Did you know that domain names have been available for over 30 years? That’s 10 years before I even learned about the internet!

You probably don’t need to know that, but if you have a business and/or a website, there are facts about domain names that you should know. In this post, I share answers to some of the questions I’m asked most often.

What is a domain name and why do I need one?

A domain name is the name that identifies a website, e.g. yourorganizingbusiness.com. Without a domain name, your website address will look something like 209.34.78.419/~yourname, which is ugly and next to impossible to remember, or yourname.wordpress.com, which is only slightly better.

Having your own domain name is important for branding and helps your business look established and professional.

How can I get a domain name?

To register a domain name, you need to go through a domain registrar such as Namecheap or Hover.

Please note that your domain name and your website hosting are two separate services. The domain is your website address, while hosting is where your website files live.

Many domain registrars also offer website hosting, but you don’t need to purchase both services from the same company. There are both advantages and disadvantages to keeping them together, but that’s a topic for another day.

How much do domain names cost?

Domain name registration usually costs between $15.00 and $30.00 and must be renewed annually.

Watch out for hosting companies who tempt you with free domain registration when you host with them. One of my clients wanted to move her site to a faster hosting service, but learned that her domain name belonged to her web host, not her! Domain registration is relatively inexpensive, so don’t cheap out!

What happens if I don’t renew my domain name?

It’s important that your domain registrar has your current contact information so you receive your renewal notice on a timely basis. I recommend that you use an email address that’s not connected to your domain, because if it does expire, they won’t be able to contact you.

To be on the safe side, I recommend enabling auto-renewal and keeping your payment information up to date.

If you don’t pay your renewal fee, your domain registration will expire, which can be expensive or even impossible to reverse. Most registrars offer a grace period after expiration, but the exact timeline varies. If your domain isn’t renewed, it may eventually become available for someone else to register — or even be purchased by a domain reseller.

Be cautious about domain renewal notices that arrive by mail or email. Some companies send official-looking notices designed to look like invoices, even though they’re actually trying to get you to transfer your domain to them at a higher price. Make sure you know the name of the company that handles your domain registration and renewal and always log into your account to check for billing information if something seems off.

How should I choose a domain name?

A domain name which corresponds to your business name will make it easy for people who already know about your business to find your website, but only if it’s easy to spell and remember. It’s quite a mouthful to say, “my website is at annmariewilsonclothing4children.com” — and just try and fit that on your business card!

If you’re a solopreneur, I recommend registering your personal name, even if you also have a business name. For starters, people are more likely to remember you than the name of your business. Secondly, I can’t even count the number of people I know who have changed their business name or direction since they started (myself included). Using your own name right from the beginning makes that type of transition much easier.

If your ideal domain name isn’t available, think hard about what else might be effective. Using hyphens to separate words is one option, but keep in mind that you’ll have to mention those hyphens every time you tell someone your website address.

Ideally, your domain name should also align reasonably well with your social media usernames, so your branding is consistent across platforms.

Do some brainstorming with your business coach, accountability partner, or a colleague.

Want to talk to colleagues about branding your business – or anything else?

Join the POPS Circle, where organizing and productivity professionals share ideas, experiences, and encouragement.

Should I get a .com domain, or something else?

The most common extension is .com, but it’s becoming more and more difficult to secure a good .com domain. Many Canadians use .ca, either because .com with their preferred name was already taken, or to make it clear that they are a Canadian business. Other countries have similar domain extensions, but .us has not caught on nearly as well.

There are over 1000 other TLDs (top level domains), and new ones are introduced every year. Read Domain Extensions: Types, Uses & How to Choose the Right TLD to help you decide which one is best for you.

How many variations do I need?

Because domain names are so inexpensive, many business owners register several variations to ensure that they’re not available to competitors. You can also register several options and only renew the one(s) you end up using.

What is Domain Privacy and do I need it?

Information about registered domain names is listed in the WHOIS database. Depending on the type of domain and the registrar you use, some of your contact information may be publicly visible.

In the past, this often included your name, address, phone number, and email address, which could lead to spam emails, phone calls, and privacy concerns.

Today, many domain registrars include Domain Privacy protection at no extra charge, and privacy regulations have reduced the amount of information that is publicly accessible. However, the level of privacy varies depending on the domain extension and registrar, so it’s still important to check what information is being displayed.

If you run your business from home, Domain Privacy can provide an added layer of protection by helping to keep your personal contact information private.

Unfortunately, registering a domain name is still a bit like putting up a tiny “spam welcome” sign on the internet!

What’s the oldest domain name?

The first domain registered was symbolics.com, on March 15, 1985. The Symbolics Computer Corporation is no longer operating, but the website has some interesting historical information.

Did I miss anything?

If you have any other questions about domain names, please let me know.

Photo © NiroDesign / DepositPhotos