Being easily identifiable is important, whether it’s for business or personal reasons. Over the internet, business entities are recognized and known by their domain names. Domain names are identification strings that represent administrative authority or control online and are formed by the rules and procedures of the Domain Name System or DNS.
The purpose of a domain name is mainly to be used for naming and addressing specific applications or used in various networking contexts. Generally, however, a domain name represents an internet protocol resource like a personal computer used to access the internet or a server hosting a website for example. They are organized in subordinate levels, with the first level being the top-level domains or TLDs like .com, .info, .net and.org.
Next in line would be the second and third-level domains that are reserved for those who want to connect to local area networks, create publicly accessible internet resources or run websites on their own. So now that we know what domain names are, why does one need to purchase them and how can we benefit from it? For one, domain names make it easier for browsers to find, access and view websites by simply typing the URL into the search bar. Without a domain name, you may have to type in the websites IP address instead, which is a series of numbers that can be difficult to remember.
Another good reason to purchase a domain name is to improve visibility, as well as help with your marketing efforts. In line with this, you will need to choose a domain name is short, sweet and easy to remember so that customers and search engines can easily find you online. The perfect domain name also gives you credibility and authority online and makes you come off as legitimate and professional and therefore one company customers will want to do business with.
The third reason to purchase domain names is to protect your identity and to establish brand protection. It also prevents your competitors from registering your identity and using it for less than ideal purposes. Before actually purchasing your domain name, run it by a reputable domain name checker online to make sure the domain name you want is available and register it with an accredited domain name registrar to make your purchase official.
It is also recommended that you shop around for your best options since this isn’t exactly something that comes cheap. Domain name registration can cost anywhere from $8.00 to $35.00. Once you’ve decided on the domain names you want to purchase, make sure that you are able to locate and communicate with the owners to save time. You also need to check if the contact details are listed on the site and if they aren’t, you can use the “who is” directory to look them up.
Once you have contacted the owner, ask if the domain name is for sale but don’t make an offer. If you are a first time entrepreneur, you can contact the owner directly but if you’ve gained some semblance of success, it is advisable not to contact them directly since the price will be based on your status. If you can afford it, you can hire a small law or PR firm to negotiate in your behalf.
Remember, a good domain name can bring in more traffic and make it easier for the search engines to find and rank you. Domain names are a solid investment so make it work and invest in the best location you can afford.