When you have a website or plan on creating one it is highly recommended that you register your own domain name. A domain name would look like this ''www.sitename.com'' this will become the link that users enter into the address bar to reach your site, everybody and anybody can register a domain name. Why should I have a Domain name? There are many reasons that you should get your own unique domain name. The most important of them include: A domain name gives your site credibility, internet browsers will feel more confident browsing a unique domain name rather than something like ''yoursite.blogspot.com'' especially if you wish to create a corporate image for yourself.If you wish to have sponsors of advertisers on your site a domain name will build your sites respectability and in turn you will be able to make money with your site more effectively. A unique domain name will attract better sponsors. A unique and good domain name can help you gain better traffic and increase your chances of returning visitors. It would also be wise to get a name that relates to your site as it will be more memorable and you will get users who are able to return to your site regularly without needing to search their history or other records to find your site.If you decided to change your website host all your visitors will not change as your URL will be unchanged. So users will not have to search again and you will not need to inform them of the change.you will also gain the ability to create email addresses for your domain eg. '' This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '' which will also improve your sites credibility and visitor value.How do I get a Domain name? To get your own domain name you will have to do it through what is referred to as a 'Registrar' these are sites which allow you to register a domain name through an organization called ICANN. To get your domain name you will search for the name you desire through your chosen registrar to see if it is available and then you pay a registration fee which is about $4 and upwards depending on the extension and the status of the domain. These registration fees will give you full possession of the name for a year after which you will have to renew it, this will usually cost the same amount you paid to register the domain initially. Remember to think about the name you wish to register carefully as it could have a great impact on the site you create, there are still many great names available you just have to think it through and try to relate it to your site to your content as much as you can. You will need to think of more than one as the name you initially wanted may not be available. When you find the name you want it would be best to buy it as soon as you can as it may not be available for very long. To pay for your domain name you will need either a credit card or Paypal account these are the only options for most registrars as it offers instant access to your domain after purchase. Recommended registrars We recommend that you use one of the following sites as they are highly trusted and we have had positive experiences with their service. How do I direct my domain name to my website? If you already have a host you will need to direct your domain to your website using the primary and secondary nameservers provided by the host, you should receive these from your host after you purchase your package. If you are unsure about what they are you should be able to find the information in your hosts FAQ under the heading of DNS, Domain name transfer or something similar. Don't worry if you do not have a host yet as when you purchase a domain it is usually parked for you on a temporary site. So you can secure a domain name while you are still developing a site. | 
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