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This is the first instalment of our new five-part series; ‘How to get online’. We’ll go through all the steps you need in order to establish an online business and grow it from the ground up.
So, the first thing you’ll need to do is to register a domain name.
What is a domain name?
It’s like your website’s address – It tells people where to find you online. It can also be used for things other than a website such as an email address and to point to your social media – Don’t worry, we’ll cover all of this later. Our full domain is MyHost.ie. The ‘.IE’ is the domain extension we chose but you can also get .COM, .EU, .BLOG etc. Don’t confuse the domain with the URL – the domain is the name of the website whereas the URL is the link to a specific web page on a website.
Why do I need a domain?
The domain name you register is unique and specific to your brand. It gives your website and brand a professional look and helps to build credibility with customers. This is important to establish trust between the brand and customers, so it’s easier to create loyalty and sell new products and services. People tend to prefer to buy from a trusted source and one that uses a domain extension related to where they live (Like .IE in Ireland). It helps your SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) because people that type something related to your domain into the search engine have a high chance of seeing your website in the list of results.
What domain name is right for me?
As a general rule of thumb, it’s important to choose a domain that’s easy to remember and aligns with your brand. You can choose a domain extension (.COM, .IE, etc) based on your industry, target audience and location. To sell to customers in a specific area, choosing a domain name with the country-code extension helps to attract that market, such as .IE (Ireland), CO.UK (The UK), etc. You can register more than one domain that look similar but have different extensions (like yourbusiness.ie and yourbusiness.com) in order to protect the brand so no one else can try to register it.
Remember to keep your domain name short, avoid accents and numbers, and make sure it’s easy to read. Avoid a domain such as thisismywebsite123.website – it’s too long, contains numbers and a shorter extension would be better in this case.
Do I own the domain?
Getting a domain is like a subscription. You buy the domain for as long as you want (from 1 to 10 years usually), and there will be an expiration date. If you’re coming up to the expiration date, it’s important to renew the domain so you can keep it for another while. If you reach the expiration date without renewing the domain, the domain is then removed from whatever you have it attached to (such as a website) and it goes back up for sale. Anyone can then buy this domain for as long as they want, and it’s no longer yours. Your competitors and scammers can even get the domain.
How do I get a domain?
Simply go here and type in the domain name you want to register. We’ll check to see if it’s available or if it’s been registered by someone else. If no one has taken it, you can register it there and then. If it has been taken, we’ll suggest some alternatives that are available. It’s an automated service so you can get your domain in just a few clicks. If you have any questions or need assistance, simply contact us.
Remember, a domain won’t do anything unless a service is attached to it, so keep an eye out for part 2 of How to Get Online – Building a Website.
About the Author: Aoife Wright
