What is a domain name?

The purpose of a domain name is similar to that of a street address or telephone number. The domain name directs customers to you on the Internet. The domain by itself is not your email or web address. The domain does form the base from which these addresses are derived.

For example:

Company Name: Websites 4 Small Business
Domain Name: web4business.com
Web Address: www.web4business.com
Email Address: sales@web4business.com

Do I need to register a domain name to have a web site?

NO, you don't need to have your own domain name. Your web site can be created and hosted without it. Your web site address will look something like this:

www.web4business.com/JBCleaning
OR
www.ozemail.com/~JBCleaning

The only advantage of not registering a domain name is that you may save yourself money. Perhaps $9.95.

The disadvantages of NOT having your domain name include:

1. If you decide to change your Web hosting company or if that company goes out of business, you will lose your web site address. Your web site can be transferred to a new company, but your address will change. And that means re-printing stationery and re-doing all your advertising, notifying all your customers, etc.
2. Web site addresses that contain information other than your company name are long and hard to remember and do not appear as professional. Compare these two and see which one you are more likely to remember:
   
   www.ozemail.com/~JBCleaning
   OR
   www.JBCleaning.com

So, it is a good idea to register a domain name, even if it is just to protect yourself for the future. Say for example, your business name is JB Cleaning and you decide not to register your domain name for now.

Along comes Joe Bloggs who opens his own cleaning business and registers JBCleaning.com domain name. After a year you decide you want to have your own domain name, but since Joe Bloggs already owns it, you won't be able to register it. Not to mention your customers who know your business as JB Cleaning may visit his web site, thinking it's your web address and instead hire Joe Bloggs Cleaning.

by Ivana Katz

Gossamer's Registration Service

Registering and maintaining your domain name with Gossamer is included with your order to host, design or maintain your website. We are a VIP VeriSign customer and you will find that maintaining your domain name with VeriSign an almost transparent task. Changes to your account occur without the week or more delays found with other domain services providers.

Our hosting, design and maintenance programs do not include charges from VeriSign for domain registration fees and other programs offered by VeriSign.

Of course, we can work with the domain registrar of your choice.