Are you still thinking about how to choose the right domain name?
Of course, you should be extra cautious while selecting the right domain name, as this is the very first major step in your blogging business. More to that, your domain name spread much more information to the world of the internet before your actual content does.
What is the domain name?
When I first started blogging, I was not aware much about this terminology. Those days I simply assumed that a website is everything which is a wand to do magic on the internet.
If you are new to this blogging world, you might have in the same thinking, what is this domain name and how it linked with the website?
In simple words, a domain name is your website address on this big internet world.
Still, you are not much clear on this concept of a domain name?
Then let me try here to explain in other words in detail.
There are millions of computers are there in this internet world with a vast variety of information. Every computer on the internet will have address tags which would be in the form of IP (Internet Protocol) address. Ip address is a combination of numbers and dots like 122.0.00.1
If you want any information from another computer where few files stored in virtual space, then you need to remember that IP address.
Think that you want to access one site so typing the IP address in the browser address bar.
Anyone remembering one or two IP addresses is a bit OK but it’s very difficult if more to that.
Hence, to help people like you and me, the concept of domain name came to picture.
Every computer on the internet with IP addresses will be tagged with a unique name. With this, you can just use this name instead of complex number series IP address.
For example, a site with Ip address like 122.0.00.1.4444 and you want to access it. In that scenario, you don’t need that IP address to enter and just go with the domain name www.bloggingonblog.com.
By this, users using the internet only needing to remember a domain name to find a particular resource on the Internet.
When you type this domain name in the address bar then request goes to the DNS server first to get the corresponding IP address.
Then that IP address will get used to accessing the other side webserver to fetch information & display the site on your computer browser.
What is this Domain Name System (DNS) server here?
In simple terminology, this DNS server is with IP address to domain name mappings. When you input any domain name, it will get the corresponding IP address to access that site.
By this time, hope you have got a good idea of what is the domain name concept.
What is website hosting?
If you are going to launch any site then getting a domain name is the first task which would be the address of your site.
But where you store all your files and display on UI when someone tries to accesses the same?
Can’t you keep them on your own local computer disk space?
I say, No.
If your local computer goes offline then no one can access your site.
That is where the concept of a server to store such information with guaranteed uptime came.
The service of storing and giving access to website files is called as website hosting.In other words, this hosting is an actual space where your files get stored and a domain name is the address of the same.
Do you need to purchase a server to launch a website with a small set of files?
You don’t need to purchase any hosting server with a big investment to launch your site.
You can rent/lease some space on any hosting server and get your files stored in a specific folder for access.
There are many hosting plans available with diverse plans based on price and features.
So now, are you clear on these both website hosting and domain name concepts and two are different.
If you are launching a site then you need space (hosting) to store your files and address (domain name) of that space.
Who maintains the list of domain names?
Domain names or Domain Name System (DNS) are managed by organization Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) and Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN).
The Domain Name System (DNS) is hierarchical; at the top of the hierarchy is called the DNS root zone. Organization IANA manages the DNS root zone by holding the data (root zone file) in the root name servers.
What are all types of domain names based on domain extensions (TLD)?
- infrastructure top-level domain (ARPA)
- generic top-level domains (gTLD)
- generic-restricted top-level domains (grTLD)
- sponsored top-level domains (sTLD)
- country code top-level domains (ccTLD)
Infrastructure Top-Level Domain (ARPA): There is only a single TLD i.e. “.arpa,” which is exclusively for the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF). It stands for the “Address and Routing Parameter Area” which is used completely for technical infrastructure activities.
generic top-level domains (gTLD): These generic TLDs will have three or more characters in it and are generally proposed for public use.
generic-restricted top-level domains (grTLDs). This is a subclass of gTLDs with few restrictions as to who can register them, and for what purpose.
sponsored top-level domains (sTLD): private organizations will sponsor and manage these TLDs. There will be some restrictions from organizations to control who can use these TLDs and purpose.
Country code top-level domains (ccTLD): These are two-letter domains planned for different countries and regions.
Which TLD to consider?
That depends on what is your business about and the location of the business.
If your business is location-specific then you may consider ccTLDs available/applicable for your country. If you’re a new blogger and don’t want to restrict yourself to your location then use gTLDs like .com.
This .com TLD is still a very popular TLD where most of the best/big sites with this TLD only.
Where to register my domain name?
There are many domain name registrars available who sell domain names. Not all registrars can sell all types of domain names.
Where to check domain name availability?
All of the domain name registrars has provision to search for a domain name and check the availability.Don’t just stick to one registrar and check with other best available sites as you may get your best domain registered at a low price or some free add-ons.
What to check before finalizing a domain name?
This is one of the critical tasks to decide a name for your business like decide a name for a newborn baby. There are many factors to take into consideration before name it. If you are going to start a blogging website then you must consider SEO factors.
Basic things to consider below.
- Avoid special characters in the domain name
- Consider adding your business-related keyword
- If you want, add location-specific name
- Make sure it should be short in length and easily memorable
Avoid special characters in the domain name: Let it be very simple and easily type name, don’t put hyphens, underscores.
Consider adding your business-related keyword: adding business/niche related keyword to your domain name helps a lot to easily catch your site by google search engine bots.
For example, if you are willing to start a site for your cookie shop then consider “cookie” keyword in your domain name like “www.XXXcookiesXXXX.com”
If you want, add location-specific name: If you are having a business that is very location specific and considers adding the location in your domain. Like www.cityXXXinfra.com where the city represents your current location. This will add additional weightage to your business brand value.
Make sure it should be short in length and easily memorable: don’t put lengthy domain name which leads unable to remember your brand/domain name. it should be short and simple so that visitors easy to remember and reach.
This blog with all required information must have helped you to understand the concepts around Domain Name.
Are you new to blogging, consider my earlier blog 11 Important Considerations You Need To Mind Before Write A Blog.
If you still have any queries, please comment here below.