Wondering what a domain name is and why you need to register it? Then you have come to the right place…
Have you ever asked someone to design a website for you and they hit you with a lot of hard to understand words and phrases? Not only that, they seem to charge you for every one of those words or phrases?
One of the terms you might have heard is the term Domain registration. When someone charges you for domain registration, they are not trying to steal from you.
Getting a domain name is one of the first steps when you are thinking of putting your business online. A domain name can be used for emails or when designing a website for your company.
In this post, we are going to share with you everything you need to know about domains. This is a non-technical post so don’t worry about long IT words you don’t understand.
- What is a domain name?
- Why is a domain important for my business?
- Are domains only for large companies?
- What domain extensions are there?
- How do I choose the right domain name?
- How much does a domain cost?
- What do I do after I register a domain name?
- Next Steps and getting your domain registered
What is a domain name?
A domain name is simply your website’s address. This is the information that people type in the web browser if they want to visit your website. You can also think of a domain as the location of your website on the internet.
In real-life terms, let’s say your website is a house, then your domain name will be the house address. Just as every house needs an address, so every website needs a domain name.
Why is a domain important for my business?
Trust and credibility are important when conducting business. A domain name gives you that. Having a domain name for your business is important now more than ever because the world is moving online and having your own domain helps you stand out amongst other competitors.
A good domain name should reflect your business or your brand. For example, if your company is called ReelNet Multimedia then your domain should reflect that e.g reelnet.video. So a good domain would include your company name.
Having the right domain name is also important because that is the name you will use for your emails.
It is more professional to have an email address like this: info@reelnet.video than this: mycompany@gmail.com.
Are domains only for large companies?
Short answer, No.
Anyone who is doing any type of business should have a domain name. Domains can be used by:
- Small businesses
- Non-profit organisations
- Schools
- Churches
- Tutors
- Self-help coaches
- People who offer master of ceremony services
- Sports Teams
- Event planners
- DJ’s
The list is endless. Remember a domain name is also going to be used for your emails, so you want to sound professional and trustworthy.
What domain extensions are there?
A domain extension is the characters that come after the dot in a web address. For example: the domain extension for www.reelnet.video is .video
There are many types of domain extension. The most popular one is the .com i.e yourcompany.com but you can also use the fillowing extensions:
- .org (usually for non-profit organisations)
- .biz
- .video
- .net
- .live
- .info
- .shop
- .edu
You can even have domains that are specific to a country e.g:
- .com.au (Australia)
- .co.uk (United Kingdom)
- .co.za (South Africa)
- .co.zw (Zimbabwe)
Note: Reelnet Multimedia does not currently register .co.zw domains
Does the domain extension I use matter?
The domain extension has no effect on search engine results. What is most important is your domain name. So, you can feel free to use any domain extension you want. For example, ReelNet Multimedia’s domain extension is a .video domain because, in addition to web design, we also offer video services like documentaries, corporate videos, weddings, music videos, events, and movies. So when someone sees that .video extension then they will have an idea of what the company does.
Even though the .com extension is the most popular extension, you can select a domain extension that you feel best represents the line of business you are in.
But remember that some domains are associated with certain types of organizations. For example, if you are a profit-making business then you might want to steer clear of the .org extension as people will automatically assume you are a non-profit organization. That’s confusion you want to avoid if your ultimate goal is to sell something…
How do I choose the right domain name?
Choosing the right physical location for your business is very important, and the same goes for a domain name. Here are some questions to ask yourself when choosing a domain name.
- Does it go hand in hand with your brand? Where possible, use your company name in the domain. However, you must always have three ideas just in case the domain name you want is taken. Choose a domain name one that makes it clear who you are and what you do. For example, if you are a self-help coach you will want to consider domain names related to that.
- Is it short and easy to remember? This is a mistake many people make. Someone is more likely to remember ‘goodcoffee’ than ‘thebesttastingcoffeeintheworld’. So keep your domain name short and simple.
- Is it unique? You want to avoid as much confusion as possible so make sure your domain name is unique. In fact, you will not be able to register a domain name that is exactly the same as another domain-just as two houses cannot have the same address. However, try to avoid a domain name that sounds like another one as it can cause you to lose business. For example, if there is already a website called www.mhanya.com then a domain like mhanyai can cause confusion and people will end up at mhanya.com instead of your website.
How much does a domain cost?
Just like any other service, domain registration is a service that needs to be paid for.
Why is domain registration so expensive?
Domain name registration can range anywhere from a few dollars to $49Million depending on whether or not someone already owns it or if it is a prime domain. But for a regular company, domain registration does not have to be expensive.
Generally .com domains range at about $20 per year. Some sites will offer you domains for as little as $2 but pay attention to the asterix next to that figure, as you will have to pay the regular domain price the following year.
If you are a small business or are just starting, Reelnet Multimedia offers an ofzim domain for just $5 a year. So your web address will be www.yourcompany.ofzim.com. Using the ofzim extension will also have no bearing on your search engine results as Google will just read it as a separate website.
NOTE: You will need to pay an annual domain renewal fee for your domain. Unlike web design, domain registration is not a once-off payment. You have to renew it every year. If you forget to renew your domain you will run the risk of losing it.
Why do I have to pay for a domain name?
The process of registering and maintaining domains is a service created by organisations which have running costs like electricity, computers, personnel and maintenance.
Even though domains are regulated by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), domains can have different prices depending on whether someone owns them, the registrar you are buying from and basic market forces.
Can I get free domain registration?
There are many services offering ‘free’ domains and free hosting. However, as the saying goes, there is no free lunch. These sites offering free services are well-known for distributing malware either due to non-existant security or because they get monetary gain from it.
In addition, these sites can bombard your websites (and clients’ emails) with inappropriate advertising. So, if you want to have a solid brand then stay away from free domain names and hosting services. The potential loss of client trust and your reputation because of the ‘free’ service is too high.
What do I do after I get a domain name?
The next step after getting your domain is to pay for hosting. Hosting is also known as web hosting or website hosting and is a service where you get storage and computing resources for your website and emails. Just like domain name registration, hosting is another yearly cost that is necessary.
ReelNet Multimedia offers a variety of hosting services to suit every need.
Next Steps and getting your domain registered
Are you ready to take your business to the next level by registering a domain? Reelnet Multimedia offers the full package—domain registration services, web design, web hosting and email hosting.
Get in touch with us on info@reelnet.video or send us a whatsapp on 0781276513 or 0775804796