What’s A Domain Name And Web Address
A domain name is a unique name corresponding to one or more IP addresses .
A web address reflects a domain name , and is sometimes referred to as a URL or Uniform Resource Locator.
A web address is how people find your website on the internet. People can type your web address straight into a browser such as Chrome, Firefox or Safari on their computer, or into the internet application on their smart phone or tablet. People using a search engine like Google or Bing can also find your website by typing in a question or keywords, and searching.
You may also use your domain name in your email address To set up an email address you’ll also need to purchase an email service or hosting, which is different to registering a web address.
Run A Domain Name Search
Now that you have found a registrar through which to register your domain, the next step is to perform a domain name search.
When choosing a domain name, make sure to pick the right domain extension as well its the suffix at the end of a web address. Domain name extensions are also referred to as top-level domains .
There are different types of domain extensions available, such as:
- Country Code Top-Level Domain . This kind of TLD represents a specific country, letting both users and search engines know that a site is designed for visitors from a particular region. An example of this is the .us domain, which is the ccTLD for the United States.
- Sponsored Top-Level Domain . Its a type of TLD restricted to certain types of groups and organizations. Some of sTLD examples include .mil, .gov, and .edu.
- Generic Top-Level Domain . Its the most common type of TLD it doesnt rely on a country code and can be used for general purposes. A few examples of gTLDs include .com, .org, and .net.
When deciding on the extension that is suitable for your domain, look for a TLD that represents the purpose of your website. Choosing the wrong suffix can confuse visitors and make your brand name prone to being misinterpreted.
For example, a .com or .biz extensionmight be best for an eCommerce business. On the other hand, if you plan to create a blog to keep an online journal, an extension like .me can be an excellent solution.
Integrate With Social Media
If you’re planning to use social media to market your business, it’s a good idea to check if the name you want is also available on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or other social media channels you’d like to use. When you start marketing your business online, using social media channels makes it easier to send integrated messages to your customers make sure you note these down in your
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Gtld: Generic Top Level Domain
A gTLD is essentially a top-level domain that doesnt rely on a country code. Many gTLDs are intended for a specific use-case, such as .edu which is aimed at educational institutions. That said, you dont have to meet any specific criteria to register a gTLD, which is why a .com domain might not necessarily be used for commercial purposes.
Other examples of gTLDs include .mil , .gov , .org , and .net, which was originally designed for internet service providers but is now used more widely.
Cost To Register A Domain Name
According to HostGator, domain name cost ranges from free to tens of thousands of dollars, with the average domain name settling around $10-$12 annually. These factors will affect what you’d pay for a specific domain:
- The demand for the particular name you choose
- The TLD domain extension
- The domain registrar you’re purchasing from
- Whether the domain has already been purchased by someone else
- Whether you commit to an annual payment or another payment schedule
- Add-ons such as privacy
Whether you choose a free or paid domain will depend on your budget and your website’s purpose. For example, you might need a basic website or something simple and temporary. In that case, a free domain name might be a good option.
However, paid domain names look more professional and are more likely to grow with your brand. You should ultimately decide what will work best for your business and goals.
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I Can Access My WordPress Admin But Cannot See Any Menu Items Except For Posts And Pages
Someone asked this question and shared their login information with us so we could see what was happening. The website was built by an agency but they only gave the website owner limited access to the admin by making them an editor.
They were able to add/edit posts and pages but were unable to do anything else. Sadly neither could I since the client was not even able to change user levels for people.
When a slideshow needed to be edited, they could not do it and had to ask the developer. The developer hid the entire menu section for a lot of functionality forcing the client to pay them for the time to do the updates.
WHAT TO DO: Ask the developer to make you an Admin or Super Admin if they are using that so you can access all hidden areas. If they decline, then if you have access to your cPanel you can do it through there as well by going into the database.
Consider Using Niche Keywords That Reflect Your Website
Our website mainly about web development or helping people to create a website. Hence we chose to add a name that reflects all of it website. Obviously website.com was no longer available, we simply chose WebsiteSetup.
Keywords can help to improve your SEO you need to tread carefully here! If you try to awkwardly stuff keywords into your domain, it comes across as generic .
If you choose to use keywords, put the keywords at the beginning of your domain. Thats where theyll be the most powerful for your ranking.
You can find keywords with tools like and Keywordtool.io.
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Who Owns A Domain Name
A domain name is legally owned by a domain registrant. Whenever someone registers a domain name, the registrar will gather the registrants personal information and submit it to the WHOIS directory.With that in mind, if you register a domain name, you automatically become the registrant and will continue being so as long as you renew the fees.
How To Choose The Right Domain Name
When choosing a domain name, it should be:
- Relevant to your content, service or business
- Easy to remember keep it short and catchy
- Easy to pronounce
- Easy to spell
- Not a violation of someone elses trademark
Shorter names make better domain names they are easier to type and less susceptible to mistakes. Longer domain names, on the other hand, have an advantage when it comes to keywords and search engines give preferences to keywords that are also found in your domain name.
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S To Make Sure You Own Your Website
All of the above are situations we have seen over the years, but are all items that can easily be avoided by asking the right questions and not being afraid to request access to your critical web information. We have seen this happen with bloggers, SEO clients and even charity website design clients and it sucks! If all of these items are addressed prior to hiring a web firm, you can rest easy knowing your website is yours FOREVER!
Simple steps to make sure you own your stuff!
Find A Domain Name Registrar
The non-profit Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers oversees the entire system of domain names, and it allows outside companies, called domain registrars, to sell and manage domain names. You will need to register your domain name through a registrar.
Some of the most popular domain registrars include GoDaddy, Bluehost, and Domain.com, although there are many more to choose from. Be sure to carefully consider pricing and policies for each one before choosing your domain registrar, as it will be managing your domain name.
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Cctld: Country Code Top Level Domains
ccTLDs use just two letters and are based upon international country codes, such as .us for the United States and .jp for Japan. Theyre often used by companies that are building dedicated sites for specific regions and can be a good way of signaling to users that theyve arrived at the right place.
How To Transfer A Domain Name
Domain names can also be transferred between domain name registrars. Though there are a few special conditions that must be met:
While it is not mandatory to transfer your domain, having all services in a single place can greatly simplify the management process.
Here on Hostinger, you can perform a domain transfer from any domain name registrars. The process can take somewhere between 4-7 days to be fully completed. However, our dedicated customer success team will be there to assist every step of the way.
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You’ll Need To Buy A Domain Name Before You Build Your Website
A domain name is what people enter into their web browser in order to access a website. Theyre a much faster and intuitive alternative than having to remember an entire IP address and have become one of the most crucial branding elements of a site.
Domain names typically consist of their name, separated by a dot from the TLD , such as .com or .xyz. Your choice of both of these elements will significantly impact how easily visitors can find, remember, and recommend your website to others.
With that in mind, there are currently over 350 million registered domains worldwide. This makes finding and buying the perfect domain name pretty challenging because you desired domain name could have already been purchased by someone else. Whats more, not every domain registrar offers the same prices and conditions.
If youre planning to purchase a domain for your site, this article is for you. Well show you how to buy a domain name from various registrars and web hosting providers, as well as showcase some domain name registration tips to keep in mind.
Build Your Business By Registering Your Domain
After weighing the benefits and drawbacks of free or paid domains, you should get started on your search for the perfect domain name. Domain names can go quickly and there’s a little more competition than Symbolics had in 1985 so it is important to register the one you want before it is too late.
Registering a domain name is quick and easy, but it does take some time to brainstorm the right name, select the optimal suffix, and find the right domain registrar for you. As such, there’s no better time than now to get started on registering your domain name.
Editor’s note: This post was originally published in February 2020 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.
Originally published Dec 13, 2020 7:00:00 AM, updated July 20 2021
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Can I Buy A Domain Name Without Hosting
Yes, you can. Domain registration and web hosting are two different services. You dont need to buy or have a hosting plan to register a domain name.Check if your preferred domain name is available, then buy and register it at a domain name registrar.Whether you have a website or not, the domain name will be yours as long as you renew the registration before it expires.
How To Register A Domain Name With Domaincom
Domain.com is a well-known domain registrar on the market, although its worth mentioning that they also offer low-cost shared web hosting, a website builder, and design services.
The list of TLDs on Domain.com is extensive, from generic extensions to newer niche-related ones like .yoga and .actor. The price for a .com domain name is also quite affordable, costing $9.99/year.
The steps to buying a domain from this registrar are straightforward. Simply insert a keyword with a domain extension on the homepage and the system will reveal its availability.
Feel free to extend the registration period to up to five years. On Domain.com, the privacy and protection feature is $8.99/year. If the order looks right, click Continue.
On the next page, Domain.com presents several extras to choose from, including a professional email plan, a website builder, shared web hosting, premium SSL certificates from Comodo, and malware protection.
Select any of the Domain.com add-ons you want or skip to the next step filling in the billing and payment details.
Similar to previous vendors, Domain.com will send an email asking to validate the domain name ownership through a link.
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Make It Brandable Not Generic
Creative, memorable domain names are always better than generic ones. After all, your domain name is how people will find, remember, and spread the word about your business on the internet. Its much better to have something that aligns with your brand instead of a domain name thats made up of a bunch of general keywords.
For example, can you tell the difference between cheapcarinsurance.com and affordableautoinsurance.com? Which one would you trust when it comes to buying insurance? Probably neither. Both sound a little spammy, and theyre terribly generic.
On the other hand, youll probably know where the domain names progressive.com or geico.com are going to point you to. Those companies have invested in their brands, and theyve used them in their domain names. You can trust that these sites are legitimate.
Even if you havent built up trust and loyalty yet, you can start by choosing a strong domain name that fits your brand.