What's in a Name?

Your first step before you can have a Web site, or Web hosting for that matter, is to register a domain name. When servers are looking for a particular address on the Web, they look for a string of network digits called the IP address. A domain name is the text translation of this IP address, which is easier for people to remember than a string of digits. Registering a domain name is easy and can be done through a registrar, such as Verisign, or directly through a Web hosting company such as Metropolitan Hosting and Design Services.

Domain names are extremely important and vital to distinguishing your company from the competition. Selecting an appropriate domain name will enable you to successfully promote your brand online and will determine how easily visitors can get to your site. Your domain name is effectively your address on the Internet, so make it clear, concise and memorable.

Tips:

If you are not ready to build your Web presence but feel you will need to in the future, register the domain name anyway…just in case, to make sure that no one else takes the domain name from you. Better to be safe than sorry!

It's a good idea to register many similar domain names and set them as domain aliases to your Web site. For example, if users type www.angiesantiques.com or www.angisantiqueshop.com, the browser will automatically point them to your main Web site.

Next Steps:

2. Find a Hosting Company
3. Design your Website
4. Market your site
5. Add functionality/Upgrade