FutureNet Web Design

Domain Names

To register or not to register?

When you have decided on the type of web site you would like another thing you need to consider is "Do I want my own Domain Name?" for example 'www.thisbusiness.co.uk' or "www.thisbusiness.com". This type of naming would need to be hosted with a commercial Internet Service Provider.

Alternatively, you could have a web address hosted with a free Internet Service Provider, for example "www.thisbusiness/freeserviceprovider.co.uk" or "www.freeserviceprovider.com/thisbusiness".

However, as you can see a registered Domain Name is shorter and more memorable, and creates a far better impression than an address from a free Internet Service Provider.

Also, when using a free Internet Service Provider, you will be limited on behind the scenes functionality, for example you will usually be unable to do e-commerce, use data basing, submit forms, play audio and video and also have limited bandwidth (limiting the number of visitors to your site) and frequently suffer from lower download speeds and greater down time etc.

The costs involved

Cost is of course a prime consideration and rightly so. You will easily find companies on the Internet who will happily register your domain name for you at quite exorbitant prices.

One major provider quotes:-

"Cost for Registering a Domain Name with...

£235.inc VAT for the first year
(Set Up and Registration)

£117.50.inc VAT per annum thereafter
(Maintenance and Administration)"

Compare our prices and see why we call it exorbitant!

Domain Hosting

These days buying Web Space (Hosting) from a commercial Service Provider is far less expensive than it used to be (unless you use companies like the one above which quotes such ridiculous prices for Domain Names). You should also only pay the charges for the facilities you need and not be charged for facilities you don't.

Who owns my Domain Name?

When you have a Domain Name registered for you by, for example, a Web Design company you would expect that you will be the Registrant. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Make sure that the Domain Name will be registered in your name so that you can take it with you if you move Design company. Doing this also removes the prospect of your having to pay your Design company a "release fee" if you move. At FutureNet, you will be the Registrant of the Domain Name and you will receive a registration certificate (where appropriate) as soon as it is issued.

Availability of Domain Names

There are approximately 30 million Domain Names already registered on the Internet, so the sooner you make the decision to register your choice, the more likely you are to get the one you want. However, you may need to be prepared to use a bit of imagination in choosing an alternative name in the event of your first choice, (and possibly second, third and fourth choices) not being available.

Presently, you can choose from co.uk; com; net; and org. You have little likelihood, at this time, of finding a Domain Name if your company name is the same as one of the multi-national companies, for example bbc.co.uk or microsoft.com. However, you may well be successful with something like bbcsupplies.co.uk or microsoftlysoftly.com.

We will do our utmost to help you find a name you are happy with.

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The author is a member of the HTML Writers Guild.