If we were to use the analogy of obtaining some land in order to build a house on it, a domain name is simply the address of your plot of land, but there’s still nothing built on it. It’s like a street address, so people can locate you. An example of a domain name is google.com.

Is a domain name and a URL the same thing?

A uniform resource locator (URL), sometimes also called a ‘web address’ or 'link', contains the domain name of a site as well as other information, including the protocol (more on this later) and the path.

For example, in the URL ‘https://vallonergan.com/knowledgebase/’:

• ‘https’ is the protocol, while 

• ‘vallonergan.com’ is the website's domain name, and

• ‘/knowledgebase/’ is the path to a specific page on the website

In practical terms, it’s the whole address we copy-paste from our browser when we say, “here, let me send you the link to this specific page on a website.”

How do you choose a domain name?

Best case scenario, your domain name should be simply ‘nameofyourcompany.com’ or, depending on your line of work (or if you don’t have a company and intend to build a personal brand or portfolio), ‘yourname.com’.

If you offer something specific like coaching or consulting, you might want to consider ‘yournamecoaching.com’ or ‘yournameconsulting.com’.

Note: You can have more than one domain name that sends people to the same place.

Key Takeaways: You’ll want a domain name that’s simple to spell, ideally short, and memorable.  Avoid something random, spelled in a funky way (read: hard to find), or unrelated to what you do.

P.S. No name for your company yet?  Naming is part art and part science – requiring inspiration, strategy, and research. If you need a hand with this process, just send me a message.

Where do you look for domains?

I find the domain name search tool on GoDaddy.com to be really handy and user-friendly, and use it often to brainstorm names and creative variations.

However, I would advise against buying a name in a separate place from where you’ll build and host your website (i.e. if you’re not going to do everything on GoDaddy, which I wounldn’t), because you’re needlessly complicating your life having to set up one system to communicate with another, and having two accounts to manage your payments, etc.  So wherever you go, don’t get too excited and hit the Buy Button before knowing HOW you’re actually going to use it!

FYI - Wix has proven to be more a convenient all-in-one for my clients because you can use its native search tool and buy your domain right on the spot, thereby streamlining all your tech (and bills) to one place.

What the heck is a Domain Name Extension and why should you care?

• .COM is the gold standard for online businesses globally. It has the highest value for professional websites – if your goal is to make money online, you’ll want a .com.

• .ORG stands for “organization” and is primarily used for nonprofit websites such as NGOs, open source projects, charitable organizations and educational platforms. In the public’s mind, it signals a focus on social good.

• .NET is an extension typically used by businesses that provides services like internet, website hosting, databases or collaboration tools. Another reason to use .net is when .com is not available, as Domain Name Providers will invariably offer you dozens of other options if your dream .com is a no-go. In this case, you’ll need to make sure that the business with your same domain name with a .com extension is not in the same industry, otherwise your hard-won audience might end up becoming their clients.

• .EDU is used for education, common with universities.

• .CA is used for Canada only, and proudly used by many Canadian-centric companies. But know that not all registrars have permission to issue .ca domain names. One way to judge the use of .ca really depends on the kind of audience you’re hoping to attract: localized and patriotic, or global and universal?

How do you register a domain name and how does that work?

You can buy a domain from a Domain Name Provider (also often called a Registrar, though they’re technically not the same), and it’s yours for a set period of one to three years, but not forever.

Typically, these purchases are set to auto-renew (which I recommend), though you can deactivate it.  If you do, you would typically get plenty of warning that your time is elapsing before losing your domain name.  (If your ownership elapses and you don’t renew it, it can get snapped up by someone else, especially if your domain name includes popular words that are in demand. Also, word to the wise: stick with really big and well-known domain name providers like Wix and GoDaddy because other smaller ones can have very uncool predatory practices and charge you exorbitant fees.)

So if you intend to build a lasting online presence, and I do wish that for you, then save money overall by going for the longest term possible, and keep that auto-renew On so you have one less thing to worry about!

Bonus cool web facts: 

What does ‘https” mean in a web address?

Hypertext transfer protocol secure (HTTPS) is a secure way for your browser—like Chrome or Safari—to talk to a website (look for the little padlock in your browser!). Anytime you visit a site, click, or type something in, your browser sends info back and forth. HTTPS keeps that info private by scrambling it, which is especially important when you're logging in or entering personal details.

Modern browsers warn you if a site isn’t secure, so always check for the padlock or the "S" in HTTPS before sharing anything sensitive.