Getting your business on the internet can be an exciting and profitable venture. Every online start-up is anxious about the debut of their new website. Although getting their new web business off the ground and hopefully generating income is very exciting, few businesses are aware of the start-up requirements and ongoing maintenance issues that may arise. Not knowing what these issues are will result in an overwhelming headache. This article will talk about three start-up requirements you will have to complete in order to get your business of the ground, these are; choosing your domain name and domain name registrar; choosing who will host your website; and lastly, who will design your website.

Before we get started let’s look at Domain Names, as whichever one you pick, will involve picking a registrar as well. If you are new to the world wide web, (WWW), and want to start an online business, you will need a domain name. A domain name is the name users will type in to their browsers to find your website. To begin the search for an available domain name you will need to find a company called a registrar that has a domain name look-up utility. This utility provides an interface that allows you to find out if the name you want to use is available.

Domain names use what are called suffix’s which is the last part of a domain name and is often referred to as a “top-level domain” or TLD. Popular suffixes include “.com,” “.net,” and “.org,” but there are dozens of domain suffixes approved by ICANN. Because there are so many commercial businesses online today, ICANN has added new suffix’s to be used including .co, .biz, .info, .us, .us.com and many more.

Here is an example of how a domain suffix helps add uniqueness to the web in regards to domain names and how users find your website. If you wanted to use the web address “greatbiz”, then, using the utility we spoke of earlier, you would enter the name “greatbiz” and the results will show you if it’s available. If it is already taken the tool will show you the suffix that was taken and show any suffix’s that the name “greatbiz” are available in.

Let’s say that “greatbiz.com” is already taken but that “greatbiz.net” is available and you decide to take it. This now means that users typing in “greatbiz.com” will see someone else’s website and when they type in ”greatbiz.net” they see your website. The reason that both greatbiz .com and .net can be used is because the suffix’s .com and .net make them unique. While picking “greatbiz.net” because it was available works, it may not have been the best choice. We will address that issue in another article.

Assuming you started your search for a domain name on GoDaddy odds are you will complete the registration process on GoDaddy. The typical signup period is for one year. This means that for one year no one else in the world can use the name “greatbiz.net”. Each year, your registrar will notify you that it’s time to renew your domain name in order to make sure it stays yours and, more importantly, that users can still get to your website. If you fail to renew your domain name not only will your website go down, but the name will become available to whoever wants it. GoDaddy acting on your behalf as your registrar is making sure that no one else can get the name greatbiz.net and they will make sure your domain name is properly listed with every domain name server in the world.

Now that you have a name you will no doubt want to create a website. We won’t go in to how to pick a web designer at this time. In order to have your website be visible to the world you will need to have it hosted. A website hosting company will provide several services to you including the kind of design platform to be used (usually your designer’s preference), your email addresses and the space you will need to hold the web pages that make up your website.

If you used GoDaddy to register your domain name, then during the signup process they also asked you to let them be your website hosting company as well. If you said yes to any of their hosting plans this now means that GoDaddy is both your registrar and your website hosting company. We are NOT making any pitch for using GoDaddy, just using them as a name that most people have heard of as an example. There are many companies like GoDaddy that offer both services and many more companies that offer either one or the other. Whoever you use, you will need both a , registrar and a hosting company, to have a web presence. Now that you have your domain name and your website hosting space you are ready to turn things over to your web designer.

Let’s compare this to a more understandable example

Let’s say you are going to open a new company store in your local city. There are many things you will need to consider but three of them are a construction company, a company that will rent you the space you need and your local phone provider to get your new business phone number and have it listed in the phone book.

To get your new phone number (domain name) you call the local phone company (registrar) and they give you a unique phone number that you can list in the phone book. Every year, if you want to remain listed in your local directory and keep the same phone number, you will be asked by your phone company to renew your listing. As long as you keep paying the bill you can keep using that number.

Your renter (hosting company) is going to give you the location and space you need to build or remodel your new storefront (website). Each month or year you will pay the realtor rent to stay in the store. As long as you keep paying the bill, you get to keep doing business out of that store. Your construction company (web designer) will be responsible for making sure the store (website) looks the way you want.

In conclusion, for your website to succeed, then every year you will need to renew your domain name, and depending on whether your web hosting company charges by the month or year you will pay them as well. Any new changes to your website will be negotiated with your designer.

  Article Written By :Robert Schonhoff
Date : 10/18/2011