Registering Domain Names For Your Websites And Blogs

This hub is about registering domain names for your own website or blog but there is no doubt that Hubpages is one of the best free places to share your interests and knowledge with the world. However, if you want to develop a significant online presence and develop a long term online business on the Web you need to have full control of your websites and this can only be achieved if you register a domain and set up your own website or blog.

It is straightforward to do this and it is not expensive. It costs from around $8.50 to register the domain, though some companies charge up to $30 per domain. You will also need hosting on a web server which can be found for anything from about $12 to $30 per year.

For that small amount of money you get your own place on the internet. Like breaking new ground in the wilderness this gives you a small plot of cyberspace to build your own home where you can share your ideas and information, install advertising if you wish and sell your own or other people's products. It is your little country to do with what you wish.

You can set up a blog and tell the world how it should be run or pass your opinion on the latest fads or TV shows and movies. It is your own space and apart from a few legal restrictions you can say and do pretty much whatever you like with it.

If you have an interest or a passion you can share that enthusiasm with other interested people

To set up your own blog might seem a daunting task but it is very straightforward once you understand the requirements.

When you type in a domain name or URL into your browser a query is sent out to a computer that stores all the addresses of websites throughout the internet. The result comes back in a blink of an eye to tell your browser where to find the server that is hosting that website. The browser then displays the page from the address it was given.

There are three steps to setting up your own blog from scratch.

First Choose a hosting provider and set up and account. Click te following link for the hosting provider I use and recommend.

Second: Find and purchase the domain you want and tell the register to direct visitors to your blog to your hosting account Nameservers. This information will be provided by your hosting provider. It will be something like NS1.hosting.com and NS2.hosting.com

Click the following link to use my domain register site.

Third: Go into your hosting account and use Fantastico to simply setup and install a Wordpress Blog. Note that this requires a hosting provider who uses the cpanel access page. Most, but not all, do.

You can then log into your blog and start posting your wonderful articles and content and share it with the world.

I have simplified the procedure a little and it takes a little more than simply clicking three times but it really is a simple process of following a series of steps and once you have done it a few times it can all be done in under ten minutes. If you have never done it before maybe it will take you 30 minutes to an hour but it really is not hard.

In case you are confused by the terminology.

All blogs are websites but not all websites are blogs. A blog is simply a certain type of easiliy updated website.

A domain name is the address for the root of a page or group of pages on the internet. A URL is the actual address of one specific page of information.

Hosting is space reserved on a Server.

Nameservers This refers to the address of the specific computer that holds your website data at your hosting providers premises. Your account may be one of hundreds on a server and they may have hundreds or even thousands of different servers.

A Server is a computer connected to the Internet that makes websites available for anyone to look at using a browser.

A browser is a software program running on your computer that enables you to view websites. You will be looking at this website with a browser now.

I was registering a lot of domains last year and the cost began to become an issue so I decided to bite the bullet and set up my own domain registering website. In this way I was able to cut the cost to of registering and renewing my domains and keep all my domain registrations in one place.

I continue to keep the prices as low as I can and I doubt you will find cheaper prices elsewhere so you might like to check out my domain registration site by clicking this link Cheap Domain Registration If you have any queries about domain registration, renewals or transfers feel free to leave a comment and I will try to answer your questions.

There are, of course, hundreds of other sites where you can register a domain so feel free to look elsewhere.

It is very tempting to think that if you get a domain name that includes the product or company name of any product or service you plan to promote.it will help you get more traffic to your website. It most likely would do that but it might also attract the attention of lawyers representing that company. At best you might get a 'Cease and Desist' telling you to give up your ownership of a domain containing their trademark and at worst you could be sued for damages the lawyers consider you MIGHT have caused so it makes no difference if you only made $5 they can sure for up to $100,000 per domain.

I am no lawyer. In fact I am stupid and ignorant of the law but this is what I have heard and I have had a couple of cease and desist emails myself in the past. Now, I wouldn't touch a domain name that included a company brand. In my opinion it is just too risky and not worth the trouble. If you have to give up the name, even if you don't get sued, you have lost all the work you put into building your website. If you plan to register or buy trademarked domain names and even if you don't, you would be well advised to consult a qualified legal expert for advice.

You may see a lot of these types of domain for sale on sites like Ebay. It may be the person selling it is dumping it because they got a cease and desist letter themselves. Just because there are domain sales and websites that include trade marks in their domain name does not mean it is OK to do this.You have been warned.