Top Level Domain Registration

An Internet top level domain name is part of an organization or business's online address; specifically, this refers to the letters following the last dot in the web address, such as .com or .org. Some top level domains are off limits to most people, such as .gov, .mil, and .edu, as they are reserved for government, military, and education websites, respectively. However, more generic names such as .com, .org, .biz, and .net are open to individual and business uses, and top level domain registration in these categories is available to just about anyone. Another option that is gaining popularity is the use of country code top level domain names such as .uk (for persons in the United Kingdom) and .us (for persons in the United States). Whichever option one chooses, putting a business online is absolutely essential in today's technology-driven world.

Whether the business is medical, commercial, or non-profit, going online can only be beneficial, as almost everyone searches for the services they need on the Internet. When a person moves to a new town, she often checks online for a doctor or dentist; when she needs to buy a couch, she does her Internet homework; when she wants to buy some rare, hard-to-find item like a sea monkeys aquarium or a turquoise bolo tie, she hits an online search engine. This is where a good Internet top level domain name comes in; the goal is to be on the first page of an online shopper's search engine results, flashing a web address that is appropriate, catchy, trustworthy, and professional. Good advice is to choose a name that accurately reflects the business and that is short and memorable, without being misleading. The requirements: the name must be between two and sixty-three characters and may contain numbers, letters, and hyphens, but cannot contain special characters such as the exclamation point or asterisk; also, a hyphen cannot be positioned as the first or last character. 

Top level domain registration is a relatively easy process and can often be inexpensive, costing $10 to $35 a year. Interested persons must register with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers and either buy a web hosting package or provide their own hosting services. Choosing a service that provides 24 hour a day toll free phone and e-mail support might be the best way to get the full benefits of a purchase. Also, businesses planning to buy or sell products on the website will need to buy online shopping cart software. Anticipating these additional expenses, businesses might seek to purchase an Internet top level domain in a package that includes web hosting and shopping cart, which should simplify the set-up process and save money as well. 

Because so many good web address names are already taken by a .com or .org, many businesses are turning to country code top level domains to get the name they want for online exposure. Increasingly popular is the choice to use .us or .za for top level domain registration in order to avoid obscure or awkward web addresses. Another option for business owners finding their desired name taken on .com and not wanting to settle for a weird substitute is to purchase a premium domain, which is a previously existing but unused web address that uses important key words and popular search terms that will stream search-engine users directly to one's business. This is an expensive option, but definitely promises increased traffic to one's site, which should result in increased sales and service. Interested persons can easily search through thousands of related web names to find one that works for a particular business, and while these domains are not necessarily unique, they are generally short and memorable and get the advertising done quite nicely. 

Business owners might consider buying more than one Internet top level domain and streaming them all to one URL, in order to avoid having businesses with the same name benefit from their company's popularity or having their company confused with another. Also, if a business or individual feels that they will require the use of a domain in the future, advance buying is an excellent idea. Buying ahead and not using the web address right away is better than waiting and losing the domain to another company. However, buyers should be aware that there are limits to the amount of time a purchased domain may remain inactive and should ask the provider at the time of registration. Of course, if the buyer does not need the web address after all, he can always sell it to someone else, sometimes at a highly profitable rate. 

Like other advertising investments, top level domain registration is one step in the path to business success, but the Bible teaches that the true path is found through honest and fair business dealings. One wise proverb says, "But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day" (Proverbs 4:18). Even in this age of globalization, a good name and a reputation for honesty, kindness, and genuine concern for the customer is still what matters; having a catchy, effective web address might help get one's name out, but keeping that good name is up to the business owner. Sometimes in business, customers don't care as much about who is the most professional, the most technologically savvy, the most trendy or "with it," but rather care about finding a business that keeps its promises, treats its customers and the natural environment with respect, and works in a way that is unmistakably just.