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Website Basics
This guide was written by Allison Lamont. It is an introduction to some basic terms used in the industry, when purchasing a domain name or web hosting package for your website. Please, remember to do your own research, once you become familiar with the basic information presented. A web site is a collection of images, text, photos and information displayed as related pages on the World Wide Web. A web site is like a book online – broken up into pages with headings, text and images.
Web sites use special links called hyperlinks that help you move through the information with a click of the mouse. A web site can be displayed online and viewed by anyone connected to the Internet.
A domain name is the Internet web address of a web site. A domain name is an Internet protocol address ("IP address") made of a string of four sets of numbers separated by periods such as "204.111.221.01." |
Domain names can be valuable as they are unique and only one person can register each domain name. Business.com sold for $7,500,000US.
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A sub domain is a way of 'splitting' your domain name into different sections. For example, http://www.businessmums.com/ has a sub domain http://directory.businessmums.com.
Sub-domains allow you to have 'mini' sites under one domain name. They also include domains for members of large sites. For example www.businessmums.com/~username.
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It is the equivalent of registering a company name for the Internet. Even if you don’t plan on owning a website in the near future, it is a good idea to reserve your domain name now (just in case someone else registers it before you do).
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Thinking about buying a domain name?
Remember that you are only buying the Internet web address.
You are not buying a website or any ‘space’ on the web.
You are simply registering the right to control what appears when someone types in YOUR web site address.
Your domain name should be closely related to your company's name, product or service.
It is also important to note that most domain names are not refundable at most domain name reselling companies. Check your registration carefully before sending, as spelling errors do not warrant a refund. Once you have processed the domain name – you own it for the amount of years you chose (most are one or two years minimum)
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What are the rules for .com.au domain names?
The domain name must be derived or relate to your business name or products and services.
An exact match of the business’ name or trademark
An abbreviation of the business’ name or trademark
An acronym of the business’ name or trademark
Product that the business manufactures or sells
A program that the business administers
An activity that your business facilitates, teaches or trains
A service that your business provides
A venue that the business operates
A profession that is practiced by the business’ employees or members
An event that your business organises or sponsors
Place names in Australia are disallowed as domain names
Domain names can be 2 to 63 letters, and words can be separated by hyphens, but not spaces.
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What types of domain names are available?
.com – perfect for any commercial organisation.
.com.au – suitable for Australian commercial organizations including small business, sole traders and most other business types.
.net.au – mainly for technology based businesses.
.org – historically reserved for non-profit organizations and charities
Check out information on the Domain Seller’s website for others such as .biz, .id, and more.
Should I buy from a domain name reseller?
Domains should be purchased from a domain name reseller who is approved by the registrar. In Australia, hey should be an auDA industry-accredited Domain Name Registrar.
Remember, no matter who you buy a domain from, the domain name is actually registered with the reseller’s registrar.
We recommend Net Registry for domain name purchases, and if you need assistance placing your order, we will charge a one-off set-up fee to get your domain and hosting organised.
Why should I register a domain name?
You want to own an online presence for your company
You plan to display your website online in a professional manner
Your company image would benefit from owning a domain name that matches your business or services
You require a permanent, reliable place to display your information back to top
What is a domain name registrar?
A domain name registrar is authorised to license domain names to Internet users either directly to customers or through an appointed reseller. back to top
Domain parking is a way for you to set aside your chosen domain name, even if you don’t plan on using it straight away. You can "park" your domain on a small amount of server space. Once a domain is "parked," it will point to a "coming soon" page. This will let others know that the domain is registered and a web site may be on the way. Domain parking is available at both domain registrars and through web hosts. back to top
What is Domain Name Registration?
This involves
Finding a reputable Domain Name Seller or reseller
Do they have adequate support services?
Are they based in Australia or overseas?
Can you phone them if you are unsure about purchasing online?
Can you reach them easily if you need to update your details?
Is their site professional and secure?
Do they offer special packages for domain names and hosting (see below for information about hosting)
Searching their site to see if the domain name you want is available
Reading their terms and conditions for domain names
Completing either a paper or online registration form including your company details, personal details and payment information.
Providing an ABN or trading name details
Receiving confirmation of application being successful. For .com.au domains you should receive a copy of the registration by mail if you submit the application – or a copy will be sent to the person who does it on your behalf. back to top
Web site hosting makes your site available on the World Wide Web via your domain name. All web pages need to be hosted on a server to make them accessible to people using the Internet.
Without web hosting – we could not see web pages at all. It is servers that store and display the pages on the web and make them appear at your URL (web address) when people visit your site. back to top
Your files are saved to your computer – but you need to ‘upload’ them somewhere to make them visible on the Internet.
As most home computer users do not have their own servers, it is likely that you need to find a reliable web host. They will supply you with details on how and where to upload your files. They should also give you adequate ‘space’ to save your website. back to top
How do I choose the right web host?
First do some research into web hosting packages. Look for email services, reliability – they should have back up power, good servers and up to date security systems such as anti-virus and anti-spam.
If you want to keep track of page hits, new visitors and the most viewed pages of your website – consider getting a statistics package through your web host.
Also, make sure they understand the needs of your web site.
Do you need?
Secure shopping facilities? You should be able to use third party shopping cart solutions of your choosing.
E-commerce assistance?
Telephone and email support services?
Web based email management?
Find out what services they do not support. Some web hosting companies do not support the following;
- Microsoft Servers
- Cold Fusion
- Streaming Audio or Video
- JSP
- Java Serverlets
- Active Server Pages (ASP)
- Microsoft Access Databases
- Telnet or SSH access.
Ask if they place any advertising material like banner ads on your site as part of the hosting agreement.
And the big question….are they prepared to spend some time discussing your needs with you before committing you to a yearlong service contract? Don’t hand over your money until you know you are getting the best package to suit your needs. back to top
How much hosting space do I need?
Some web hosts try to sell you a large amount of web hosting space. However, most small to medium websites only need about 5MB to 10 MB of space. This would be perfect for a 10-20 page website. If your site has lots of graphics or photos – you may consider getting up to 20MB of web space, which usually can host a website up to 100 pages in size. back to top
What is a domain name renewal?
Your domain name will expire after the length of your registration expires. Most domains come up for renewal after two years. You will need to pay a renewal fee to continue to own the domain name.
Domain name renewals have caused some problems for people in the past. Please be careful when you receive your renewal notices.
You should only renew your domain name with a company you have chosen. Do not send payment or credit card details to any company who contacts you, especially if you have not dealt with them previously.
Call your current domain name manager (the person from your ISP or hosting company) and ask them if they have sent you a renewal reminder. Compare prices and check the background of companies who may offer cheaper alternatives – before you make payment.
Some domain name users receive several unsolicited invitations to renew and register domain names, even when their domain name is not due for renewal. You should only receive one renewal notice per year, or every two years at the least. back to top
Should I pay for one year or more?
Depending on the web site you are planning, consider how long you want to ‘own’ the domain. For small businesses just starting out online, try to go for one or two years at the most. Some domain companies can offer and eight-year registration. If you know that your site will be needed for eight years – go ahead. Most domain owners stick to the minimum registration period of one to two years. Then, once this expires, they can renew or cancel ownership of the domain. back to top
Where can I get more information?
Try searching for information in a search engine. If you are in Australia, it is best to search for information relating to services and domain names in Australia.
Some of the larger Australian search engines include;
Seach these sites using search terms such as;
Domain Name Registration, Domain names, Web Hosting Services, registering domain names,Domain Name Search or something similar.
If you are still unsure of need further information your Internet Provider Support may be able to help.
Remember, doing research is important and can save you time and money. Make sure you are getting the right domain name and web hosting package to suit your online presence. back to top
This article was written by Allison Lamont from Web Graphics by E-mail. This is intended for use as a guide only.