The domain name seems a very small part of your website but it plays a massive role in your digital marketing/blogging/online business. It provides ownership and is proprietary to your site’s address.
Your digital marketing or online success starts with a great domain name. It is a way of showing your online solid presence and contacting and strengthening your brand with your customers.
The domain is your online identity, your first impression on customers, and search engines. It is one of the most crucial elements of your website or you can say on the internet.
Your online/blogging business depends on it whether you are going to get successful or fail. That’s why, it deserves a very detailed, deep thought of hours or even days so that you can choose the right, winning, and ideal domain name fit for your blogging or digital marketing business.
In this blog post, you will get details of each and everything you need to know and understand about the domain name. just stick with the post. By the end of this guide post, you will be able to understand and pick the perfect domain name for your business.
Table of Contents
Domain & Domain Name
A domain name is an address (consisting of a name and an extension) people type into a browser’s URL bar to find or visit your website.
To understand simply, Let’s take an example. When you are going to start a business, let’s say a restaurant or a departmental store. The first thing you are going to do is finalize your restaurant or store name, right? Then you will make a board (Flex or Light) and place them where everybody can see that name.
In the say way, your website in the online world is your restaurant or store. And your domain name online is the name of your restaurant or store. A restaurant or store is your physical business. Website or blog is your online business. In both cases, you have to register your business name. The only difference is – in a physical business, you have to pay one time to register your name. But in an online business, you have to pay yearly for your domain name.
After registering your name, it becomes your brand, a trademark that no one can make a copy of it. Similarly, a domain name is also like your fingerprint. As you know that nobody’s fingerprint is matched with your fingerprint, and your domain name is also your unique identity in the world of online.
There is no difference between Domain and Domain name. Don’t be confused. They are like you and your name.
History
So, where do this domain and domain name come from? Why internet needs the domain name to identify the website and its pages? Let’s learn about it briefly.
The internet is a giant network of computers. They are connected to each other through a global network. Each network on this network can communicate with other computers.
In the very beginning (the 1970s or early 80s) of the internet, those computers are assigned an IP address – a series of numbers (192.168.1.1) to identify on the internet.
Those IP addresses are great for computers. But it is difficult for internet users – people to memorize. To humans, it will be easier to remember a name than a string of numbers. That’s where the domain name comes in.
In 1983, DNS (Domain name/network system) was developed. The foundation of the internet. It is an automated, scalable system that handles domain name-to-IP address translation. There are more than 342 million registered domains on the internet. Keeping them in a single directory or server would be a disaster. So, the DNS is distributed around the world (managed by a hosting company) so that it communicates with each other on a regular basis to provide updates and eliminate redundancies.
Parts/Components of the Website URL & Domain name
Before going to the parts of the Website URL and part of the Domain, you should understand the difference between the Domain and URL.
The Domain name and URL (Uniform Resource Locator) look similar in the internet language and are sometimes used interchangeably. But they are not.
The URL is the complete internet address to locate a requested page /post and has a domain as its part. In contrast, A field is just a more straightforward and human-friendly form of the IP address.
https://www.sagansuman.com is an example of a domain name. And https://www.sagansuman.com/blog-launch-checklist-skyrocket-your-brand-new-blog-better/ is an example of the URL.
To get more differences between the domain and URL. Let’s look at the components of URL and Domain.
Parts/Components of URL
Protocol
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) are the main two protocols between web servers and web browsers. As you can see above HTTPS include the Secure word means the website has an SSL certificate. That is the one you need for your website as a protocol. As the protocol encrypts, transmits messages, retrieves information through the domain name system (DNS|), and returns it to the browser, the security protocol protects a website better and is an essential factor in improving ranking on search results nowadays.
Subdomain
A subdomain is a prefix added to your root domain in order to help navigate and organize sections of your website. As the subdomain operates as an entirely different website, it allows you to target specific content types that are different from those of your root domain.
World wide web, WWW is the most common type of subdomain that comes before a URL’s first dot. You can use any word or phrase as a subdomain for your business website purposes as it points to a specific directory from a primary domain.
Some of the most popular subdomains are “blog”, “news”, “support” etc.
Domain Name
You have learned what is domain and domain name in the beginning section of this ultimate guide post. In this section, you are going to learn a little more about it. But before that let’s finish this section.
Path/Page
The path to resource is the part to the right of the top-level domain. It refers to the folder structure of the website.
A path to resource enables and gives extra information to a web server to lead your users to a specific location, page, post, or file. For example https://sagansuman.com/blog-launch-checklist-skyrocket-your-brand-new-blog-better/. A URL can have more than one path to resources. The more paths to resources a URL contains, the more specific the location is.
Besides these components of URLs. Sometimes it also contains Parameters. Parameters are query strings or URL variables. The portions of the URL following a question mark will be parameters in your URL. It contains keys and values separated by the equal sign (=).
Now as promised above, let’s learn little detail about the domain from a different perspective.
Parts/components of Domain
When somebody asked you what is your domain name? Your answer will be the name you have resisted. Like I will say “sagansuman”. Online people have learned and know the domain name means the registered name of the website.
What you, I, and other internet people have learned as a domain name is just part of the whole domain name. The domain name has three parts or components:
- Subdomain /Third-Level Domain
- Second-Level Domain (SLD)
- Top-Level Domain (TLD)
Second-level domain generally refers to the custom section or custom name is what you, I, and all online people have known as a domain name.
The subdomain is not compulsory nowadays but still is part of a domain. Together second-level domain and the top-level domain are two that complete your domain name. it is called the root domain. For example sagansuman.com
Types of the domain or domain extension
TLD (Top-Level Domain)
The Top-Level Domain is the most important segment of a domain name. It is located after your custom name or after the last lot in your domain. TLD is also known as a domain extension.
Each top-level domain has an independent registry. It serves to recognize certain elements of your website such as your website’s purpose, owner, or geographical area. The most common top-level domains are .org, .com, and .net.
Based on the TLD, there are different categories of domain extension that fulfill the website’s purpose, ownership, and geographic location.
Source: Verisign
gTLD (Generic Top-Level Domain)
These are the most popular and familiar types of domain extensions and can register by anyone. When TLDs were simply differentiated between those related to the geographical location of the site and those that weren’t, the categorization titles originated in the 1980s. You can choose the gTLD from 1200 extensions approved by the ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers).
The most common usages of gTLD include:
- .com – for commercial sites
- .org – for organizations
- .net – for networks
- .info – for information platforms
- . biz – for businesses
sTLD (Sponsored Top-Level Domains)
sTLD is those top-level domains that are proposed and supervised by private organizations. These can include businesses, government agencies, or other types of organized groups.
sTLD list only includes a small, limited number of options.
The most common sTLD includes:
- .edu – for higher educational institutions
- .gov – for governmental agencies
- .cat for the cultural community
- .museum – for museum organization
- .travel – for travel industry businesses
- . shop – for eCommerce businesses
ccTLD (Country Code Top-Level Domains)
As the name suggests, ccTLD is used by local businesses and individuals to identify specific countries and territories. There are 312 ccTLD established online and these are mostly with a two-letter string.
Nowadays this domain extension is widely used by large corporations with a regional site that operates independently.
The most common ccTLD includes:
- .us – for the United States
- .es – for Spain
- .in – for India
- .np – for Nepal
- .uk – for the United Kingdom
- .it – for Italy
Source: Verisign
There are mainly three types of domain extensions on the internet. You can see the complete TLD list on IANA’s Database. Besides the above-mentioned extensions, now you will find other new TLDs on the internet. Like Test top-level domains (tTLD), infrastructure top-level domains (.arpa), and a lot newer. For example:
- . invalid – for invalid domain names
- . test – for testing purposes
- . restaurant – for restaurant
- . marketing – for marketing purposes
- . tech – for technologies
- . yoga – for yoga
- . guru
The importance of Domain Name
The importance of the Domain Name for your website is straightforward. If you don’t know/have the address of your home or apartment, how do you reach there?
Let’s illustrate this in a simple way. Imagine you bought or own a piece of land where you are going to build your home. To build a home, there are some foundations to make strong your home. And of course, you need a way/street to reach that home. Then you will have the address of your home.
In the online world, the Land is your Hosting where you will build your website as a home. The files and data that build your website are the foundations of your home. The address to reach your home is your domain name to reach/find your website on the internet. The way/street to reach your home is the internet in the online world. And finally, the Website is your Home.
The domain name is the way people on the internet find your website. Without it, there will be no presence of you and your website online. So, this is the first step you should take care on build your online business. But, the importance of the domain doesn’t complete here. There are many other reasons or factors that you should know about why you need it and how it is used for.
Reasons or factors that show why you need it and how it is used for.
- It’s your “First Impression”
- To add professional credibility to your online business
- To gain Ownership
- It provides visibility for your brand i.e., solidifies your brand identity. It will provide your brand with marketability around the world
- To stand out against competitors
- It establishes your online business as tech-savvy and forward-thinking
- It creates mobility for your internet presence. Because even though you change your hosting or country, the domain name will remain the same.
- To increase your search engine ranking and to help in SEO
- As long as you keep current with the low annual frees – your domain will not expire
- To be memorable
- To build authority
- For custom personalized business email addresses like mail@sagansuman.com
How does a Domain name work?
You may be thinking why do I need to know how it works? It’s a technical thing. But on the way to building an online business, you have to try to learn and get the point even if it is a technical thing.
And when you understand the points in the way you need. It will be easy for you to make successful your online business.
It’s easy to know how the domain works. Here you have a very simple and nice presentation from WPBeginner to know how it works.
- When you enter the domain name in your web browser >>
- It sends a request to a global network of servers from the DNS >>
- These servers then look up the name servers associated with the domain & forward the request to those name servers >>
- The name servers managed by the hosting company forward your request to the computer where your website is stored >>
- The computer called a web server fetches the web page and pieces of information associated with it >>
- Finally, it then sends it back to the browser.
How to Choose a perfect Domain Name
Do you know the fact that according to Verisign’s latest industry report, There are 366 million domain manes registered across all top-level domains?
The number of registration is increasing by thousands every day. It seems quite difficult to choose your winning domain name but it’s not impossible. As you have already learned above domain name is the first step to impressing and showing your brand identity online, you must have one.
Yes, it is tough to choose the right and perfect domain name over millions of domains that have already been registered. Considering the tips and points you are going to learn; you can have a good domain name.
A combination of creativity, SEO knowledge, sometimes luck, and extensive knowledge of the best practices to follow will help you to find your website’s domain that perfectly represents your brand.
Practices to follow in a bullet point while choosing your perfect and winning domain name.
- If possible, stick with a .com since it’s the most popular and well-known domain extension
- Avoid using hyphens, numbers, and double letters
- Make it rememberable, shorter is better
- Make it easy to spell and pronounce
- Research your domain name
- Brainstorm related words or synonyms that you can use
- Write your domain name without spacing and see how it looks like so that you don’t end up with an embarrassing name
- Consider using your primary keyword
- Make it unique and brandable
- Think long-term over the short term
- Pick a domain that is flexible i.e., don’t be too specific
- Use a website name generator to come up with ideas
- Act quickly before someone else takes it
Considering these practices in the points you should be able to choose your good domain even though not perfect to start your digital marketing business. If you want to go deep into these pointwise practices you can find many articles online describing them all.
Which one is better – A personal or Business Domain Name?
All the way up to now you have learned a lot about the domain name. Now it’s time to learn about the personal vs business domain name. You see, both names are good for online business and you can see lots of websites with personal names as well as business names.
When it comes to choosing your domain along with the points described in the above section. There are mainly three ways you can make your domain name perfect:
- Use your own name – personal
- Use your business name
- Use your primary Keyword
Personal Domain Name
Yourname.com is your personal domain name using your own name. There is a misconception that a personal domain limits the growth potential, it does look as professional as a business domain, a personal domain is not resonated with a catchy and memorable brand name, etc. But the truth is just the opposite. Recognition and memorability come from the quality of your product and services, and what you do as a brand, not the name itself.
The choice of domain depends on the kind, nature, and purpose of your business. If you are a blogger, podcaster, coach, consultant, author, or speaker, your business is based on you and around you. So, it absolutely OK to go for yourname.com because you are going to give your expertise and experiences as a product or service to your customers.
Advantages and disadvantages of personal domain
Advantages
- Personal domain makes it easier for people to find you online
- It makes it easier for you to change business direction in the future
- It manages your own online personal image proactively
- You can take control of your online identity
- It gives an opportunity to make a great impression on people around you as well as on you targeted people
- A personal domain is a great way of displaying your skills online and showing the world how you are tech-savvy.
Disadvantages
- It makes your website harder to sell
- It makes it hard to work out what you do
- Your name may be hard to spell
- It makes it harder for you to change your business structure
Business Domain Name
If you are serious about your digital marketing or online business, then you should go to yourbusinessname.com. It gives you professionalism and a recognizable and memorable brand. The business domain clearly communicates what type of content is being discussed and delivered on the website.
The business domain is mostly used for identification, branding, and legal purposes. It specifically spheres for business-oriented solutions.
This kind of domain fits eCommerce, Logistics, travel agents,s and other business-oriented websites.
Advantages and Disadvantages of business domain name
Advantages
- This domain makes it easier for you to sell your website
- It makes what you do clear and what to expect from the website
Disadvantages
- This domain makes it harder to change business direction
- The business Domain makes it harder to build a personal connection with you
- A business domain name makes it harder for people to find you
Domain Flipping
Do you know that your website with a domain is your real state property online?
After building and maintaining all properly with a good reputation, credibility, and authority, you can sell it like real estate property in the real world. In fact, domain flipping is a kind of very lucrative business to make you a full-time income while working part-time hours.
It is similar to buying cheap real estate and selling for profit. So domain flipping is buying a domain name as cheaply as possible and without doing anything, you sell the domain for more than your original price.
As you have already learned domain names cannot be duplicated or copied once it is registered. There is no other way to get it except buy it from the owner of the domain. This is how the domain flipping concept was born and become an opportunity for online entrepreneurs who are always looking for some extra income.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Domain Name
Who is Responsible for the Domain Name System?
ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) manages the domain names system. It is a non-profit organization and makes policies for domain names.
It gives permission to domain name registrar companies for selling. These companies are allowed to make changes to the domain names registered on your behalf. Domain name selling, record keeping, renewals, transfer, etc., are done by these registrar companies.
How to buy a domain name?
You can buy the domain name for your website from domain name registrar companies like GoDaddy, Domain.com, and Namecheap. There is many registrars’ companies online form where you can buy your domain.
Source: fitsmallbusiness
What you need to understand is when you buy your domain, it does not automatically give you a hosting service. You need a separate hosting account to make live your website. But when you buy your hosting package, you may get the domain name and registration for free.
Is it possible to cancel domain name registration?
Yes, it is possible. Some registrars allow you to cancel at any time and some just allow you to let your domain registration expire. In both cases, the domain will become available for others to register.
Can I move my website to a different domain name?
Yes, you can. You can point your domain name to your hosting server.
What is Domain Privacy? Do I need it?
Domain Privacy is a separate service sold by registrars. It allows you to show proxy information instead of the actual personal info that you have provided to the domain name registrars.
If you don’t want it, you don’t need it. If you are serious about privacy, you can have it for a small cost.
Can I buy more than one domain?
Yes, you can buy as many domain names as you like.
How Do I check the Owner of a Domain Name?
ICANN Lookup gives you information about the owner of a domain name. Simply enter the domain name in the search bar to locate its contact information. If the owner has the domain privacy bought. You cannot get personal information. In that case, you need to contact the related registrar company.
Who owns unused domain names?
Of course, it owns by ICANN and the domain registrar. To find out the owners of domains that are registered but not used, follow the above question how do I check the owner of the domain name?
Is .com best for SEO?
This most popular and used domain extension has no effect on SEO as there is no indication it is given any special treatment by search engines. Generally, TLDs aren’t considered a ranking factor.
Can I sell my Domain?
Yes, you can sell your domain name on the marketplace.
How much does a domain cost?
Source: HubSpot
How long can a domain name be?
While choosing your custom name for the domain according to Verisign should be around 10-12 characters, maximum of 15 characters and contains 2 words.
The world’s most visited websites have domain names of between 6-10 characters. Although the maximum number of characters you can have in a website address without a dot is 63 characters, it will make your domain name and URL awful and disastrous.
Can I have five Domain Name generator tools?
Final Thought
Now you have got all the learnings on the topic of the domain name. I hope, I have solved the puzzle on this topic by putting all the pieces together in this blog post.
Even though finding a catchy and unique domain is difficult these days, you can find the best one just by being a little smart, creative, and thinking out of the box.
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Share your view on the domain name in the comment box.
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