registrars operate under, all sales are final. If you want to register a different domain name, you'll have to pay again.


I'm thinking of registering the ".org" of a well-known .com domain name. Is that a good idea?
While this tactic may get you some "free" traffic, it's also a great recipe for a lawsuit. If the .com domain is trademarked, it's better to steer clear of trouble. If the .com domain is "generic" (that is, it is a dictionary word which is not trademarked) then you're safer. Ultimately, it's your decision.


I'm thinking of registering a misspelling of a popular site's domain name (example: Yahhoo.com, AOLL.com). Is that a good idea?
This is commonly known as "typosquatting" i.e. buying a domain name with the expectation of siphoning traffic off of the legitimate site by snaring people who can't spell well. There have been a number of court cases as a result of this kind of behavior - most were decided in favor of the site owner. Ultimately, it's your decision.

What is a URL?
It stands for Univesal Resource Locator. Some people refer to it as a web address (although URL is not limited to the web). An example of a URL is http://www.hostreview.com. Please note that a URL is a unique identifier. No two websites can have the same URL. This is the reason why you should register your domain name before someone else does.

What is an IP address?
Every computer on the Internet has a numeric address called IP-Address that is used to identify the location of the computer. An example of an IP address is 66.175.1.6. This kind of addressing system is cumbersome and hard to remember for humans. Having a domain name will eliminate the need to remember an IP address.

What is a DNS?
DNS stands for "Domain Name Server". It translates domain names into IP addresses that computers understand. For example, if someone wants to access our website (www.hostreview.com), the DNS will translate the domain into the IP address 66.175.1.6 , which will allow the computer to locate our web server. Domain Name Service (DNS) is the system by which hosts on the Internet have both domain name addresses (such as blueleaf.prairienet.com) and IP addresses (such as 66.175.1.6). DNS is the means by which you are able to type in an easily remembered name in order to go to a URL, instead of using an IP address. The Domain Name System (DNS) helps users to find their way around the Internet. Every computer on the Internet has a unique address - just like a telephone number - which is a rather complicated string of numbers. It is called its "IP address" (IP stands for "Internet Protocol"). IP Addresses are hard to remember. The DNS makes using the Internet easier by allowing a familiar string of letters (the "domain name") to be used instead of the arcane IP address. So instead of typing 66.175.1.6, you can type www.hostreview.com. It is a "mnemonic" device that makes addresses easier to remember.

Country Codes
To the left of the top-level domain is what is called the "second-level domain." In domainleak.com, “domainleak” represents a second-level domain within the top-level domain of .com.

Once I have secured my name, how long may I use it?
If there are no trademark disputes, your secured domain name will be yours for as long as you maintain the yearly registration fees.

How do I choose a good domain name?
It is important to choose a domain that will reflect the intent and purpose of your website or business. Try to keep it short and simple. Your domain name will be one of the ways people recognize or evaluate the site for their interests when they are searching via Yahoo! or other search engines.


Can anyone register to own a domain name?

Yes, anyone is able to register for ownership of a domain name. It does not matter what country your are from. Anyone can easily register their own a (.com, .net, or .org) website address for present, or future use.


Should I register all three extensions of my domain name?
The answer to this question depends entirely on how you intend to use your name.
If you are planning to have a commercial site, an on-line store or service, it is probably a good idea to protect your name. There is nothing so frustrating as working hard and putting out a great deal of expense to develop and market a fantastically successful .com web site, only to find that someone has registered your name as a .net or .org, hoping to reap some of the benefits of your success.


How long before changes I make to the name servers associated with my domain become active?
When you register your domain, your registration is available immediately in the shared registry. However the information, particularly your DNS servers that will point your domain, are not uploaded immediately to the root servers which control the actual propagation of the information. Root server uploads occur twice daily, usually beginning at 0500 and 1700 Eastern Time (US). After the upload is complete, your name will begin working from some locations. However, it could be another 24-72 hours before the information is propagated world-wide and functional from every location.


When should I renew my domain name?
You must pay your renewal fees by the current expiration date of your domain name. Your domain registrar will notify you 30 days before your name is due to expire.
However, you do not need to wait until the expiration date. You can renew your domain name at any time and for any number of years up to a total of ten. With a 10 year renewal, you won't have to worry about your domain name expiring for a long long time.


I just registered a domain name and it’s still showing as available! Is it registered?

Of course! It will take between 24-48 hours for DNS Propagation. DNS Propagation is the process by which the computers on the Internet update their records (DNS tables) to reflect new site name(s). When this is complete, your name can be accessed and recognized on the Internet.


Will my name and contact information be publicly available?
Information about who is responsible for domain names is publicly available to allow rapid resolution of technical problems and to permit enforcement of consumer protection, trademark, and other laws. The registrar will make this information available to the public on a "Whois" site. It is however possible to register a domain in the name of a third party, as long as they agree to accept responsibility -- ask your registrar for further details.


How long does a registration last? Can it be renewed?
Each registrar has the flexibility to offer initial and renewal registrations in one-year increments, with a total registration period limit of ten years.


How much does a domain-name registration name cost?

Each registrar sets the price it charges for registering names, and prices vary significantly among different registrars. In addition, some registrars offer discounted or free registration services in connection with other offerings, such as web hosting.


Can I change registrars after registering a domain name?
Yes, you may change the registrar sponsoring your domain name (60 days after intial registration.) For details on the transfer process, contact the registrar you would like to assume sponsorship of the registration.


What is ICANN?
ICANN is the new non-profit corporation that is assuming responsibility from the U.S. Government for coordinating certain Internet technical functions, including the management of Internet domain name system. More information about ICANN can be found at http://www.icann.org.


If I have customer service questions or problems related to my domain name registration, who should I contact?
You should contact the registrar that registered your domain name.


What are the rules for registration of .biz, .com, .info, .name, .net and .org names?
The .com, .info, .name, .net, and .org TLDs are open and unrestricted. Traditionally, however, names in .net have been used by organizations involved in Internet infrastructure activities and .org is frequently used by noncommercial organizations. .biz is reserved for use by businesses.


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