A domain name is the address of your website, it's what people type in a web browser to access your website online. As each domain is unique, it serves as the identity of a person, business or organisation on the Internet. Domains are also used for transmitting and receiving data, files, and emails and for running web applications..
An extension, therefore, is the last part or ending of your domain name and is also known as the 'TLD' (Top-Level Domain) or the domain root. Some of the most popular TLDs include .com, .net, .online, .co.uk, .org. There are hundreds of other extensions such as ccTLDs and the new gTLDs. ccTLDs stand for "Country Code TLDs" as they denote a specific country, for example .us for the USA, .co.uk for the UK and .com.au for Australia. The ICANN has introduced new gTLDs which are more memorable and meaningful, for example, .online, .site, .blog, .lawyer, .dentist, .accountant, .property etc. It's advisable to register your domain name in as many extensions as possible to ensure your brand name remains fully protected against cybersquatting.
Selecting the best domain name is key to creating a strong online brand value and presence. You can name your domain whatever you want as long as that name is available. Simply follow these steps to find your perfect domain name:
- Make sure it's easy to type and memorise.
- Keep it short and relevant to your field of work/industry.
- It should ideally be your company, business or brand name, trademark or service mark or your own name or that of your organisation.
- You may then choose a domain extension relevant to your industry or field of work like .property, .accountant, .dentist, .lawyer. You may also choose a geographical extension for the area you do business in. For example, if you sell to the British market, a .co.uk, .london, .org.uk or even the shorter .uk domain extension will be best. If you're based in the USA, a .us or a .com and .net may be suitable. There are plenty of domain extensions to choose from, so look at all available domain extensions before you choose one. You may also want to register more than one domain extension to protect your trademark, service mark, and brand name from cybersquatting.
Anybody can register a domain name, however, there are some extensions that have certain qualifying criteria for domain registrants. For instance, you can only register a .law domain, if you are a qualified lawyer. Most extensions like .com, .net, .online, and many more, are available for everyone to register.
Registering a domain name you want is easy. Just type in the name you desire in the search bar on the domain search page, and within a matter of seconds it will tell you if it's available. If your desired name is already registered, we'll even displaying alternative domain names that you may choose from. We'll also highlight if the pre-owned domain is listed on a marketplace for sale so you may buy it. Once you buy a domain name with us, you will have the ability to add a Website builder, Web Hosting, Email, SSL Security Certificates and much more. What's more, you'll be able to forward your domain to any other webpage, or website and will also be able to redirect emails from your domain name for free. This means your domain and website will be live on the Internet on the same day.
DNS stands for the Domain Name System which is the address-book of the Internet. Prior to domain names, web addresses were made up of a string of numbers called IP (Internet Protocol) addresses which in turn identified the computers hosting webpages on the Internet. These IP addresses were hard to remember and presented great difficulty for humans to access websites onlline.
The Domain Name System offered a solution to this problem as follows:
- The domain Names could be made up of simple words which were easier for people to memorise and relate to;
- The domain Names could be pointed to the unique IP addresses of the computer that hosted a website;
- People could therefore access a website by simply typing a Domain Name in a Web browser.
Thanks to the DNS System, humans were able to easily access information online through domain names, like rocket.domains, usa.directory or google.com.
Normally a domain is registered on a yearly basis. You may renew your domain for another year before it's expiry and in most instances even after it expires during the 30 day grace period and another 2 weeks to 30 days redepmtion period. To be on safe side, it's advisable that you register your domain name for longer.
Absolutely. Please contact us via phone, email or by opening a ticket from inside your Rocket Engine Accounts Dashboard, and we will be glad to help.
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