You may have developed a brand, produced beautiful content, and built a client base, but now that you’re ready to get your business running on the internet, you’ve run into one more obstacle: buying a domain.
For those new to web development, you may be aware that a domain is the name showing up in the URL bar when browsing websites, usually introduced by an HTTP or HTTPS and followed by a .com, .gov, or .org. But what is a domain? Why do you need one? And what does it do?
What is a domain?
You can think of domains as a representation of a plot of land for sale. The internet is expansive, and registering a domain is a way of claiming your stake on some part of the internet. Having a domain allows you to build your website on your own internet real estate.
A domain makes it possible for people to find your website. Without a domain, it would be like trying to tell people where you live without having an address to give people.
How do I get a domain?
Securing your own domain is a straightforward and easy process. First, you must come up with a name for your domain. This will show up within the URL when people access your site. Next, check the availability of domains you are interested in.
Keep your domain name clear and to the point. If you are buying a domain for your business, try and buy a domain that is as close to your brand’s identity as possible. Of course, every domain has a unique name, so this may take a bit of brainstorming.
Once you find a name you like, you can buy it. Buying a domain involves paying a fee for the specific domain name of your choice. By doing this, you essentially secure the rights to the name for a set period of time where no one else can use the domain for their site. Once you buy the domain and register it, this domain name will function as a proxy for the IP address of your site, allowing people to access it quickly.
How is a domain used?
A domain is essential to web browsing, making it much quicker and less complicated. Your IP address is a long string of numbers that would be impossible to remember or easily access. The domain name fixes this by essentially linking to your IP address.
A domain is part of a URL, but not the same thing. Your website is stored on the internet as a set of files, and the domain name you select represents this set of files, while the entire URL is used to access this set of files. Paths in the URL point to specific files within your overall website. This is why you may see your URL as ‘www.domainname.com/aboutus.’ This URL is composed of your domain name, a TLD extension, and a path that specifies a file on your site.
Hotwire Networks can support you throughout your web development journey, offering hosting and web development services and domain purchasing. Our website provides an easy-to-use domain name search and purchasing function, saving you time researching domain names.
