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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Domain Name?

Your Domain Name or web address signifies your own address on the Internet. It is a unique alphanumeric name used for identifying and locating computers on the Internet. An Internet domain name for your company or organization gives you the opportunity of presenting a unique and consistent presence on the Internet.

Why were Domain Names or web addresses developed?

Domain Names correspond to a series of numbers called Internet Protocol (IP) numbers (e.g., 64.24.345.456) that serve as routing addresses on the Internet. IP addresses are hard to remember; therefore web addresses were developed to permit the use of easily remembered words. (e.g., alpodogfood.com)

What does it mean to have a domain name registered?

Registering a domain name means that you (or your organization) become the legal holder/owner of the domain name. Registration involves assigning the following three elements to a newly created domain name: (1) ownership; (2) agents to act on behalf of the owner; and (3) a "location" for the domain name within the internet system so that other internet users can find it. The owner is referred to as the "registrant" and the agents are called "contacts” as they represent the point of contact for resolving administrative issues ("administrative contact"), billing/renewal issues ("billing contact"), and technical issues ("technical contact"). Your name and contact information will be listed for all contacts.

Why and when do domain names need to be renewed?

Domains names need to be renewed yearly. This fee pays to keep your domain name active on the Internet and helps offset the registrars’ costs of maintaining large complex databases of web addresses. You can purchase/renew a domain name in one-year increments up to 10 years in advance. Renewal notices will be sent to you automatically starting 90 days from your actual renewal deadline. Since the cost to register names can fluctuate, it is often a good idea to purchase your name for several years in advance to lock in your rate.

What is the difference between domain registration and web hosting?

Registering your domain gives you sole ownership and rights to the name of your site. No one else has access to the actual name of the domain, and it is taken off the market.

Web hosting is the place where the actual pages and images of your site reside. In order for your website to become “activated” or accessible, a server is required to “feed” your pages to the Internet. Web hosting provides that server, its network connection, its configuration, and its upkeep.

Why do I have pay for hosting?

Since web hosting is a service, the fee you pay covers the cost to maintain the servers on which your pages reside. Typically, hosting service is billed monthly, quarterly or yearly, with the longest interval offering the best discount for prepayment.

While there are several “free” web-hosting sites, all of them place advertising on your site, the content of which you may or may not have control over. This can create a less than professional look for your site and is generally inappropriate for business-oriented sites. So paying for hosting is recommended.

Will I be able to update my site myself?

If you want the ability to edit your own website, you have two basic options:

  1. Utilize a web hosting service that offers web site templates and an administrative interface to edit your pages. Godaddy and Yahoo offer such services. Bear in mind that the ability to customize the design template is often limited with this type of hosting account. And a custom designed site will not work with a template-based system.
  2. Purchase Adobe Contribute ($149), which will allow you to update your site as easily as using Microsoft Word. Contribute will allow you to easily make changes to your website and still allow you to have a custom site designed.

Regardless of which option you choose, please note that there is a slight learning curve involved. If you are willing to make a small investment in time to learn how to use these options to edit your site yourself, then this can be an economical solution for you.

If you feel that the ability to edit your site is important, please request an estimate on incorporating this option into your website proposal.