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What
is a domain name?
A
domain name is the link (URL) typed into an Internet browser to lead visitors
to your website. The name is registered to its owner for a
fixed period (normally 1 year), after which the owner have the option to
renew the registration for a further period. Domain names are supplied
by various Internet organizations on a first come first serve
basis. To ensure you get the name you want you must register it before
someone else does. Some domains are specific to a country while
others are of an international nature. Before a name can be registered it must be active on
a DNS server. This is achieved through a service provider, such as web-host.za.net
by either parking your domain name or by opening an account for hosting a website.
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What
is Parked/Pointed domains?
If you park or point a
domain name you have no e-mail or hosting capability for that domain
name. Your domain name is simply loaded on our DNS servers because a DNS
reverence to a domain must exist before a domain can be registered.
Pointing a domain name to your existing/other website will open the website to
which the name is pointed.
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Why
register a domain name?
Your Internet
domain name is your office on the internet where your customers can always
find you - no matter how many times you change your physical address, telephone
numbers or ISP. If your customers have or can remember your domain name they can
contact you.
Once
registered you are the owner of the domain name for as long as you keep your
registration up to date by renewing the registration.
You use your Internet domain name to:
- Send and receive
email @your-own-domain-name. (This is better than
using e-mail
@someone-else's-domain as you are then promoting their business name)
- Point customers
to your web site on your stationary, business cards and marketing
material.
- Prevent anyone
else from doing business under your name on the internet.
- Get listed on
the internet search engines.
It is good practice
to register multiple domain names to cover alternate (or subtly different)
spelling of your domain name.
Like your
registered company name your domain name is your biggest asset. Consider
the time, energy and hard work you invest in building your reputation
...it only make sense to protect it!
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Having a web site
will benefit your business!
Recent scientific surveys
found that:
- More than 30% of South
African internet users shop online.
- 70% of South
African internet users say they will shop online in the future.
- South Africans
who purchased online spent an average of above R2000 each.
- During the
holiday period at the end of 2002 - R65 million was spent online.
This shows that the
Internet is a viable local sales channel for South African business.
Other advantages:
- 7/24/365
Office hours
(customers
can view your products and services at leisure at a time that suits
them. they can then go in to your shop knowing exactly what they
want or they can even order the product online.)
- Targeted
information
(It is either impractical or very expensive (or both) to provide your
potential customers with all the product (or service) information they
want when you use traditional media like print, radio or TV.
Fortunately you can use your web site to identify what your
customer is interested in and lead him to a page where you
can provide him with exactly the information he needs .)
- Potential
customers do company and product research on the internet.
(When having to decide between two competing companies with roughly the
same product and price chances are the customer will pick the company with a web site where he can do research about the product
and the company.)
- Your
customers look for you on the internet
(Internet users find products through search engines. Most of these people
are in search of a solution to a problem. Make sure your company
is on the list - after all, if you're not in the race how can you
compete?)
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