Where Do We Start?
First, Select Your Domain Name:
Your domain name is your company's address on the Web and is how
customers find your business online. When you pick your domain
name, keep the following tips in mind:
Domain names can only use letters, numbers, and hyphens ("-").
Spaces and other symbols are not allowed, and domains cannot begin
or end with a hyphen. Domain names are not case sensitive. They can
be between 2 and 63 total characters, not including the domain
extension.
People who do not know your domain name may try to guess what it is
based on your company name (e.g. www.yourcompanyname.com), so it
is in your interest to choose a domain that is as close to your company
name as possible. If your web site is based around a specific brand or
subset of your products, you may prefer to choose a domain name
based on that brand or product.
Try to register the .com version of your name first. When people look
for your site on the web, they are likely to first try your company name
with the .com suffix. If .com is taken then consider using .net, .org (for
noncommercial), .us, .info, or .biz.
Keep your domain name short, but not too short. Shorter names can
be easier to remember, but only up to a point. Be careful not to
abbreviate your name so much that it becomes unrecognizable. If you
must use abbreviations, focus on the one or two words in your
company name that have the most impact, and work your abbreviations
around those words. For example, Marshand's Sporting Goods might
choose www.marshands-sports.com or www.marshands.com.
Choose a domain that is easy to say, understand, remember, and
spell. For example, you may not want to select www.scents.com
because that could be confused with www.cents.com or
www.sense.com when said over the phone or radio. Also, be careful
with the use of hyphens and numbers, as they can make domain
names harder to type and recall. You don't want to lose potential
customers because your domain name is difficult to use. Test out
potential names with friends before making your final selection.
What Do .net, .org, .us, .biz, or .info mean?
When you select a domain name, you can choose from several
different extensions. These extensions can help indicate the type of
business or service you are providing online or your geographical
location. Different extensions may also have different domain names
available in inventory. For example, newer extensions such as .biz may
have more available names than the more mature .com extension.
Here are definitions of the extensions you can choose from:
.com represents the word "commercial," and it is an unrestricted global
domain name extension. Many businesses prefer a .com domain name
because it is a highly recognized symbol for having a business
presence on the Internet. But, the number of available .com domain
names is shrinking as more and more businesses go online.
.net represents the word "network," and is an unrestricted global
domain name extension most commonly used by Internet service
providers, Web-hosting companies, or other businesses that are
directly involved in the infrastructure of the Internet. Additionally, some
businesses choose domain names with a .net extension for their
intranet web sites.
.org represents the word "organization," and is an unrestricted global
domain name extension that is primarily used for non-commercial sites.
However, many commercial entities register the .org extensions
corresponding to their .com domain names in order to protect their
brands.
.biz is a restricted-use global domain name extension used for
business web sites. As a relatively new type of domain, .biz offers a
company the opportunity to get the domain name it really wants and
enhance its presence on the Web with a domain name that means
business.
.info is an unrestricted domain name extension that creates an
opportunity to reach a worldwide audience with information about your
business and ideas. .info is growing in popularity, but still has many
great names available.
.us is a restricted-use country code that may be used by any individual
or organization with residence in the US or its territories, including
foreign organizations that do business in the US.
First, Select Your Domain Name:
Your domain name is your company's address on the Web and is how
customers find your business online. When you pick your domain
name, keep the following tips in mind:
Domain names can only use letters, numbers, and hyphens ("-").
Spaces and other symbols are not allowed, and domains cannot begin
or end with a hyphen. Domain names are not case sensitive. They can
be between 2 and 63 total characters, not including the domain
extension.
People who do not know your domain name may try to guess what it is
based on your company name (e.g. www.yourcompanyname.com), so it
is in your interest to choose a domain that is as close to your company
name as possible. If your web site is based around a specific brand or
subset of your products, you may prefer to choose a domain name
based on that brand or product.
Try to register the .com version of your name first. When people look
for your site on the web, they are likely to first try your company name
with the .com suffix. If .com is taken then consider using .net, .org (for
noncommercial), .us, .info, or .biz.
Keep your domain name short, but not too short. Shorter names can
be easier to remember, but only up to a point. Be careful not to
abbreviate your name so much that it becomes unrecognizable. If you
must use abbreviations, focus on the one or two words in your
company name that have the most impact, and work your abbreviations
around those words. For example, Marshand's Sporting Goods might
choose www.marshands-sports.com or www.marshands.com.
Choose a domain that is easy to say, understand, remember, and
spell. For example, you may not want to select www.scents.com
because that could be confused with www.cents.com or
www.sense.com when said over the phone or radio. Also, be careful
with the use of hyphens and numbers, as they can make domain
names harder to type and recall. You don't want to lose potential
customers because your domain name is difficult to use. Test out
potential names with friends before making your final selection.
What Do .net, .org, .us, .biz, or .info mean?
When you select a domain name, you can choose from several
different extensions. These extensions can help indicate the type of
business or service you are providing online or your geographical
location. Different extensions may also have different domain names
available in inventory. For example, newer extensions such as .biz may
have more available names than the more mature .com extension.
Here are definitions of the extensions you can choose from:
.com represents the word "commercial," and it is an unrestricted global
domain name extension. Many businesses prefer a .com domain name
because it is a highly recognized symbol for having a business
presence on the Internet. But, the number of available .com domain
names is shrinking as more and more businesses go online.
.net represents the word "network," and is an unrestricted global
domain name extension most commonly used by Internet service
providers, Web-hosting companies, or other businesses that are
directly involved in the infrastructure of the Internet. Additionally, some
businesses choose domain names with a .net extension for their
intranet web sites.
.org represents the word "organization," and is an unrestricted global
domain name extension that is primarily used for non-commercial sites.
However, many commercial entities register the .org extensions
corresponding to their .com domain names in order to protect their
brands.
.biz is a restricted-use global domain name extension used for
business web sites. As a relatively new type of domain, .biz offers a
company the opportunity to get the domain name it really wants and
enhance its presence on the Web with a domain name that means
business.
.info is an unrestricted domain name extension that creates an
opportunity to reach a worldwide audience with information about your
business and ideas. .info is growing in popularity, but still has many
great names available.
.us is a restricted-use country code that may be used by any individual
or organization with residence in the US or its territories, including
foreign organizations that do business in the US.
Domain Name Extensions:
Domain Registration:
We can help you decide on a
web domain name and handle
the registration, or you may
register the name on your
own. It is up to you.
Domain names vary in cost
on an almost daily basis. Be
aware that there are
registrars out there who offer
deals, but may not be
reputable. Expect to pay
$25-$35 for the first year's
domain name registration,
with lowered costs for
registering for multiple years.
We reserve many of our
names for 5 years and lock
them so they cannot be sold
without our prior knowledge.
If you have registered the
name yourself, you need to
provide your web design team
with the domain name
registrar's information to
begin work on your web site.
It may also be recommended
that other domain name
services be chosen, such as
domain name forwarding,
private registration, etc.
Most of our clients have us
handle this for them as part of
their design and monthly
hosting package. We let you
decide how much you want to
do. After all, it is your web
site and we want most of all to
please you!
We can help you decide on a
web domain name and handle
the registration, or you may
register the name on your
own. It is up to you.
Domain names vary in cost
on an almost daily basis. Be
aware that there are
registrars out there who offer
deals, but may not be
reputable. Expect to pay
$25-$35 for the first year's
domain name registration,
with lowered costs for
registering for multiple years.
We reserve many of our
names for 5 years and lock
them so they cannot be sold
without our prior knowledge.
If you have registered the
name yourself, you need to
provide your web design team
with the domain name
registrar's information to
begin work on your web site.
It may also be recommended
that other domain name
services be chosen, such as
domain name forwarding,
private registration, etc.
Most of our clients have us
handle this for them as part of
their design and monthly
hosting package. We let you
decide how much you want to
do. After all, it is your web
site and we want most of all to
please you!
| RTS: Introduction to Web Design |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Content:
Starter Web Sites have two to
three pages (Home, Contact
Us, Services or About Us,
etc). You can decide what
you want to start with by
checking out web sites for
businesses similar to yours on
the Internet.
You can place as much
information or as little as you
like online. The main thing is
to GET STARTED! Get those
creative juices flowing and
start thinking about how you
want to reflect your business
online. Jot down your
thoughts. Spend some time
looking at web sites in and out
of your industry. Note colors,
layouts, imagery, and
messaging. Put together a
short list of URLs (web site
addresses) with your
notations about why you do or
do not like the web sites. This
will come in handy when you
talk with your Design Team.
Starter Web Sites have two to
three pages (Home, Contact
Us, Services or About Us,
etc). You can decide what
you want to start with by
checking out web sites for
businesses similar to yours on
the Internet.
You can place as much
information or as little as you
like online. The main thing is
to GET STARTED! Get those
creative juices flowing and
start thinking about how you
want to reflect your business
online. Jot down your
thoughts. Spend some time
looking at web sites in and out
of your industry. Note colors,
layouts, imagery, and
messaging. Put together a
short list of URLs (web site
addresses) with your
notations about why you do or
do not like the web sites. This
will come in handy when you
talk with your Design Team.