Buy a URL Today
.COM $23.99 | .NET $24.99 | .ORG $19.99 |.CO $41.99
How to Purchase a URL aka Domain Name
Each website has a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), aka domain name, assigned to it. This character string is also called the Domain Name. The domain name is easier for people to remember than a bunch of numbers. Consumers have many options to purchasing a domain name and listed belows are some options.
Directions: “Brown House by the Oak Tree”
In a simple world, people use landmarks to give directions, saying things like, “I live in a brown house by the oak tree.” Scientists assigned longitude and latitude coordinates to every location on Earth. Global Positioning Systems (GPS) read these numbers to guide people to their destinations. As small communities grow, they assign addresses to houses in the neighborhood, making it easier for outsiders to deliver items. “The Smith family home” represents the domain of the house where the Smiths live. The World Wide Web spans the globe and relies on Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to help computers locate websites. This IP address, a numeric string, fits the binary system computers use but challenges human memory. To simplify this, developers created domain names as easier-to-remember listings for humans.
Making it easy: “Finding Your Website Using the Domain Name”
The Internet is an electronic network of websites, each identified by its domain name. When a web surfer types keywords into their computer, search engines quickly process the request to find relevant websites. As a result, these matches are compiled into a list of search results, offering the customer multiple options for finding what they need online. However, with a domain name, the consumer can skip this step by directly typing the domain name to access the website immediately. Consequently, this approach saves a significant amount of time and effort.
Limits on URLs: “How Many Domain Names Are There?”
According to “Whois,” there were 140,697,516 domain names associated with the .com, .net, .org, .info, .biz, and .us suffixes as of June 2012. Notably, these suffixes represent the most popular categories of websites. For instance, under the .com suffix alone, 82,549 new sites were added, 104,126 were transferred, and 105,218 were deleted on June 11, 2012. Furthermore, by June 1, 2012, there were a total of 3,433,774,470 IP addresses distributed across 251 countries. Interestingly, the United States accounted for nearly 50% of these IP addresses, totaling 1,543,946,031. When compared to the global population of 7 billion people, these statistics reveal that there was approximately one IP address for every two individuals on the planet.
Place to register: “Where Do I Purchase URL Domain Name?”
Consumers have the ability to purchase a domain name through a Domain Registrar. As of June 2012, there were more than 800 domain registrars operating worldwide. For example, the largest American domain registrar managed an impressive total of 32,696,611 domains. Furthermore, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) oversees and regulates these domain registrars to ensure proper management. Additionally, individuals can choose to purchase domain names through intermediaries, often referred to as registration agents, providing yet another convenient option for acquiring a domain name.
Significance: “Importance of a Domain Name”
The WPP Group Millward Brown reported that Apple was the most valuable brand in 2011, with a staggering worth of $153 billion. This highlights the significant role brands play in creating a human connection. Indeed, people are much more likely to remember images, familiar names, or emotions tied to a product or service. Consequently, successful businesses prioritize crafting brand names that “roll off the tongue” and are easy to recall. Furthermore, when individuals type keywords into search engines, they instinctively choose words that are simplest to remember. As a result, the most popular websites tend to feature distinctive, unique, or intriguing domain names. Additionally, these keywords must closely align with the business’s products or services to ensure a relevant match and maximize visibility.
Be Distinct: “Selecting a Domain Name”
There are many strategies for purchasing a domain name. Most companies will purchase a primary domain name with its exact name or singular or plural variations. The most successful websites have distinctive domain names. Short and sweet domain names, which avoid punctuation, are the best. Multiple websites can be purchased. Some organizations purchase domain names that are mistyped or misspelled to redirect traffic to the primary business site. People have short attention spans and can’t remember long URL names. Another strategy targets keyword-rich domain names, like “Good.com,” to attract large levels of traffic. You could purchase similar terms, synonyms, and plural versions, like “Verygood.com,” “Beneficial.com,” and “Goods.com.” Others purchase a string of keywords, like “Ilikeicecream.com.”
What are Top Level Domain names: “What are the differences in suffixes like .com, .net and .info?”
The creators of the Internet assigned different suffixes to specific business categories. The .com suffix, the most common, works for any purpose and attracts the highest number of search hits. In contrast, other suffixes target specific sectors such as governments, markets, or countries. These suffixes hold varying values, comparable to gold, silver, or bronze medals. To generate more traffic, you should choose a more popular suffix. Customers can check the latest domain name prices to assess the current market rate before making a purchase.
What if: “Is my preferred domain name taken?”
Keep in mind that web surfers think differently than brick-and-mortar consumers. Online shoppers demand “immediate gratification,” expecting 24/7/365 service with every site just a click away. To prepare, create a list of ten preferred domain names before checking their availability with a domain registrar. Checking the Internet for your domain name is quick and easy. Simply visit a domain name search site by typing “domain name” into a search engine. Once there, enter your preferred domain name to see if it is available.
Do I own a website?: “Rights to a Domain Name”
Trademark law allows a company to use certain copyrighted brands, products, or services to purchase domain names linked to its business. The registration company may offer a dispute resolution service. If desired, you can take the matter to court.
Online Store: “Purchasing a URL”
The regular person refers to “purchasing a URL” or “buying a URL.” The online experts refer to the process as “registering a domain name.” It is the same concept. The online domain name is assigned to the purchaser for a period of time, usually one to two years. You might hear the term Top-Level Domain (TLD) referenced. The TLD refers to the domain name right before the .com or other suffix. Some lower-level domains are subleased to small entrepreneurs. The Web surfer is directed to the TLD and then sent to a rented space within the TLD.
Is it unique? : “Things to Look For”
The domain name’s value is based on the popularity of the keywords used, suffix, and status. There are new registration, renewal, and transfer prices. Look for hidden fees. Some registration agents do web hosting too. Be careful that you understand what they were offering. There might be separate contracts for the domain registrar and registration agent. Most purchases of a URL will be based on a first-come, first-served basis. Some resellers are like ticket scalpers; they will purchase high-value domains and sell them at auctions.