Domain Names
Intro
A domain name is the main part of the "web site address" or "URL" for your website (e.g. e-eAsel.org). This is what persons use to access your website through their web browser.
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Choosing a domain name
For artists, choosing a domain name is rarely a difficult thing. Most artists who operate under their own name usually use that name for their domain name (e.g. juliannayau.com). With the growth of the internet and the recent popularity of Blogs blogs, the general population has become quite accustomed to the "dot-comming" of a person's name. The YourName.com format is ideal for many artists because they are recognized primarily by their name, and expect most persons to search for their website by their name. The extension (aka TLD, e.g. .net or .us) is also something worth considering. Sometimes YourName-dot-SomethingOtherFromCom is desireable. For example, if you are known as "the European Artist John Smith" you may want to use JohnSmith.eu instead of JohnSmith.com.
For some, YourName.com is not always an option. If you happen to share a name with someone else who has already registered the name, you will either need to use another domain name or use the name with another TLD. The latter is not always desireable because you run the risk of confusing your visitors and the visitors of your name-twin. For example, imagine that the artist John Smith registered JohnSmith.net and another John Smith has already registered JohnSmith.com to use for his website about his adventures while backpacking. Persons looking for the artist but using JohnSmith.com will be quite confused and possibly discouraged when they find photos of Europe instead of large-scale steel sculptures.
In other circumstances, an artist may choose to use something other from YourName.com. For example, I originally chose against juliannayau.com because I thought that the name@namesurname.com format was awkward. Other artists would prefer a domain name which reflects their artwork rather than their name.
When choosing a domain name, remember that if your potential and existing clients are used to visiting your website at a particular domain name, it may be difficult to break that habit in the future. If, for example, you decide to use SuperFancyAbstractWatercolourPaintings.com and decide to change to AbstractWatercolourPaintings.com or JaneSmithArt.com in the future, you may need to continue to pay for the first domain name so that you can redirect persons to the new domain name and prevent someone else from reaping the benefits of a domain name which you successfully marketed.
Other resources
- 8 Quick Tips To Choosing A Domain Name
- Choosing a domain name
- Choosing a good domain name
- Poorly chosen domain names
- The importance of a good domain name
- Tips on Choosing a Good Domain Name
Choosing a domain name registrar
There are three main things to consider when choosing on a domain name registrar:
- Whether the registrar registers the domain name in your name or theirs
- Whether the price of the registration comes with features you don't need
- How long the registrar has been in business
- Ensure they are accredited with iCann
One of the biggest issues regarding the registration of a domain name is who the official owner is. Well-known registrars tend to be more honest about this now, but for a while there were some devious registrars who would register a domain name under their name rather than yours. In spite of the length and legalese of the Terms Of Service and other such documents provided by a registrar, read them thoroughly if you are considering doing business with the registrar. Some registrars also provide legitimate Privacy options which allow you to mask your personal information by providing the information of a third party. This type of service can be highly beneficial to someone who works out of their home (as is the case with many artists), but you are again advised to read their fine print before transacting business with them.
There are many registrars who charge upwards of $30USD for an annual registration of a domain name. This is quite costly, especially when one considers that comparable companies offer registration for under $10USD (for example, GoDaddy.com). When you are comparing prices for domain name registration, keep in mind that extras such as email hosting, email forwarding, free website hosting, starter pages, parked pages, and blog hosting are not available once you configure the domain name to work with your website host. For example, if you find a domain name registrar who provides 5 email addresses with your domain name and set up your website with a website host who provides 2 email addresses, you will merely have 2 email addresses (not 5 or 7). Similarly, if your domain name registrar offers free blog hosting, that service is not available if you set up your website to work with a different company to host your website.
Many website hosts also offer domain name registration, but do not always offer the lowest price. Although keeping the registration of your domain name and the hosting of your site with one company may seem like the simplest option, it is not always the most affordable option. Some website hosts also offer a free domain name with hosting. If you are interested in the free domain, ensure you read all of the fine print---you may find that you need to pay for the domain name after the first year, or that the domain name is registered under your host's name rather than yours. It may also potentially be a hassle to transfer the domain name to another host if you ever decide to switch hosts.
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