Having a quality website is more important than ever in the digital age, and picking a domain is usually the first step to take before opening a website. So, if you are thinking about opening a website too -which you should if you haven’t already in 2023!- you might be wondering what is a domain, how exactly does it work, and of course, how to choose a proper one… In this article, we will talk about domain names and hopefully provide you with all the information you need in order to take the first steps towards building a website!
What is a Domain?
Basically, a domain name is an address people put in web browsers to reach a website. Before diving deeper, let’s first talk about the IP address. IP (Internet Protocol) address, in simple terms, is a unique address that is used for identifying a certain device, such as a computer, on the internet- or a local network. The internet needs to be able to differentiate between different devices and websites, and IP addresses make it possible to do so, which is why they are a very important factor in how the internet works.
Domain names are created simply to make IP addresses more human-friendly. As IP addresses look like long strings of random numbers, it is almost impossible -and certainly not practical- for us to remember the addresses of different websites. This is where domain names come in. As every domain is linked to a specific IP address, when users put a domain name to their browser’s address bar, they are directed to the related IP address.
A domain name consists of a unique name and an extension, chosen by the user. Take Google for example; “google” is the unique name, and “.com” is the extension, making up the domain name “Google.com.” Here is an example from Siteground domain section.
How Does Domain Work?
When you type a domain name into a browser’s address bar and hit the Enter button, there will be a search on a global server network known as Domain Name System (DNS). The IP address associated with the domain name will be searched there, and the DNS server that has the information about the requested IP address will return this information to the browser. After that, the web browser will request site data from the hosting server of the domain. The website’s server stores all the data (images, text, database, code, etc.) and once this data is sent back, the web browser will convert it to a page the user will be able to understand.
Company | Visit | Features |
 |
|
Why is a domain name important for a website?
A domain name is the address of a website on the internet. It is how people find and connect to your site. A good domain name is important for a few reasons:
– it’s how people find you online
– it’s how you build credibility and trust with visitors
– it’s a reflection of your brand
Your domain name should be easy to remember, spell, and type. It should also be relevant to your brand and industry. Avoid using hyphens, numbers, or anything that could make it difficult for someone to find or remember your site.
Domain Types
There are several different types of domains, and they can give us some information about the website. Some of the common domain types are the following:
Top-Level Domains (TLD)
Top-level domains are domain extensions (the rightmost segment of the domain name). There are many top-level domains out there, but obviously .com is the most popular one, as more than 50% of all websites have this TLD. Even though .com is the most popular TLD, there are others that are often more affordable, and users can make unique ones using those. For a complete list of top-level domains, you can visit Internet Assigned Numbers Authority’s Root Zone Database.
Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD)
These types of domains are made of three or more characters, and can be registered online by anyone- although it should be noted that some gTLD’s are only available for registration by certain organizations, such as .gov (governmental agencies), or .edu (academic institutions). Available gTLDs range from classics like .com, .org to new extensions such as .app, .icu, etc.…
Country-Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLD)
These domains are established for countries or territories. They basically consist of just two letters based on international country codes. These types of domains are ideal for businesses that want to focus on users from a specific country. For example, while amazon.co.uk focuses on users in United Kingdom, amazon.com focuses on users from USA.
Sponsored Top-Level Domains (sTLD)
sTLDs are domains supported by private organizations. Their numbers are limited, and registrations must be approved by the private organizations managing them.
Second-Level Domains (SLD)
A second-level domain is a segment that comes just before the top-level domain- in other words, they refer to the custom section of the name. To give an example, in microsoft.com, “microsoft” is the second-level domain.
Sometimes, second-level domains might be a part of the extension, because registries may use them to specify a specific use of a top-level domain. This is especially seen with ccTLDs, because second-level domains are used to specify the type of website within a certain country. For example, a commercial website in France may be registered with the extension .com.fr, while being registered in England with the extension .co.uk.
Subdomains
Also known as third-level domains, subdomains are small, separate parts of a larger domain, but they share the same server. Users do not need to register subdomains. A common example of using a subdomain is when you refer to a separate page of your website with a specific purpose, such as translate.google.com.
“www” on most addresses is technically a subdomain, indicating that the website is a part of the world wide web.
How to Choose a Domain
8 Tips on How to Choose the Best domain name
- Keep it short and sweet: A good domain name should be short and easy to remember. Short domains perform better for a variety of reasons. First, they are quicker to type and easier to recall. Consequently, individuals are more inclined to promote a favorable UX.
This is especially crucial now that more and more people are using mobile devices to browse the internet. Less chance of autocorrect catching mobile users off guard when a domain name is short. Another technique to deter visitors is by using an excessively long URL. Your users may become skeptical if you overcomplicate your domain with pointless keywords.
- Avoid numbers and hyphens: Numbers and hyphens can make your domain name look like spam and be difficult to remember.
- Make it relevant to your business: Choose a domain name that is relevant to your business or website. A distinctive domain name can make your website stand out and even help you stay out of problems with the law. Additionally, it can support your marketing initiatives. In fact, if your website is a part of a larger brand, it would be advisable to think about your domain name when coming up with the brand name.
Even if you work for yourself, you can still think of your website and body of work as parts of your personal brand. For instance, if you own a private therapy clinic, your whole name and your specialty could be included in an original yet recognizable domain name.
- Use keywords: Include keywords in your domain name to help people find your website.
- Be unique: Don’t choose a domain name that is similar to another website or business.
- Check availability: Before you register your domain name, check to see if it’s available.
- Register your domain name: Once you’ve chosen the perfect domain name, register it with a reputable company.
- rotect Your Brand with Multiple Domains: Even if you are able to secure a highly sought-after.com address, you may want to think about buying alternative TLDs and implementing redirects. You might even go it a step further and purchase popular misspellings of your domain name so that you don’t lose out on traffic that was lost due to “user error.”
Top 3 Domain Providers in 2023
You can buy a domain from one of the countless providers out there. It is best that you do your own research and make up your mind, but to give you some guiding, we have listed the top 3 best domain providers for you:
1- GoDaddy
GoDaddy is one of the most popular providers in the market today. There you can search for available domains and get yourself a new one with advantageous prices. They also provide hosting solutions if you’d like to get an all-in-one kind of service.
2- Domain.com
Operating with a perfect domain for selling domains, Domain.com offers premium domains as well as transfer services, domain privacy & protection, and other services such as web hosting and website builder. They are a trustable source, and they have a separate page where you can view new domain extensions and their prices.
3- Network Solutions
With over 7 million domains registered, Network Solutions is one of the biggest domain name registrars in the world today. Using their quality services, you will be able to register a wide range of domain extensions including .com, .org, .info, and lots of niche TLDs!
Domain Prices
Domain prices vary based on a number of factors, such as the extension you choose, and, of course, the registrar. Typically, domain names cost somewhere between $7 and $15.00 -the price is usually paid yearly- but almost every registrar has discounts and coupon codes that you can benefit from, so you might as well look out for them!
Domain vs. URL – What’s the Difference?
These two understandably get confused a lot of times, but the distinction is actually quite simple. A URL (Universal Resource Locator) refers to the complete website address, while the domain is just a small part of that address. Take this for an example:
This is a URL: “https://www.amazon.com/gift-cards”
In this URL; https:// is the protocol is the protocol, “www.” is the subdomain, “amazon.com” is the domain, and “/gift-cards” is the path.
Domain F.A.Q
Here are the frequently asked questions about domain names:
Q: How to register a domain?
A: After picking a registrar, search your desired domain in the availability tool of the provider- repeat this step until you find a unique one! Once you do, purchase the name and complete the registration process. After your purchase is over, you will be getting an e-mail with a link to your new domain control panel.
Keep in mind that even after purchasing and registering your new domain name, you might need to wait for a few hours -or even days!- before being able to use it, as the official domain name registry must be updated with your information.
Q: How to transfer a domain from one registrar to the other?
A: If you wish to change your registrar, you can easily transfer it to another provider. To be able to do that, you should first disable the registrar lock, then get an authorization code. After logging into your new registrar, you should be able to start the transfer process using your authorization code. (This process may change slightly based on the registrar.)
Q: What is a domain name generator?
A: Finding a unique, catchy, and SEO-friendly domain name can be a bit of a painful process, as there are countless options, and there’s no way of you knowing which ones are taken without trying them all one by one. Instead of this, you can use a domain name generator, which will generate available, SEO-friendly domain names for you based on the keywords you provide.
Conclusion
Now that you have all the necessary information about domains, it’s time for you to take the first step and get an actual domain name! Remember to keep it simple and easy to remember, and don’t forget to check out our articles about hosting and website builder to learn more about what steps to follow in order to create a professional website!