| You are ready to start your own web business. How | | | | 24-48 hours for other domain extensions. This is |
| do you register a domain? What can you do with | | | | referred as our domain name is "live". |
| your domain name once you have one? What about | | | | So now you got a domain name and you want to |
| web hosting? | | | | set up a website. You need a site that provides web |
| Let's answer the easier question regarding what to | | | | hosting. One again you have to decide how much |
| do with your domain name. Obviously, you can use | | | | you want to spend. Keep in mind that many of the |
| your new domain name to set up a web site. | | | | domain registration sites offer low cost web hosting |
| Fortunately, you can do a number of things with your | | | | that is solid and reliable. |
| domain once you register it. Have you thought about | | | | What programming language are you going to use |
| selling it? You can forward it to your main domain. | | | | for our website? Will you be using FrontPage? If so |
| You can even leave it parked just gathering dust | | | | you will need a web host that has FrontPage |
| waiting for you to decide what to do with it. | | | | extensions. Are you using HTML or an open source |
| Make sure the domain register allows you to use the | | | | editor? Then a Linux based server will work for you. |
| domain management features. With these features | | | | Here are a few suggestions to watch for. Web |
| you should be able to access and update all aspects | | | | hosting is normally charged monthly with some sites |
| of your domain from your nameservers including your | | | | offering discounts for paid in advance service for 6 |
| MX records (mail), to your privacy settings and | | | | months or 12 months. Check the refund policy to see |
| contact information. | | | | what happens if you cancel before the prepaid period |
| How do I go about registering my domain name? | | | | is up. |
| You have to decide which domain registry you want | | | | Does your host provider support PHP 5? With PHP 5 |
| to use and how much you want to pay for this | | | | support, you can program using the latest version of |
| service. Quite honestly, if you are paying more that | | | | this server-side scripting language. There are free |
| $10 to register your name, you are paying way too | | | | templates available that take advantage of existing |
| much. There are many solid companies that can | | | | applications and add-on's written in PHP 5. Check to |
| register your name for under $10. Now you have | | | | see if you can run both PHP 4 and PHP 5 |
| chosen the domain registry you want to use. | | | | simultaneously on the same site. |
| First step, make sure your domain name has not | | | | Don't forget site administration. What type of |
| been registered by someone else by doing a "whois" | | | | administration interface is available? Can you easily |
| search. I know, you are scratching your head and | | | | make the changes to your site you need. Can you |
| wondering what is a "whois"? The good domain | | | | manage and maintain cgi apps, library versions, Perl, |
| registration sites maintain a whois database. | | | | and Ruby on Rails from within the site administration |
| Fortunately, they also have an easy way for you to | | | | area? Site administration is suppose to help you not |
| check by just typing in the domain name and it will | | | | frustrate you in getting around and doing things. |
| search the whois database and let you know | | | | The hardest part about getting a domain name |
| whether it is available. | | | | registered is making sure no one else has registered |
| If the name is available, the search will let you know. | | | | it. You may think your domain name is unique until |
| Many of the domain registration websites will offer | | | | you go to register it and find that not only is the |
| suggestions to you if that name is already taken. | | | | dot"com" taken but also the dot"net", dot"org", |
| Word of caution. Think about your domain name and | | | | dot"biz" and all the other extensions. You also can |
| how it may be used in your business to drive traffic | | | | assume from that, you may be on to something that |
| to your website. This is not to be taken litely. | | | | is desired on the web. |
| Your name is available so now you can proceed with | | | | Buying a domain name and paying monthly for web |
| the checkout through the domain registration site. At | | | | hosting does not have to break the bank. You can |
| this point, more than likely you are probably done! | | | | pay a lot of money or you can actually pay less and |
| However may take up to 4 to 8 hours for dot"com" | | | | still get a solid product. Have fun! |
| and dot"net" domains to become active and about | | | | |