About Domain Names

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How do domain names work?

A domain name basically works like an address forwarding service.

All of your web site content sits on a computer with a unique address. This is called an IP address. An IP address is made up of a series of numbers, such as 123.23.234.45. Your domain name directs visitors to your site using this IP address.

We use domain names instead of IP addresses because most people find it easier to remember a name rather than a series of numbers.

What is a top-level domain (TLD)?

A top-level domain (TLD) is the basic part of the domain name located to the right of the dot (" . "). The most common top-level domains are .com, .net, and .org. Some other popular top-level domains are .biz, .info, .name, and .ws. These common top-level domains have certain guidelines attached, but are for the most part available to any registrant, anywhere in the world.

There are also restricted top-level domains (rTLDs), like .aero, .biz, .edu, .mil, .museum, .name, .ca, .bk, and .pro, that require the registrant to represent a certain type of entity or country, or to belong to a certain community. For example, the .name TLD is reserved for individuals and .edu is reserved for educational entities.

What is a second-level domain (SLD)?

Located immediately to the left of the dot (" . "), the second-level domain is the readable part of the domain name. The registrant defines the second-level domain. It typically refers to the organization or entity associated with the IP address. For example, in www.cnn.com "cnn" is a second-level domain.

Checking if a Domain Name is Available

1. Go to a website like Godaddy.

2. In the Enter a domain name search box, type in the domain name you are interested in.

3. Select a top-level domain from the drop-down list (.com, .org, .net).

4. Click Search.
   

What do I do with my domain name once it's been registered?

Setup a web site. In order to setup a website you will need to do the following:

1. Buy a web hosting account.

2. Create web pages for your web site.

   1. Website Creation Software

   2. Templates

   3. Website Design Companies

3. Upload your web pages to your web hosting account.

Sell it. Domain names can be a great investment. If you have registered a domain name that you are not using, maybe someone else can. Go to the a place like Godaddy and set up a For Sale parked page for your domain name. Don't forget to include your contact information.

Protect your brand online. The more domain names you register, the better. Prevent others from registering a similar domain name to yours—just to steal your customers. What to do with all these names? Forward them to your main domain name.

Hold on to it. Maybe you haven’t decided what to do with your new domain name. You can leave it parked with St Pete Web Design for the length of your registration.

Can I register a domain name without having a web hosting provider yet?

Yes, you can register as many domain names as you'd like and choose to have them parked until you find a hosting provider.