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Part 2/2 - Domain Name

Contents -- On This Page Below:
G. About Forwarding Domain Names
H. Picking A Domain Name
I. Registrars
J. Email Associated With The Domain Name


G. About Forwarding Domain Names

  1. A "forwarding domain name" works for web pages, similarly to the way a forwarding telephone number works for telephones.
    *
    Demo: Type in 'SusquehannaSeniorNet.org', observe forwards to 'susquehannaseniornet.blogspot.com'.
    - Similarly, the forwarding domain name '
    17754.org' forwards to 'track2.com/17754'.

  2. - A "forwarding" domain name is sort of a "variation" of a regular domain name.
    - - You can convert a forwarding domain name to a regular domain name. Important thing is that you own it.
    - A "standard" domain name normally takes you to a domain with that same name.
    - - For example,
    JVBrown.edu takes you to the actual domain www.jvbrown.edu.
    -

  3. Does Your Web Page Absolutely Need A Domain Name?
    - No. You can have a web page without having a domain name. But with the price being as low as it now is, approximately $9 per year, there's little reason not to get one.
    - If you're thinking about registering your name, consider doing it NOW, before someone else with the same name registers it.
    - For example,
    JamesIngram.net forwards to my resume page, and JamesRobertIngram.com forwards to my contact information.

  4. Does Your Domain Name Have To Have A Web Page?
    - No. If you don't specify a web page, the Registrar will usually "park" your domain name. Example
    17754.com (speculators?).
    - However, since you can set up a blog page for free in about 5 minutes, there's little reason to "park" your domain name.

  5. The two big advantages of having a domain name:
    • Makes it easier for people to remember the address, for example 'NineDollarWebPage.com' instead of 'NineDollarWebPage.blogspot.com'.
    • Having your own domain name gives you PORTABILITY. You can later move the website to a different hosting service at a different actual address, and the domain name stays the same. Which means you don't have to change business cards or stationary -- or most importantly, people's habits to find your page.

  6. Explanatory Note: Format For Typing Address (URL) Into Your Browser:
    - You can usually type a URL into your browser in several variations -- for example, 'http://www.17754.org' or 'http://17754.org' or '17754.org' , and the browser will find the page.
    - For printing on a business card or brochure, you would probably use the most concise version '17754.org' , or possibly 'www.17754.org' for more clarity. (Note a lot of people still don't seem to understand difference between web address & email addess.)
    - Extra: Anytime you see a URL in the newspaper like 'track2.com/index.shtml', the 'index.shtml' shows ignorance, as the browser always defaults to the default home page 'index.shtml' or 'index.htm' or however it's been named.


    H. Picking A Domain Name


  7. - The biggest CHALLENGE today with finding a domain name, is that so many of them have already been taken.
    - Most registrars have some sort of tool where you can type in a domain name, click "Search", and it will tell you if the name is available or not, and also suggest similar names.
    *
    Demo - Use GoDaddy.com, and search for the domain name 'SusquehannaSeniorNet.org'.
    * Observe variations offered.
    *
    Look up domain ownership info in WhoIs database.

  8. - The '.com' is usually preferred, but the '.net', '.biz', .'org' and other extensions will usually suffice.
    - Allowable characters are letters, numbers, and hyphen. I usually recommend NOT using the hyphen, as people seem to have problems remembering them.

  9. - Shorter names are usually preferable when possible.
    - But, a longer name that is easier to spell and remember, may be preferable to a shorter name with abbreviations.
    - For example, we used 'SusquehannaSeniorNet.org', rather than 'Susquehanna-SeniorNet.org' or something abbreviated such as 'SusSenNet.org'. (Exception: 'FishRE.com' )

  10. Domain names are case-insensitive. For example, you can type in 'NineDollarWebPage.com' or 'nineDOLLARwebPAGE.com', and it doesn't matter.
  11. You can view additional articles on finding domain names by Googling a phrase something like "how to find a good domain name".
  12. I recommend registering the name for 1 year initially to make sure you like it, then register it for 5 years or more thereafter.

    I. Registrars


    .
  13. Some people recommend using 3 different vendors for web page, domain name, & email (not all eggs in 1 basket with vendor 'ups & downs').
    - - Said another way, "Consider NOT hosting your web page, with the same company you register your domain name".
    - Example: My track2.com domain is registered with Verisign, hosted at PowWeb.


  14. What Registrars Does Ingram Use?
    - Most recently I was using
    1and1.com (was about $6/year), and previously GoDaddy.com (about $9/year).
    - In future, plan to use Godaddy, because 1&1 effective 11/3/08 is raising price from $6.99 to $8.99.

  15. Selecting A Registrar:
    - There exist hundreds of Registrars, where you can purchase a "forwarding domain name" of the format "YourName.com"
    - The Blogger.com Help page "
    Where can I buy a custom domain name for my blog?" lists about eight registrars.
    - It's probably best if you use a registrar that has easy-to-use, do-it-yourself web-page controls, as the support with these low-cost registrars is not always good.
    - You might consider registering independently of Blogger, so you have the future flexibility of redirecting it to somewhere other than Blogspot.
    - There is a YouTube video
    Purchasing and setting up a Custom Domain through Blogger by Blogger support staff (2 min).


  16. Brief History:
    - GoDaddy is probably the "pioneer" and best-known of the low-cost Registrars.
    - Prior to GoDaddy, registration could cost $35, $50, or $100 per year; with very user-UNfriendly web pages. GoDaddy sort of "revolutionized" this industry by bringing the price down to around $10/year, and much more user-friendly control panel pages
    - Within the past year, a company named 1and1.com has been doing heavy advertising and offering similar services for less.
    - My first domain Track2.com is registered with Verisign.com, where back in 1999 I paid for 10 years in advance to get a "discounted" rate of $35/year.

    ===Comparing 1and1.com versus GoDaddy.com: -

  17. Advantages Of GoDaddy.com over 1and1.com: (just my opinions, can change rapidly)
    - Website is a bit more user friendly, since they have been doing this longer.
    - Tech support people you can call on the phone are more knowledgable, located in US & speak clear English. 1and1's support people seem less knowledgeable, are off-shore and may have heavy accents (problem for person with bad hearing like me).

  18. Advantages Of 1and1.com over GoDaddy.com:
    - Price is slightly lower, about $8.99/year versus $9.99/year for GoDaddy (sometime more price difference).
    - Features are included at no extra charge that cost extra at GoDaddy, such as email, web page, and private registration
    - Note that supposedly the cost to these registrars is about $6 per year, so apparently 1and1 was selling these domains at almost no profit at earlier price of $6.99. They claimed they weren't planning to raise their prices, but they did. (Phoned April 08).

  19. More Comments About Registering with GoDaddy:
    - When you register, they usually try to sell you lots of extra-cost options. I recommend ignoring all those; just click-past them, and your total bill should not be more than about $9.99.

  20. Private Registration
    - When you register a domain with GoDaddy, they want to sell you an option called "Private Registration", which protects your personal data, for about an extra $6 per year.
    I recommend not doing this, but rather creating a 2nd separate email address for registration (more below).- - 1&1 currently offers private registration at no extra change, but I have not yet used it (seems complicated).

  21. * Demo - Run through priliminary steps for registering an audience person's name.
    *
    Demo - Login & view forwarding info for a domain name SusquehannaSeniorNet.org.

    J. Email Associated With The Domain Name


  22. - When you register a domain name, you are required to have a VALID email address, and you cannot use an address connected with the domain you are registering.
    - The address that shows in the public 'Whois' database can be seen by Spammers. (Lately not problem, but has been previously).
  23. - For web pages I create for others, I usually "split" the registration information.
    - I put MY public address in the 'Admin' information for the public 'Whois' -- to "protect" them from Spammers.
    - I put their address in the 'Account' information (which only the Registrar uses), so they will receive the renewal notices.

  24. Email Addresses - You might consider setting up SEVERAL email addresses as follows:
    - Email 1: Dedicated for NOTHING but the domain registration. Keep all correspondence in a separate mail folder titled "1and1" or "Registrar".
    - Email 2: Dedicated for nothing but listing on the web page. Note this address can also get SPAM. (Alternately, you can use just a phone number w/o an email.) The phishing-type emails will come to this address.
    - Email 3: For business/organization correspondence with the public.
    - Email 4: For online banking.
    - Email 5: For online shopping.
    - Email 6: For family only.

    Comcast & Verizon and most ISPs allow you to create several email addresses. Alternately, you can set up a free Gmail address (Google), and forward that address to Email #3, your business address. Yahoo works, but you can't forward the free ones. Hotmail is reportedly very problem-prone.
 

This page created 9/26/2008
modified 10/07/08 by

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JamesRobertIngram.com , Williamsport PA, Apache Junction AZ