Domain Registration

A domain is your home on the web.  It is a name that you choose, that is unique to you.  It provides an easy way for your visitors to find you, and links your email to your site.  Your domain is yours.  It will probably be hosted by a web host, that is housed on and supported by their servers.  Should you decide to change to a new web host, or to host it yourself, you take your domain with you.  Your visitors will probably never know that you changed web hosts.  In addition to your website, your domain is also your email address.  If your domain is yourdomain.com, then your website will be found at http://www.yourdomain.com, and your email will be to something @yourdomain.com.  Many web hosts allow multiple email accounts, all through your domain.

Your domain is yours, but not really.  Its more like you lease it, but without restrictions.  You pay a domain registration fee when you first register your domain.  This fee usually covers one or two years, depending on who you register with.  You can renew your registration when its due, or you can renew it early.  Many registrars will allow you to renew for as many as ten years.  If you aren't happy with the company you initially registered with, you can change registrars, but there is generally a fee involved.  In many cases, the fee includes an additional year of registration, so it may be worth while. 

Why would you want to change registrars?  Maybe you want to move to a registrar that is cheaper than the one you're with.  If you move to a new web host, or if you change your address phone number, you would need to make changes to your domain record.  If you find this process unduly complicated, or if it takes too long for the change to take effect, you may want to consider changing to a new registrar.  Generally though, once registered, you will probably have little to due with your registrar other than to periodically renew your domain.

You can register your domain name yourself, or Mainship Systems can help you.  We can even help you decide on your new domain name!