What is a domain name?

A domain name is a web address that ends in .com, .org, .net, or another similar ending. The most important feature of a domain is that you own it. When you get a domain, you own the worldwide name. As long as you've picked a legal name for it (not someone else's trademark) no one will be able to take it from you.

Domains are important because:

• Your domain name never changes. When you print a flyer, or include the domain name in a book, you don't have to worry about it.
• It looks better than being on someone else's site.Your e-mail address never has to change. If you own the domain, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it will always work.
• You have the freedom to move. There are thousands of domain hosts to choose from, so you can pick a new one whenever you want.
• Domain hosts don't show ads on your site. (If you want ads, you'll have to add them yourself.)

Getting a domain is relatively easy. But, each domain name must be unique - no business can share the same domain name. Because most businesses have a website, it gets very difficult to find a domain name for your business that has not been taken.

For example, let's suppose that in San Diego there's a business called Main Street Hardware. Now suppose there is a similar business in Illinois named Main Street Hardware. The store names do not conflict as they are separated by many miles to be in competition. But if the Main Street Hardware store in San Diego registered the domain 'mainstreethardware.com', they are the sole owners. If the owner of Main Street Hardware in Illinois tries to register the same domain name, it won't be available and they will need to use a different domain name. An easy choice might be 'mainstreethardwareof illinois.com'. A little long, maybe but if it's available it should work fine. But what if there's another hardware store of the same name in another part of Illinois? You can see now how getting your first choice of domain names may be difficult.

There are many techniques for determining the optimum domain name to use. Hot Shot Web Design understands these techniques and can assist you. Finding the right domain name is important because it is the name you never want to change once you get your business established.