Domain Names
What is a domain name ?
 Simply put, a domain name is the online address of your business (known as a web address), similar to a street address in the physical world. That web address is how people will find your business or service online and without it you could not exist on the web. Most domain names are typically formatted like this: www.mybusinessname.com, but good .com names are getting hard to come by so you may see www.mybusinessname.net or www.mybusinessname.org instead. Less common "dots" are .info, .biz, .us, .tv and .mobi.
The ‘bare bones’ of a domain name is a numeric IP Address in the form of 123.234.45.56 each number separated by the dots can range from 0 to 255. Can you imagine telling your customer to go to 255.210.32.12 to see your latest products? Therein you can see the importance of having a memorable domain name.
Do you need domain name?
In a nutshell, yes. Here’s why:
1. It gives your business its own identity on the web. Your web address can be a valuable brand name for you. You want people to remember your web address and use it on a regular basis.
2. It protects you from other competitors using your name. You don't want some one else registering a domain name that is the same as your business name risking the infringement of your products or service. Registering your domain name protects your identity from others.
3. It makes it is easier for people to find and remember you. For example, google.coma> is certainly easier to remember than the numeric equivalent 64.233.187.99.
4. Advertising your own domain name in printed media has a more professional look. Your letterhead or brochures will look much more professional using your own domain name vs. the name of a free web hosting service.
5. Having your own domain name with related keywords helps your ranking on search engines. The results of better ranking means a better position in the search results and possibly more customers.
6. Once you own a domain name, it can be yours forever. You only have to maintain a small annual registration fee.
7. You can use your domain name to host your email address. When communicating through e-mail, it is more professional to have an e-mail address like support@mybusinessname.com or contact@mybusinessname.com than someusername@yahoo.com.
8. Owning your domain name gives your web site credibility. If you are running a business on the web, having a domain name will give your visitors a sense of legitimacy and that you are not some fly-by-night operation.
Summary
If you are serious about having a professional presence on the web and about your customers taking you more seriously, then you should be serious about having your own domain name. Listed above are the primary reasons to get your own domain name and the prevalent theme is professionalism.
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