Domain Names

www.put_your_name_here.com

Do you have a domain name for your web site? If your web site is a part of
your marketing plan then a domain name is a must.  What is a domain
name?  It is a unique name that identifies an Internet site and there are
many different types - for example www.yourname.com if you are a
business, or www.yourname.org, if you are organization or .edu if you are
an educational institution.  You can also register geographical domain names
with such endings as bc.ca and camriv.bc.ca

Why have your own domain name?  Because the first step to building your
business identity and promoting your brand on the Internet is by owning your
web address. If you have a web site, but you are using the free space given
to you by your service provider, then you are using their domain name to
advertise your business. For example CREFS service provider is CRCN
(Campbell River Community Network.) If CREFS were to use the free web
space and address they provide, our address would look like this www.crcn.net/~crefs.
If we plan to put that address on business cards, letterhead or any other
advertising, we end up inadvertently advertising our Internet service provider
and we dilute the brand “CREFS.”

Having your domain name guarantees you have a short address (names are
a maximum of 26 characters).  This keeps things short and simple.  Also
domain names are consistent with your identity which will help people
remember your web site address.  How many times have you heard someone
on radio or television suggest a site which, unless you wrote it down, you
would never remember?

You can purchase domain names though Network Solutions at
www.networksolutions.comThey do the administration for InterNIC who
is the organization responsible for registering and maintaining the .com,
.edu, .gov, .net, and .org domain names. The registration fee is $70 U.S.
for the first two years and $35 a year thereafter. You can search their
database to see if the name you want is still available and, if still available, fill
out an online form to register it.  You can also purchase your domain name
through your service provider - this will save you some time but may cost
you a bit extra.

If you are interested in getting a geographical domain name like
www.yourname.bc.ca or a www.yourname.camriv.bc.ca you can go to
www.cdnnet.ca and register.  Presently the registrar does not charge fees
(as it is run on a volunteer basis) but this will be changing soon.

Remember to first check with your service provider before registering a
domain name because once you ask them to host your domain, your fee
structure may change.  You may want to shop around before committing to a
company that will host your site and domain because prices and features
vary from company to company. If you are a not-for profit, make sure you
contact someone at Campbell River Community Network at www.crcn.net
because your web site with or without domain can be hosted for free.

Other Articles in the Series
Go to Selling Your Wares on the Net - Part 1
Go to Selling Your Wares on the Net - Part 2
Go to Selling Your Wares on the Net - Part 3