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WHAT’S IN A (DOMAIN) NAME?
Have you ever wondered why some Web sites have short, catchy addresses like "www.yahoo.com" while other sites, possibly including your own, have addresses that look something like this: "www.webhost.com/members/yourname/index.html"?

The difference is the domain name, which serves as the site’s address. While large organizations such as Yahoo! generally register a domain name of their choosing for their sites, many smaller sites remain part of the domain registered by their Web site host.

Registering your own domain, however, is easier than ever. For a relatively small fee and a little time, you can register a unique name of your choosing for your Web site that will be easy to remember and will look good on your business cards and marketing materials.

The first step in registering a domain name is to pick a registrar. The registrar handles the technical and administrative chores of registering your domain name with the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, or ICANN, the organization that administers the Internet’s addressing system. As of this writing, there were 74 registrars accredited by ICANN. For a complete list, go to ICANN’s Web site at "www.icann.org".

Choosing a registrar depends largely on how much you want to spend and what services you need. Some registrars will handle the registration of your domain name for free in return for putting advertising on your site. Others charge for premium services such as Web site e-mail addresses and hosting.

The next step in the registration process is to choose a host for your domain. The host refers to the Internet server where your Web site will "live." Most Internet service providers offer hosting services. Free hosting is also available from many companies in return for placing advertising on your site.

If you already have a host, you only need to provide the registrar with some simple Internet server information in the form of Internet Protocol, or IP, addresses. Your host can provide this information. If you would like to register a domain name but do not currently have a host, most registrars will allow you to "park" a domain for free or for a nominal fee until you find a host.

The final step in the process is to choose and register your domain name. Most registrars provide a search function on their Web sites to determine if the domain name you want to register is available. For example, you may want to call your site "www.mypractice.com", but another organization may already have registered that domain name. Full-service registrars will provide available alternative domain name suggestions based on your original request.

After finding an available domain name that suits your purpose, you only need to provide contact information, the host server information mentioned above and payment. Consider your privacy when providing this information; it will all be available to anyone who cares to see it.

Joe Hoyle, electronic media editor, ADA Publishing, a division of ADA Business Enterprises Inc., "hoylej{at}ada.org".

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