Why You Need a Domain Name

What’s in a name?

Well; every thing is! If you were to pose yourself the question “Do I need to have my own domain name?” The answer is a definite “YES“. Like every person has a name which is a primary tag of identification, which differentiates one from another, your domain name is your own unique tag of identity on the World Wide Web. No two sites can ever hold the same domain name simultaneously and hence your Internet identity is totally unique. Your domain name becomes your online business card or online brand. Very often, lot of people miss keeping their domain name and then realize that their whole online identity is lost.

How does a domain name work?

It is necessary to know how a domain name works if you want to understand the need for a domain name. A domain name is an Internet address, used for finding and identifying a particular site. Computers use a series of numbers called Internet Protocol (IP) Addresses for identifying a particular site on the Internet. However, it is a little difficult to remember a series of numbers and access the correct site. Even a small mistake doesn’t take you where you want to go or may even mislead you. So instead of using these series of numbers, in other words an IP Address, easily remember able names and phrases called domain names were developed to identify entities in the Internet. If you seriously want your presence felt on the web, if you want your business obviously be visible on the Internet then you definitely need a domain name. Your potential customers are easily directed to your place. You need to attract your clients with a good impression. You can do it a lot more efficiently by having your own domain name rather than letting some free Geocities or such address that is long and cumbersome to do it…

Advantages of having your own domain name:

1. When your site is hosted on a free server, the address of your web site will be ‘http://www.somefreewebsite.com/yoursite’. On the contrary, if you had your own domain name, then your web address will be ‘http://www.yourcompany.com’. Which of the two is easier to remember, more impressionable and easy to access? You decide. As long as you continue to use your domain name to indicate your site, you are the sole owner of that unique identity. Suppose your site is being hosted by a free host, and when you feel the need for advanced host your business grows more and more successful, it becomes necessary for you to promote your new URL all over again. You can loose those customers who approached you through the free host address because they access your site only by that address. On the other hand, if you had your own domain name, you gain the advantage of changing the host any time you want with out affecting the access to your site. Your clients can reach you just by typing your domain name.

2. You certainly have to build a credibility with your customers if you are serious about making money in your business through the Internet .Having your own domain name instills faith and confidence in your customers and makes them feel comfortable to deal with you. They rate you as an established company rather than a small time operator.

3. Emphasis is given to homepage of a site by many of the popular search engines. This way you have the advantage of better ranking and staying at top positions. This automatically improves the traffic to your site.

4. Major directories are less interested in featuring sites hosted free. When you choose to have your own domain name you have good chances to be listed in major directories.

5. Some major search engines ignore the presence of sites hosted by free host and hence may not spider them. Your visibility is prominent when you have your domain name so that the search engines spider your site easily.

6. And finally, you get to have the advantage of assigning separate email alias for various functions like administration, sales, service, customer care feedback etc.all of which point to your primary address. You can easily filter your mails handle them more efficiently. This builds a better equation with your client.

Earlier owning a domain name was an expensive proposition that only a few could afford to protect their brand. . But today, they are easily obtainable and more affordable .So do not lose your profits by cutting corners to save some money. If you have a business going, and if you seriously wish to make it profitably grow, if you already do not have it, then now is time to get your own domain name.