Top Level Domains
Some people refer to a domain name as a URL, others as a Web address or a “.COM.” When you type a domain name into the address bar at the top of a Web browser like Internet Explorer or Netscape, the requested Web page opens. For example, if you type www.yourpersonaldomainname.com into your browser, then hit Enter, the yourpersonaldomainname home page will appear on your screen.
The Top-Level Domain (TLD) is the part of the domain name located to the right of the dot. The most common TLD in use today is .COM, followed by .NET and .ORG. Other top-level domains include .BIZ, .INFO, .NAME, .WS, and .MOBI. Top-Level Domains are generally available to any registrant, anywhere in the world.
The .NAME TLD is available strictly to individuals. A top-level domain can also be of geographic significance and only available to registrants in the locale defined by the TLD. These are called country-code TLDs (ccTLDs) and include such top-level domains as .CA (Canada) .US (United States), .EU (Europe), .TV (Tuvalu), .CC (Cocos Islands), .DE (Germany), .JP (Japan), .BE (Belgium), .UK (United Kingdom) and .NZ (New Zealand). TIP: Once they’ve registered a .COM, many businesses will register the .NET, .ORG, and .MOBI versions of that name to protect their brand. It would be a shame to register yourpersonaldomainname.COM then work hard to promote it, only to see a competitor snatch up yourpersonaldomainname.NET and use it to compete against you.
It’s also a good idea to register common misspellings of your Web address, then forward those addresses to your main site. The more domains you own, the more visitors you can funnel to your main site. |
