Domain names are the internet's web addresses. To have your own website you must own a domain name. Registering a domain name today is easy and inexpensive and with literally thousands of companies competing for your business you can often pickup a number of free bonuses and extras with your domain name registration.
How do domain names work? A domain name works like an address forwarding service. All of your Web site content sits on a computer with a unique address. This is called an IP address. An IP address is made up of a series of numbers, such as 123.23.234.45. Your domain name directs visitors to your site using this IP address.
We use domain names instead of IP addresses because most people find it easier to remember a name rather than a series of numbers.
What do I do with my domain once it's been registered? Besides setting up your Web site, there are a number of things you can do with your domain once you register it.
Sell it. Domain names can be a great investment. If you have registered a domain name that you are not using, maybe someone else can. Go to the Account Manager and set up a For Sale parked page for your domain name. Don't forget to include your contact information.
Protect your brand online. The more domain names you register, the better. Prevent others from registering a similar domain name to yours just to steal away your customers. What to do with all these names? Forward them to your main domain name.
Hold on to it. Maybe you haven't decided what to do with your new domain name. Don't worry there's no rush. You can leave it parked with us for the length of your registration.
What is a top-level domain (TLD)? A top-level domain (TLD) is the part of the domain name located to the right of the dot. The most common top-level domains are .com, .net, and .org. Some other popular top-level domains are .biz, .info, .name, and .ws. These common top-level domains have certain guidelines attached, but are for the most part available to any registrant, anywhere in the world.
There are also restricted top-level domains (rTLDs), like .aero, .biz, .edu, .mil, .museum, .name, and .pro, that require the registrant to represent a certain type of entity, or to belong to a certain community. For example, the .name TLD is reserved for individuals and .edu is reserved for educational entities.
Country-code TLDs (ccTLDs) are for Web sites and registrants of a particular geographic location. For example: bz (Belize), .ca (Canada), .dk (Denmark), .ec (Ecuador), ie (Republic of Ireland), .uk (United Kingdom), .us (United States), and .zw (Zimbabwe).
What is a second-level domain (SLD)? Located immediately to the left of the dot, the second-level domain is the readable part of the domain name. The registrant defines the second-level domain. It typically refers to the organization or entity associated with the IP address. For example, in www.cnn.com .cnn is a second-level domain.
Second-level domains can be divided into further domain levels. For example: www.sportsillustrated.cnn.com. These sub domains sometimes represent different computer servers within departments. More than one second-level domain name can be used for the same IP address.
What does it mean to park a domain name? When you park a domain name you're reserving your registered domain until you have created your Web site, found a hosting provider, or sold the domain to a third party. When you park your domain, a temporary Web page displays whenever somebody types your domain name in their browser.