We have become used to browsing different web pages, but sometimes we do not pay attention to the small details. The domain name of a web page is the typical little detail that nobody notices. Really domain names are used so that the user can remember the address of a website. In addition, domain names are used to 'define' what a website is about and buying a domain is cheap.
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Definition of domain name
We could say that it is an identifier or brand name of a unique web portal, since no two can be the same. Users use domain names to access a web page.
Actually every web page and computer equipment that connects to the internet has a unique IP address. IP addresses are represented by a combination of numbers and dots. Memorizing these addresses can be very difficult, so a domain system was established over IP addresses.
Even simpler, when we are born our parents give us names and give us their surnames. But we are also assigned a unique identification number. Basically the domain name is equivalent to the name of a person and the IP address is the unique identifier.
When we enter a domain, there is a DNS server or servers that translate them to obtain its IP address.
Differences between registry, registrar and registrant
- Registry: Central database where all domain names are stored. Only domain registrars have access to this database.
- Recorder: Company or organization that can access the Registry and that has the ability to register a domain name.
- Registrant: Person or entity that acquires a domain name.
What types of domains exist
You should know that not all domains are the same. Currently there are many types of domain depending on the service to which they are associated or the region.
- TLDs: They are domains that are in the highest substratum of internet domains. Currently who manages this list of more than a thousand types of domains is the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA). The most common TLDs are: '.com', '.org' or '.edu'
- ccTLDs: They are top-level domains but with a country code. Come on, they are the '.es' domains from Spain, the '.it' domains from Italy or the '.jp' domains from Japan, among others.
- gTLDs: They are generic top-level domains. Translated it means that they are domain names that do not depend on any country code. Here you can find domains such as the '.gov' reserved for government agencies or the '.mil' reserved for military bodies around the world.
Other levels of mastery
In addition to domain categories, there are others for domain names. These are:
- Second level domains: They are domains that are one notch below the top-level domain name. These are what we could say as compound domains. For example, British websites often use '.co.uk' domains instead of '.com'. The British Government also uses the domain '.gov.uk' for its institutions.
- Subdomains: They are often used to create separate sections within the same domain name. It is not really a new domain, but the segmentation of an existing domain. For example, Google has a large number of user support web pages and these are hosted under the subdomain 'support.google.com'.
How to choose a domain name
Well, there is a lot of fabric to cut here and we should know the purpose of the domain. If you were a person who wants to have a blog or a WooCommerce, you are still interested in looking for a good SEO domain. For companies, the thing is simple, the name of my company, which is what I want to position. Then already the '.com', '.es' and others, it depends on the approach you have, if it is national / local or international.
The essential points to follow are these:
- Optimized for SEO: Believe it or not, the domain name helps a lot with positioning. Spending time searching for the ideal word or words for your domain can take a while. But it is often worth the time to find a good name.
- It should be a reflection of the content: If we are going to write about sports, it would not make sense to call the new website 'ollasysartenes.es', since it has nothing to do with it. For sports the best examples are 'Marca.com' and for cars 'MotorPasion.com'.
- Easy to remember: Don't try to be funny or witty, find something simple and easy to remember. In the end, what you want is for people to remember your domain and access it regularly (separate content).
- Symbols and numbers: Avoid using symbols and numbers in the name, they only make it difficult to memorize the domain.
- Focus of your website: If it is a small business that operates in Spain, your ideal domain is '.es'. In case you want to do something international, the ideal would be '.com'.
- List of domains: Do not buy the first domain name that appears free, make a list. Then go through the list carefully several times until you have the domain name that suits you the most.
