Chapter 2: Domain Names: What Your URL Says about You

In This Chapter

Choosing your domain name

Registering your domain name

Understanding country codes and top-level domains

Securing domains for common misspellings of your name

Considering domains with alternate extensions

Choosing the right hosting solution

Knowing how search engines view subdomains

Shakespeare once said, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet,” implying that a name doesn’t affect an object’s essential makeup. That may be true, but a web site isn’t a rose — your site’s name is critical to its success. Your domain name (the root of your site’s URL address, such as yourdomain.com) must be chosen strategically, based on your business goals. Pick a good domain name, and you’ve got a foundation for a successful online presence.