Domain Names 101
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When deciding to build a website, there are many factors that come into play. Aside from the look, feel and content of your site -- which is surely the bulk of the work -- there’s also the tricky issue of obtaining a domain name. In this article we'll discuss the purposes of a domain name, how to acquire one, why you might want to get a premium name, and how and why to use an escrow service.
Essentially, the purpose of a domain name is to provide a recognizable name to your website, thus distinguishing it from billions of other websites online. Attaining a domain name enables a web site's IP address to be moved to a different physical location, whether it is a new network or a new country, and though the IP address has now changed, the website and its domain name still appears the same online.
Aside from it being necessary to getting your website online, there are many advantages to creating a unique domain name rather than using a numerical IP address. Domain names allow Internet users to easily find and communicate with web sites and other IP-based communication services. Also, the flexibility of the domain name system allows multiple IP addresses to be assigned to a single domain name or multiple domain names to be serviced from a single IP address. This means that one server may have multiple roles, such as hosting multiple independent websites, or that one role can be spread among many servers.
Technical reasons aside, if you're building a website from the ground-up, a domain name can reflect the purpose of the website itself. Though given the millions of websites online, the chances of a user getting the most fitting for their site or their first choice in domain name is slim to none.
On the upside, there's no telling how much the name you register will be worth in the future. Fourteen years ago Chris Clark registered the domain name "pizza.com" for $20 and in April of last year, he was able to sell it for $2.6 million.
Though some domain names can be registered cheaply, such as Clark's, attaining a premium domain name may seem like an overwhelming task as they can cost thousands of dollars. There are a number of services online, however, that alleviate some of the stress and ensure that a buyer gets their money's worth. Let's take a look at how one can safely and successfully attain a premium domain name.
Next: Finding a Premium Name >>
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