Domains Explained: Types, Registration, and Parking

In the world of online marketing, we frequently utilize domains. But do you know what a domain is and how it functions? In this article, our goal is to define the term “domain” and differentiate it clearly from other terms such as URL, IP address, and others. We will briefly explain the process of registering a domain, discuss “domain parking”, and, most importantly, provide tips on selecting captivating domain names that visitors will remember for a long time. So, what exactly is a domain?

Domain definition

The word “domain” relates all the way back to Latin “dominus”, which roughly translates into “lord”. Historically, the emperors, kings, lords, and other “dominators” ruled over their domains single-handedly. See the pattern over there? When it comes to online browsing, “domain” can be defined as an online address, owned by somebody. It should be noted that domain ownership cannot be truly bought and is rented instead.

Basically, anything after the “www.” part is a domain. In the IT discourse, a domain name stands for some IP address. Any device on the internet receives a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address, hosting servers included. But memorizing and, more importantly, differentiating one set of digits from another might be difficult for humans, which is why domain names exist.

While sharing some similarities, a domain name and Universal Resource Locator (URL) are not the same thing. URL is a complete web address, which includes not just a domain name but web protocol, subdomain, and specific webpage. As for the domain itself, it is also a complex phenomenon.

Domain levels

Any domain is made of several layers, specifically:

• First Order Domain, a.k.a. Top Layer Domain (TLD) or “end” — is the second part of the domain name, e.g., “.com”, “.org”, “.net”. TLD is also called domain extension, which can take some exotic forms like “.beer”, “.love”, or “.xxx”.
  • Country Code TLD — national domain extensions that are two-letters long. But that does not imply you are obliged to use French extension if you are from France. ccTLD is ideal for country-specific campaigns with no international scaling in mind.
• Second Order (Layer) Domain — the actual name of a website, right before the “.com” prefix. This is where you need to unleash all your creativity to drive the most sales. In case of our blog, “zorbasmedia” is the SLD. Making a good SLD is an art, so we will have a separate section dedicated to just that.
• Subdomain — a domain can have as many labels, or components, as you want. Each subdomain is separated with a dot and goes all the way to the “https://” part. Occasionally, this can be something different from “www.”, like different languages (“en.”, “es.”, “de.”) or it can be used to separate a website from its blog (“blog.”)

No domain is complete without web hosting. Domain is like a note with the direction of where to go, and web hosting is the actual asset. The lack of domain renders you with a hard drive no one can reach online, and no web hosting leaves you with a map that leads nowhere.

Registering a domain

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is responsible for registering/reassigning domain names. They have many affiliates, so if you want to register a domain, you need to contact an ICANN-accredited domain registrar. Once you are determined to create a domain, you become a registrant. You need a registrar, or at least a registrar’s reseller to register a domain, so that the register operators can work with your piece of data.

The registration process is straightforward:

1. Go to ICANN-accredited registrar
2. Click on a Call-to-Action (CTA) button, e.g., “Get a domain name”
3. Fill in the details and double check you have not made any mistake — once the name is paid for, it’s too late to regret
4. In a couple of horse you should be notified about successful registration, and all the DNS servers will receive the information with your update

As mentioned earlier, a website domain is akin to a physical address in real life, so if you want your webpages to be accessible, you’re going to need a domain, which is attached to a certain IP address. Even though domain names are easier to read than the actual IP addresses, it is hard to come by a good one. An ideal domain has to be unique, concise, catchy, precise, affordable, and, more importantly, available for purchasing.

It should also be noted that if for some reason a certain domain registrar does not cater to your expectations, you can always switch to a different provider. While the process might be time-consuming of up to 7 days, it is good to know there is such an option.

Picking a name for your domain

All the steps above make no sense if you have no actual name for your website. Picking a good name is a crucial step that will affect your whole business for the years to come. If you have no idea where to start, try out domain name generators:

• DomainTyper
• Instant Domain Search
• Looka
• Nameboy
• Zyro

Not only can you create a name for your perfect website, but also check if the name of your choice is actually available. Also, it is good to make sure you do not violate any copyrights, so that you have no problems later on down the line. Before picking the name for your domain, it is advisable to follow 5 simple steps:

• Think like a potential visitor — be brutally honest with yourself and ask why should your prospect care about your website, let alone trust it. If you are not a comedian, then a funky name with puns might scare off the users and appear unreliable.
• Consider being a brand — think about the philosophy and product you promote. It is a great boon to your marketing campaigns if your domain name is not just relevant but also explains who you are.
• Make the name that catches attention — the optimal length for a highly memorable domain name is 6–12 characters… Many names with the length like this have already been taken and can cost an arm and leg. The domain name must be concise, just like your own personal name. Yet, unlike yours, it also has to be unique.
• Pick the right extension — “.com” is the reigning king of all the extensions. Go for it whenever possible, for people are so accustomed to the “commerce” webpages. Your second-best bet in most cases would be “.net” and “.org”. If neither option is available, then go for some unique TLD, like “.pizza” or “.accountant”
• Align the name with SEO — while it might put a strain on your creativity, but the reward is worth it. Learn the keywords that people usually search in your line of work and integrate a couple of them in your domain name for getting ridiculously high amount of organic traffic. Good luck finding the name like that, which has not been already taken.

Make sure your domain name is not only succinct but easy to pronounce too. Do not use local slang if you target an international audience. Refrain to a simple, plain, and grammatically correct language, almost as if you expect your visitors to be toddlers.

Know the purpose of your website too. If you have long-term goals in mind, then pick the name, while thinking one year ahead. A highly specific name, like “cricket-lovers.com” will cause you troubles in the future if you start scaling up and expanding your content to other activities. Make sure you are not cornering yourself with a pigeonhole name, unless you have no intention to scale up.

Reserve your domain in advance

Domain name is a unique asset, which can be bought cheaply and sold expensively under the right circumstances. The process of buying out domain names in bulk is called “domain warehousing”. In other words, the same domain name can hold different value to different people. An opportunity arises to buy the name that might be very craved by someone else. When this happens, the craver is forced either to pay a fortune or settle for another, less suitable name.

Moreover, since domains are rented, they can eventually expire. Some people may wait for this to happen and then to drop catch a domain that has just become available. Fortunately, there is a grace period of about a month, before the domain is indeed gone.

Buying a single exact domain might turn sour because of “domain squatting”. People might register similarly looking domains, e.g., “your-domain.com” vs “yourdomain.com” to fool the visitors or even to damage the brand’s reputation. Buying domains in bulk can spare you from this misfortune and provide more grounds for future development.

But what if you have just a vision with no exact plan of how to arrange the business idea of yours? Create a parked domain, which is a domain leading to no website. A good domain name is hard to come by, so if you have any kind of business idea, you should claim your name before everything else, or it might be too late. A parked domain is useful in itself but can be reused in the future as well. How can you use a parked domain?

• Protect the domain name you want to use
• Complement the primary domain and send the users to the same webpage
• Sell it to the next lucky owner
• Protect the no-longer useful domain before it expires

Conclusion

Domains are the online addresses that serve as the foundation for websites. They consist of different levels, including the top-level domain (TLD), second-level domain (SLD), and subdomains. Registering a domain involves choosing a registrar, checking availability, and completing the registration process.

Selecting the right domain name is crucial, considering factors such as relevance, brandability, and SEO. It’s important to make a name that catches attention, aligns with the website’s purpose, and is easy to pronounce. By understanding the significance of domains and making informed choices, individuals and businesses can establish a strong online presence and reach their target audience effectively.