|
| |
What Is A Domain Anyway?
Let's start right at the beginning, with a definition of what a domain is. A
domain represents a part of the Internet. It is your own grub stake, a portion
of virtual real estate where you can say what you want to say, present what you
want to present. It's www.yourbusinessname.com
Why Do You Want A Domain?
You've got to think of an Internet domain as a property. It's a property that
can become anything you want it to be: a store front, a mall with a series of
stores, the ultimate repository of information on any given set of products or
services, the headquarters of a cause. A domain is your own personal empire,
waiting for your energy, imagination, and determination to shape it into being
whatever you want. What it will be, how big it will get, how profitable it will
be depends on you. A domain is your ticket to dreaming and achieving big things.
Where Should Your Domain Be?
Start from the assumption that there are lots of sharks on the Internet. More
people want to be on the Internet with their own domain than understand how to
achieve that objective. Knowing this, some people with advanced technical skills
but without moral grounding take full advantage of this fact to fleece the
newbies. When you get your first domain, consider yourself a tenderfoot and act
accordingly; unless you've had experience, tread carefully.
Keep in mind that when you register a name, that's what you've got -- a name.
Nothing more. Many newbies think that by registering a name, they get a domain.
Not so. Domains are provided by Hosting Providers who are actually renting you a
portion of space on their server. These portions are represented by numbers
assigned by the ISP. Thus, http://www.Collina.net is actually
http://209.95.108.211
Hosted clients are charged a fee, not for name registration but for hosting. If
you're not careful you can get badly taken advantage of by unscrupulous
companies which may even charge you nothing for name registration... but big
bucks for hosting services, domain design charges, monthly maintenance fees, hit
limits, etc. Quickly you'll find any hope of profit evaporating.
This is why you've got to go with a reputable company, to ensure that you're not
confused and taken in by things like these.
You're told you need 150 megabytes of space with your domain. One way ISPs take
advantage of the unsuspecting is by offering them more space than they need.
With 150 megabytes of space, you could post the equivalent of over 10,000 pages
of information. This is more space than 99% of domains will ever need. In fact,
95% of pur domains don't even use 10 megabytes of space. Disreputable companies
make you feel you're "getting it all" by selling you 150 megabytes of space;
what they're really doing is selling you space you will never need. They can
then turn right around and sell this space again and again to others, who won't
need it either!
The name of the game for Internet success is traffic. Yet some companies
basically say, "If you get any hits over a certain number, we're going to assess
you an additional fee based on usage." This is highway robbery! You should never
have to pay a fee based on hits.
You're told that registration with major search engines will solve your traffic
problems, especially if your domain is linked to one of their main pages.
There's an enormous amount of misinformation floating around about search
engines. Sure you want to be in them. Equally, you can't base your success on
being in them. Think for a minute! You want to be in search engines. So do the
millions of other people who have Internet web sites and domains. People are
registering their sites every minute of every day.
To summarize:
You need a lot less space than you think.
Traffic limits if any, should be 10GB or more.
Search engines are good, so get your position up there.
Links to your site from others are helpful.
Be clear what fees you're paying for everything and anything before you sign on
the dotted line. (We have no contracts) Unfortunately, once you've signed things
can -- and often do -- get sticky. If you're unhappy with your ISP and want to
change, they often make that as hard as possible, up to and including making it
difficult for you to transfer your domain name to a new ISP. Beware! We do not
do this.
Thinking Through What You Want Your Domain To Do For You, Setting It Up
Accordingly.
From my standpoint there is one reason and one reason only to have a domain: to
make money or offer information. A domain is not a toy or a status symbol. It's
a tool, a tool designed to make your business more money at less cost.
When you're clear on the objective, it's easier to evaluate whether a thing
should go in your domain or not... and easier to evaluate the outcome to see if
you've achieved the objective.
In this connection, consider this question: do you have the time and inclination
to manage your domain yourself? If so, the first thing you need to get is a copy
of Microsoft FrontPage. FrontPage enables you to most easily manage your domain
by allowing easy presentation of material. It includes such features as counters
(so you know how many people have visited), forms, discussion groups, protected
web sites, and much more. For details visit http://www.microsoft.com/frontpage
Last Words
As more and more people become comfortable with the Internet, more and more of
these people are going to want their own domains. No wonder. A domain gives you
a piece of virtual real estate which you can transform into the income-producing
property of your dreams; a property which can be continually expanded,
continually improved. People who are starting their domains now are like the
western pioneers who took raw acreage and, by dint of their own brains,
determination, commitment and unconquerable spirit, turned it into productive
farms, orchards, ranches, and plantations, doing what was necessary to ensure
every greater productivity and prosperity.
People just like you are doing this right now on the Internet with their own
domains. It is a very exciting period, a period when the basis of millions of
new Internet-related fortunes are being established right before our very eyes.
The only question is whether you'll do what's necessary to build your domain and
your fortune. Or whether you'll merely watch others seize the initiative and do
it.
|
