When I first got inspired to launch my own business online, it all began with the domain name, or, what I wanted my site to be called.
Since it was a web based business the thought of webs, spiders, networking, and multiple web presences all came to mind.
I originally wanted Spidey.com but that domain name, as is so often the case was already taken.
I did not despair however because I knew that there were lots of others to choose from.
It’s the ‘Address’ of your Website
The name of your site is also the address of your site. You may have heard people refer to a web address. They are talking about your domain name.
If someone asked me what’s the web address of my business, I would tell them it’s Spidey.net. Which is the domain name I purchased when I discovered that Spidey.com was already taken.
It’s where your Website lives
So essentially your domain name is your website’s address which is where your website lives.
One of the coolest things about having your own domain name is that you can then also set up your email address using that domain name like, JohnSmith@Spidey.net.
It’s what you type into the URL of your browser
When you want to go to a website, after you have opened your browser of choice, you then have to type the website’s address or domain name into the URL field.
Depending on what browser you use it’s location can vary a little but this field is usually located at the top of your browser just below the tab.
I won’t go into what URL means, let’s just say for now that it’s a fancy name for where you type in a website’s name.
It can be the Name of your business
When selecting a domain name there are a few things to consider.
When purchasing my domain name I wanted something short, because it is easier to type into the url, something catchy, and something easy to remember.
As it turns out, I had decided to also make it the name of my business.
But there are also other things to consider as well.
It can describe what you business does
Another good idea to consider when selecting a domain name is to tell / describe what the business does.
That is what I had in mind when I purchased SpideyWebDesigns.com. It suggests that this website is for a business that designs or, as in my case, could help you design your own website.
.Com and .Net are the most popular domain name extensions
For a long time now .com has ruled as the most popular domain name extension.
The .Net extension is not too far behind. So when I initially started looking for an available domain name, I immediately saw that the .Net version of Spidey was available.
And the rest is history.
Now you can purchase you own domain name on Spidey.Net.
It can also let you search for available names and it even makes suggestions on alternate versions of the domain name you want, if it is unavailable.
Just type in the domain name of your choice in the Spidey.Net search field and with one click it will let you know if it is available and if not Spidey.Net will make alternative suggestions for you.
.Org is usually reserved for Non profits
Not all domain name extensions are created equal.
Some like the .Org extension is usually reserved for non profit or charitable organizations. This rule is not written in stone, I have seen for profit companies use it to get the name they wanted, however it is generally a frowned upon practice in the web community.
.Gov is used for government websites
Also the .Gov extension is usually reserved for government agencies. Some examples of these are…..
HealthCare.gov
WhiteHouse.gov
Senate.gov
More domain name extensions are being created all the time
If you cannot purchase the domain name of your choice because it is not available, do not despair.
Contrary to some popular opinion there are still a lot of great domain names left, .Coms and .Nets and more.
What do I mean more?
Spidey.net has been adding new domain name extensions for sale. These may not be as common as .com but are every bit as legit and could make the domain name of your dreams available.
Some of our more popular alternative domain name extensions are .biz, .us, and .tv among others.
You can search for what is available, view alternative suggestions, and purchase your own domain name at Spidey.net.