Domain Name Registration

Every web site is hosted somewhere and the hosting service typically runs a machine that makes it possible for other machines around the Internet to find you using the Domain Name System. The Internet Domain Name System (abbreviated DNS) is an Internet directory service much like your telephone book. Using DNS, domain names are translated into their corresponding IP addresses. Your ISP, when you signup for an account, provides the DNS services for you. Without the Domain Name System, we would all have to remember long IP addresses to get to our favorite site and use these "hard to remember" IP addresses in order to send email to our friends and business associates.

You may find it advantageous to keep domain name registration services separate from hosting your web site simply so you can easily move your web site to a different hosting company should you not be satisfied with their service, and without interrupting the domain services.

How To Register Your Domain Name

The first step you must take so that others can find you on the Internet is to find an affordable domain name registration service to buy, register and manage a domain name. There are many places where you can get your domain name registered at a cost ranging from $7.99 per year up to $25 per year, and it doesn't really matter who does the registering anymore. However, most domain registrars do offer additional services that you might find useful, and it is these extra services that will typically drive the decision to choose one registrar over another.

You can keep your domain registration separate from your hosting and I usually suggest that you do so. This approach allows you to remain in control of your domain name. Your domain manager will allow you to point the domain name to any server that is hosting your web site. If the hosting entity controls your domain name, you will some day sweat bullets if your business relationship goes down the tubes with the hosting company.

The idea is simple. Don't let hosting companies register your domain name. Learn how to do it yourself and always stay in control of managing your domain names.