There are literally thousands of online services that can offer you a web presence. However, many of these services come with quite a few restrictions. One of those is that you will be at the mercy of the provider's Domain Name.

Plenty of these providers will allow you to "create" your own website using their online tool. However, once completed, the site address will always include the provider's name, for example, websiteprovider.com/yourname. Although this may be an extremely inexpensive method to gain an Internet presence, if you are a business looking to get known, this is not the best way to accomplish it.

There are a number of great reasons to secure your own Domain Name as well as select an independent web host where you can "store" your website.

Your Domain Name is your property. If you change hosts, the name goes with you. This way, no matter who provides hosting services, once you have selected a Domain Name (yourname.com), you'll never need to inform customers you've made a move as you would if you had a brick and mortar business where you changed locations. All your clients and new visitors simply do is type in your Domain Name and there you are.

Securing your own Domain Name will add credibility to your business or organization. As the Internet becomes more increasingly popular, more web users become hesitant visiting sites with a URL address like...http://www.geocities.com/your_name

Selecting a Domain Name reflective of your actual company name will help people easily remember you and travel to your site without having to look up your address. Additionally, if your name also reflects the type of service or product you offer, a number of marketing possibilities open up to you as well.

Sponsors and advertisers seldom partner with a business that does not operate under its own Domain Name and specified URL address. Possessing a website with your own Domain Name give you a professional degree of respectability.

Register Your Name

Once you've decided upon your Domain Name, you will need to register it with an organization called the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). You can do this through using a domain name registrar. Your name with the extension you choose, like.com, will be registered for your exclusive use for a nominal fee that allows you the use for a year with renewal options available. You can do this at 123 Domain Register.

Where Have All The Names Gone?

Many people claim all the good Domain Names are taken. I don't agree. Yes, most of what are called "intuitively picked" Domain Names, ones that are easily identified with either a company or product might be taken. However, with a little creative activity examining your choices, a suitable name should be found that will work well for you and your business.

One last note, you may wish to purchase renewals up front. They are usually less expensive - per year - this way and protect you from losing them if you do not act quickly when your annual renewal date draws near. There are unscrupulous vultures who snatch up non-renewed names they try to sell at exorbitant fees to "previous" owners who forget to renew.

Ted Smolkowicz
KAT-enterprises.com