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Domain registration is a bit like having a number plate for your car. Everyone must have one to distinguish themselves from one another, and the registration must be unique. In simple terms (we're not all computer geeks you know), domain names are often called URLs (Universal Resource Locator), which is the address of your website. Visitors type in your domain name, such as www.whichoption.co.uk or www.onewedding.com to access your website. The price of a domain name varies depending on the type of extension (.com, .net, .org, .co.uk, etc) and needs to be renewed once a year.

The options

So you want a domain name... You want your very own "www.yourcompany.com". Well, there are a few things you should know about domain registration first. Websites are located (or hosted) in computer servers. The location of a website in a server is really specified by a series of numbers, called the IP address (for example: 63.241.136.31). However, this would be too hard to remember and is dull as dishwater anyway. So domain names were created. Domain names act like an address forwarding service that directs the Internet user to the server, and then looks for the IP address that corresponds to the domain name (geeks like to say: "the domain name resolves to its IP address").

To see if a domain name is available, you can go to the webpage of any accredited registrar, and type the name you want in the search box. The domain registration program will immediately tell you if the domain name you want is available. If the domain extension that you would like is not available (the .com's are almost always taken) you can try others, and chances are that your domain selection will be available. Another trick is to add dashes to separate the words (for example: your-company.com).

Any extras

Domain names are registered on-line through accredited domain registrars. There are thousands of companies that offer domain registration services. However, some of them are more reputable than others, offer good customer service and provide you with a user-friendly interface. As a rule of thumb, follow these simple rules: Avoid registrars that charge too much; Look for registrars that offer you a comprehensive and easy to use user interface. Also, since you will most likely have a question or two to ask, look for those who have an extensive FAQ section and a responsive customer service team; Find a registrar that offer Free Domain Forwarding services - this acts as an insurance policy if your hosting service is down. You can always host a duplicate version of your website somewhere else and forward your domain traffic to that location. At least with domain registration, you don't have to worry about rising petrol prices...

swot

- To study hard, especially for an examination.

 Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. 

Anon