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Your internet ID: getting an address or domain name

A ‘domain name' or ‘webname' is an internet address, such as < myname.com.au >. More exactly, it's a unique name that lets any computer know where to find your website and your email host.

Domain names help people find you on the internet. They are used as unique identifiers for your organisation, whether in a website address or an email address.

There are two main types of domain name.

• Domain names that end in <.com>, <.org>, <.net>, etc. These are available for use by anyone around the world and are generally referred to as ‘global domain names'. Note that most US websites use these types of names.
• Domain names that end with a country extension such as com.au, org.au, net.au in Australia this is referred to as the ‘.au domain space' and is administered by .au Domain Administration Ltd (auDA).

To have a website or an email address you have to use a domain name.

You can either use your own domain name, such as www.myname.org.au, or share one owned by someone else. For example: www.yahoo.com.au/myname, or www.myname.yahoo.com.au. It is similar to the way your email address can either use the domain name of another organisation, such as Nicola.Smith@bigpond.com.au, or of your own organisation, such as Nicola.Smith@myname.org.au.

Types of domain names

People typically find your website by:

• typing your name into a search engine (if they can read your name e.g. www.yourname.org.au in the web address listed by the search engine they will know they've found you); or 
• adding the suffix <.com.au> or similar to your name, hoping that will bring up your website. The closer your domain name is to the name people know you by, the easier it will be for web users to find you. If people know you by your acronym, use that. A domain name with an obscure abbreviation will be harder to guess, e.g. www.yonam.org.au as an abbreviation of ‘your name'.

A domain is a bit like a postal address, with full stops used instead of new lines of address. Generally it is in three parts separated by full stops:

1. The unique name used by the organisation. In general it is best to run multiple-word names into one name e.g. ‘disabilityrightscentre' rather than separate the words by additional full stops.
2. The next letters signify the type of organisation. In Australia <.com.au> addresses are generally used for commercial organisations, <.org.au> for general not-for-profit organisations and <.asn.au> for associations. Other options are <.gov.au> (restricted to government organisations), <.edu.au> (for educational institutions), <.csiro.au>, <.net.au> and <.id.au>.
   
   The choice with international/American names is wider. The main suffixes used are <.com>, <.org> and <.net>. Other suffixes include <.info>, <.coop> and <.name>.
   
   Try to avoid .ws, .tv, .biz, etc, as these are unfamiliar to most people. If possible stick to .com, .net, or .org variations and their Australian equivalents.
3. The last two letters (suffix) of a domain name generally signify the country a domain was registered in. Australian domain names end in <.au>. Domain names without a country signifier, such as those that end simply in <.org> or <.com>, signify an international or an American site. Many Australian nonprofits still choose .com as it's simpler and cheaper.

Dot com, dot org or both?

Many members of the public don't realise that websites have suffixes other than <.com> or <.com.au>. If you have a site targeted at a very broad audience, consider registering a <.com.au> internet address as well as your <.org.au> address. You can decide to either shift your whole website to a <.com.au> address, or have multiple website addresses that point to the same website. The latter option means that you don't have to publicise the <.com.au> address but you can ensure that if anyone types <.com.au> into their browser they will still end up at your site. Registering your <.com.au> twin also ensures that no one else can use it and confuse your users.

State, territory and community geographic domain names

An innovation in Australian domain naming convention is the creation of eight new second level domains ( 2LD s) for Australian states and territories – act.au, nsw.au, nt.au, qld.au, sa.au, tas.au, vic.au, wa.au – so that Australian geographic names could be used by the relevant local community.

The proposed domain structure is placename.state/territory.au – for example, bathurst.nsw.au or ballarat.vic.au. Use of the domain names is restricted to community website portals that reflect community interests, covering such things as local tourism, historical information, special interest groups, and cultural events.

Registering your own domain name

Registering a domain name involves finding one that isn't already being used by someone else, and paying a fee to have it set aside for your use.

To do this you will need to use a domain name registry service. You can search for an available domain name from the website of any registry. Registries will provide simple instructions about what to do on their websites.

To run email or have a website you will need to provide details of your internet service provider's ‘name servers' (a special purpose computer that acts like a traffic cop for internet addresses). You can either ask your service provider for the exact details, or ask them to register the name for you and make sure the details are correct.

Shop around, as different registries have different prices. Often the different prices will reflect different levels of service: the response time in handling problems or changing server details, and the extent to which you can update your own details.

There is less regulation and some very good deals connected with the registration of international domains e.g. <.org> and <.net>, so shop around. Ask a friend who they use.

Remember that your registration has to be renewed periodically, usually every year. Your registrar will send an email to remind you.

The cost of having your own domain name is not restricted to registration. A separate domain name also requires a server provided by an ISP to host your website. You will need a contract with that ISP (separate to your contract for email and internet use) for web hosting services. The yearly price will depend on things like the size of your site and the number of visitors.

Someone's got the name you want!

If you find a name is taken and you want to know who's got it, look for the ‘WhoIs' area on each registry's website, or check Australian domain names. The WhoIs service will provide a detailed registration record and a contact email address.

To be able to register an Australian domain name, you will have to prove you have the right to do so. The requirements include having a registered business name, or being an incorporated association with a name similar to the one you want to register. International/American domain names, such as .com, do not need any such proof.

There are no rights to a domain name

There is a common misconception that because you already have a company or business name, or a registered trade mark, you have an automatic right to register a corresponding domain name. This is not the case. No-one has an automatic right to a domain name. Domain names are licensed on a first come, first served basis to eligible applicants.

Some organisations run a number of services which they want to represent individually and separately on the web. This requires registering a domain name for each of the services and establishing separate websites. The sites can all sit on the same host computer (known as a web server) but users will still see them separately.

Using your ISP's domain name

Some small nonprofit organisations may either want to save money on their internet costs or don't require the profile of a separate domain name. These organisations will still need an ISP (for sending and receiving email) but instead of registering their own domain name they can use their ISP to host their website.

Most ISPs will host your site for no additional charge above your existing connection costs. There will usually be limits on the size of your site and the amount of traffic to and from it, but unless your website becomes wildly popular this will not normally be a problem. And if it is, then you are probably better off with your own domain name anyway.

If you go down this route then your site is effectively a subsite of your ISPs and your name will look something like www.bigpond.com.au/myname rather than the more independent www.myname.org.au.

Ten key issues for choosing and managing your domain name

1. Is the name easy to remember? Usually short domain names are more likely to stick in the mind.
2. Would average users guess the domain name without having to use a search engine?
3. Does the domain name stand on its own and convey meaning – if it was the only thing on a poster or billboard would the public be able to guess the type of site and its content?
4. If an acronym or abbreviation has been used, does it make sense to the target audience?
5. Is the name too geographically specific? Don't include a specific location, unless you serve only that location.
6. Has the most appropriate and obvious organisation type (or types) been chosen – e.g. <.org.au> or <.asn.au>?
7. Is the name too long or awkward to type or remember?
8. What do some outsiders think? When you have decided on some possible names and checked that they're available, ask your friends' opinions. A name that may make perfect sense to you may be too hard for other people to remember. Is your domain easy to say? Is it hard to spell?
9. Might the name have some unintended meaning for a particular audience e.g. overseas? Do you have to explain why you chose the name? Always remember that the world wide web is just that – global – and that your site can be seen by anyone in any country.
10. Is your domain name still current? Remember, you don't ‘own' your domain name. You have a licence to use it for a specified period. Don't let your domain name expire or others may take it over and start using it.

Document ID: 1444, Last Updated: Wednesday, 23 January 2008 9:11am