Domains and Domain Names

Domain names are hostnames that allow us to remember websites more easily than using an IP address. So, instead of having to remember 67.15.58.81 to come to this website, instead you can simply remember KustomSites.com

Domain names are allowed to have letters, digits (numerals), and hyphens. No other characters may be used in a domain name. Domain names are also not case sensitive

The following example illustrates the difference between a URL (Uniform Resource Locator) and a domain name:

URL: http://www.yourdomain.com
Domain name: yourdomain.com

In the past, domain names and server IP address were completely interchangeable. You could type in either and find the website you were looking for. Now, however, there are far more websites than there are servers, so servers now commonly use "virtual hosting" for websites. This allows multiple websites to exist on a single IP address.

For example, the server at 67.15.58.81 could handle all of the following sites:

example1.com , example2.net , example3.org

Tips for Choosing a Domain Name:

• Naming your site after your domain may seem obvious to some of you, but you'll be surprised to learn that not every website is named after the domain name.

  Naming a site after its domain name is important, for the simple reason that when people think of your website, they'll think of it by name. If your name is also your URL, they'll automatically know where to go. For example, when people think of us at kustomsites.com, they don't have to wonder what URL to type into their browser to get there. The name of our site is also the URL.

• Domain names can be of any length up to 67 characters.

  There appears to be some disagreement about whether a long or short domain name is better.

  Some argue that shorter domain names are easier to remember, easier to type and far less susceptible to mistakes: for example, "buyit.com" is easier to remember and less prone to typos than "gotomywebsiteimmediatelyandbuyit.com".

  Others argue that a longer domain name is usually easier on the human memory than a nonsene name (like banwst.com) in a sequence of unrelated letters that is difficult to remember and type correctly, whereas if we expand it to its long form, "BuildANewWebSiteToday.com", we are more likely to remember the domain name.

  It is increasingly difficult to get short meaningful domain names. If you manage to get a short domain name though, the key is to make sure it's a meaningful combination of characters and not obscure like our "banwst.com" example above.

• Should you get a hyphenated name? There are a few things to consider here:

  Disadvanges:

1. It's easy to forget the hyphens when typing a name.
2. When people recommend your site to their friends verbally, the same problem occurs

Advantages:

1. Search engines and readers can easily distinguish your keywords.
2. The non-hyphenated form may no longer be available. At least this way, you still get the domain name you want
3. It is easier to remember if there is just one hyphen used like "my-domain.com.

• Domain Extensions:

  If you can't get the ".com" domain of your choice, but find the ".net", ".org" , ".info" or ".biz". Should you buy one of these?

  The first school of thought goes on the premise that it is better to have a domain name of your choice "mydomain" even if it has a extension of ".net", ".org" than to wind up choosing an obscure domain name for the simple reason you can't get your first choice.

  Remember that ".net" and ".org" extensions are actually quite acceptable domain names.

  For many, the ".org" extension actually describes the non-profit nature of their organisation. (schools, special interest sites, churches and religious organizations)