Choosing a Domain Name
From our friends at Yahoo
What makes a good domain name? A good domain name should be easy to remember, easy to spell, and preferably short. The name of your company is always a good choice. If your desired domain name is already taken, you can search if the .net or .org variation is available. You may also use hyphens to create unique domain names.
What characters are allowed?
.Com, .net, and .org domain names must meet these requirements: They cannot exceed 67 characters, including the characters in the suffix (63 characters plus the 4 character .xyz). Only letters, numbers, or hyphens are permitted. A domain name may not begin or end with a hyphen. They are part of the regulatory standards that .com, .net and .org domain names must follow.
What's the difference between http://yahoo.com and http://www.yahoo.com?
Not a lot. You can advertise whichever one you like the best.
Do I need to put the http:// on?
Probably not. Most web sites just advertise www.widgetdesigns.com. The www. is a good enough clue to people that it's a web address, so you don't need to say it. All popular browsers let you simply type www.widgetdesigns.com into the URL window.
Should I get a lot of domain names?
You may register and own an unlimited number of domain names. In addition to .com, many people register the .net and .org variations of their primary domain name. Each domain name costs $35.00 per year. If you already own a domain name, you can transfer it for $10.00 per year.
Who owns the domain name I register?
If you register a domain name through Yahoo! Store, you may designate the Registrant (owner) and Administrator. Yahoo! is only listed as the technical contact and nameservers. As the Registrant, you have final authority and responsibility regarding the use of your domain name.
What is the public domain name database?
A public domain name database (also known as Whois) contains contact information for all domain names. There are many registrars that register .com, .net and, .org domain names. Each of these registrars maintain their own public domain. The personal contact information you provide as the Registrant and Administrative contact is used to register your domain name. As required by the Internet's governing organization (ICANN), this information will be made publicly available. Records of all domain names registered by the registrar, Internet Names Worldwide, are maintained in their public domain domain database. The information includes Registrant, Administrator, technical contact, and nameserver information as well as record creation, update, and expiration dates. This information is available through many publicly accessible interfaces. You'll find a list of whois resources in Yahoo!'s directory.
How do I update my contact information in the public domain database?
The personal information you provided in your order was used to register your domain name. As required by ICANN, the Internet governance organization, this information was made publicly available.
What is the difference between .com, .net, and .org domain names?
Originally, the three letter suffix after the dot in domain names indicates whether the domain name was used for commercial (.COM), network (.NET), or non-profit (.ORG) purposes.Although there are guidelines, anyone may register these regardless of the intended use..Net and .org suffixes are good alternatives if the domain names you want in .com is already taken.
