Round Table
Put simply, a domain name
is the address of a website. In the example "sitename" is the
name of your website.
http//www.sitename.com
http//www.sitename.co.uk
A domain name needs to be registered and there is
usually a fee associated with this. Domain name registration needs to be
renewed every one
or two
years. If this is not done then you will lose your domain name. So,
where do you buy a domain name? Domain
names can be obtained from a domain name reseller, internet service
provider or a web host provider. Costs start from free up to tens of
pounds depending on the type of domain. A .com domain name will cost more than a
.co.uk.
When using a reseller there may be a fee for
transferring the domain name to your web host provider. Factor this in
to your plan.
If you are considering using a low cost reseller
study the Terms & Conditions (T&Cs) of the service. There may be
additional charges tucked away in the T&Cs. Charges may be incurred
at a later date that far out way the initial advantage of low
cost. Closely examine the T&Cs.
It could be that the name you want is already
registered and in use. In that case you will have to think up another
name. Another possibility is that the name is registered but not
actually in use. The domain name could be up for sale. Costs vary
greatly depending on how marketable a given domain name is. Do a domain
name search to find out if your preferred name is available.
A domain name seller may offer other services. Some
free and some for a fee. On opening an account you may have free web
forwarding, e-mail forwarding, home page wizard, web mail, submit your
site to a limited number of search engines and e-mail forwarding
addresses.
Remember, it is likely that there will be a cost and
the domain name requires periodic registration. A .com is annual and a .co.uk
is every two years. Include this
in your cost plan.
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