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Domain Names 101: 3 quick questions explained

Author: robert | Posted: 30.07.2008 | Views: 21

1. What is a domain name?

A domain name is the name that identifies a web site. Yourdomain name in the online world is the equivalent of our retailname and address in the real world. It is your address becauseit shows customers and computers online where to find your site,store, products etc. It is your name because you can move yourdomain name from one web host to another at any time.

2. Who owns the domain name? When you buy a domain name, you areactually leasing the name. It is a lease because there is no wayto own a domain name forever. You pay a fee on an annual orbi-annual basis to your registrar to continue using the name. Ifyou stop paying your annual fees, it becomes a lapsed domainname and goes back out on the market where anyone, perhaps evenyour competition can purchase the domain for their use.

Note: Online traffic will follows the domain name. If you failto renew a name, it is basically sending free traffic to anothersite owner.

3. Who is in charge of the domain name system? ICANN or InternetAssigned Numbers Authority is the non profit organization incharge of the domain name system. ICANN performs some of thefollowing duties to keep the domain name system running smoothly:

Approves Top Level Domain Names - .com/.biz/.edu etc ICANN is incharge of approving domain name extensions such as .biz andsetting up standards such as which domain names such as .us orco.uk belong to a particular country.

Regulates the domain name registration process and servicesICANN approves registrars who are who are responsible forkeeping track of registered names, billing customers, sendingout renewal notices and selling top level domain names to anyonewho wants one.

There are many reputable resellers on the web that are notapproved by ICANN but are simply organizations and individualsassociated with a registrar that are allowed to sell domainnames on their own. Whether you purchase your domain namethrough a registrar or a reseller, always find a reputablesource for your domain name.

If a registrar or reseller does not maintain an active database,you might find yourself on rare occasions paying for a name thatis already registered. If you ever receive such as note fromyour registrar, or reseller, contact them immediately using anonline form or via the phone. Make sure the notice is legitimateotherwise, you might be the victim of a domain name scam. If itis true, your registrar should immediately make a correction,preferably at their expense.

This integrity of a registrar or reseller's database ofavailable names should be maintained at all times.

Sets up conflict resolution policies to prevent domain nametheft and copyright (brand name) infringements. ICANN has setupand is always revising its dispute resolution policy so that webusers can have fair access to any domain name while protectingthe sanctity of commercial trademarks. You can get any name youwant as long as it is not trademarked by another person ororganization.

It is always in your best interest to get familiar with theICANN website as well as its rules and policies. To build asuccessful online presence is a long term proposition. If youfail to do your due diligence upfront, it can have seriousrepercussions later on due to lost time, web traffic, money andpossible loss of a domain name

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