In order to get your website on the Internet, you need to register for two items: Domain Name and Web Hosting. The third Essential Tool we will look at here a Domain Name.
Domain name is one of the first things you have to consider when you want to start your website. Also called the hostname or sitename, it is the basic name of your website. For example, www.happyjoblessguy.com. As you probably have known, the domain name has an ending such as .com, .net, .org, etc. To use it to earn an income, I would suggest you go for .com. It is the most popular, hence, the most difficult to get. Nonetheless, you should try to get domain names with .com.
How do you check whether a domain name is available? I use this website, http://www.domainit.com/ to check. Just type in the domain that you want, and a friendly-looking guy appears with thumbs-up or thumbs-down, depending on whether the domain name you chose is available.
You probably will not get the first domain name of your choice, and will need to try a few times before landing on one that is still available. This is a very important exercise, so take all the time you need. Consider what sort of website you want and look for domain names that are self-explanatory. The outcome will determine the branding of your website. Some people use their own name for the domain. That is perfectly all right if you are creating a website for fun purposes, but unless you are a celebrity intending to sell items related to yourself, I would suggest you choose a domain name that is appropriate to the activity you intend to do.
My first commercial website is called AsiaExplorers.com. It is self explanatory, and the name looks good too, as I use it to write about the tourist attractions in Asia. However, it limits me to places in Asia. For that purpose, I registered two other domain names, EarthDocumentary.com and WorldGreatestSites.com, to take my commercial interest beyond Asia. So don't make a similar mistake by registering a domain name with a limited potential.
Registering and keeping a domain name will cost you approximately US$10 per year or even lower. That is peanuts if you can earn the amount back. For now, look for the domain name but don't register it yet. Instead go to Essential Tool #4 to read about Web hosting.
When you use Site Build It, the application helps you go through the steps to select an ideal domain name for your website, which they will also host for you. To learn more about the tools from Site Build It, read the Site Build It Action Guide.
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