Frequently Asked Questions

The following guide offers general help and advice regarding domain names

1. General Information
A domain name is a text name which is used as a convenient way of finding your way around the Internet. It is part of a system called Domain Name Service (DNS) which provides you with an easy to remember address for your web site and email.

Registering a suitable domain name is advisable to ensure your clients can easily remember the address of information, products and services you provide on the Internet. Once registered, no-one else can use that name. As there are many companies with similar names, it is important to register a suitable domain name for your company as soon as possible.

2. Extensions
The extension you choose for your domain name is important. The extension can suggest, though not necessarily be indicative of whether the address belongs to a company or charity etc. and which country they are focused towards.

The extensions available are shown below, along with a summary of their intended use.  

There are no restrictions on who can register names in any of the above extensions. There are considerable advantages in registering your name in multiple extensions, ensuring that customers can find you regardless of the extension they enter.

3. Choosing A Domain Name
The domain name you choose should present the correct image of your organization and be memorable to allow quick and easy navigation to your site. The two elements to consider are the actual name you require and the extension under which you wish to register.

Since surfers may try to guess your name, it is suggested that you register a domain name which closely reflects your organization or product name. However, with many organizations operating in different sectors under the same name, this may not always be possible.

Generic names are also a good choice, choosing a name that applies to your industry, rather than your organization specifically, ensures that your address is easy to remember and will often yield opportunist visitors. You can also register names of events, places, personal names, anything in fact. There really is no end to the domain names you can choose.

4. Registering a Domain Name
When you register a domain name, you become the legal registrant, with the sole rights to use it however you wish for a set period of time (usually 2 years). At the end of the registration period, you also have the opportunity to renew the registration for a further period.

There are numerous domain name sellers to choose from, they can register your domain name and most will provide email and web page services to allow you to use your name. Be aware that many of these sellers are less than upfront with their prices and hide the 'extras' that you will need to actually use your domain name.

Here follows some general points to look for and ask the domain name sellers when you are ready to register your domain name:  

What is a Domain Name?

A domain name is your web address. When someone types your domain name into a web browser, your web pages will open. Behind the scenes, the domain name is actually pointing to a physical location- a server- that holds your web page files.

Can I register any domain name I want?

You may register any domain name you want, up to a point. Your domain name must be unique because it is an address that can point only to your web site. Additionally, you cannot register a domain name that is trademarked by another company or is so similar to a trademark that it is confusing or easily mistaken for the trademark. Recent disputes with ICANN have made it clear that a domain name registered in bad faith or with no legitimate interests in the domain name will result in a dispute.

What if my domain name is taken?

If your domain name is taken, you must register another domain name. Each domain name must be unique. You may want to check for variations of your domain name. For example, if you wanted "www.myweb.com", you may want to see if "myweb.net" or "myweb.org" are available. Variations of the spelling or word order may help you choose a new domain name.

How do domain names work?

A domain name is very similar to an address forwarding service. The domain is the address that people type in their web browser. The domain then points to the "real" address that contains your web site. The "real" address is the address of your location on the server that contains your web site files and is called the IP address. The reason the IP address is not used is because it is a series of numbers. For most, this would be very difficult to remember. Instead, a domain name, made up of letters and words is used.

How do I find out who owns a domain name?

You can perform a "Whois'. If you select a domain name that is already taken, a link to the "Whois" function will appear. You will then be able to look up the contact details of that domain owner.

Are there fees to transfer a domain name?

There are no fees to perform the transfer, but there is a fee to continue the registration of the domain for another year.

When should I renew my domain name? Will I be notified?

You will be notified via email when your domain name is about to expire and can then renew it from our website under the Domain Registration section. 

Who can I contact with questions?

You can contact technical support by emailing us.

What is a name server?

A name server is a computer that contains a list of domain names and the associated IP addresses. When a domain name is typed in a web browser, the name server associates that with the IP address and the correct web site opens in the web browser.

How do I register a new domain name?

There are a series of short steps involved in registering a new domain name.

1. Type your domain name in the availability box and check if it is available for you to register.
2. If your domain is available, you can continue signing up the domain. You will be given all the variations of that domain name that are available (i.e..- .com, .org, .net). If your domain is unavailable, you will be given versions of the domain name that are available (ie-.com, .org, .net). If you don't like any of the suggestions, you can pick another name and check its availability.
3. If you've never signed up a domain name, you will need to create a new login account. Or, you can login to your account at this point. You must log in for security purposes.
4. Next, select the length of time you want to register you domain. When you sign up a domain, you do not own that domain outright. You are in essence renting the use of the domain name for a period of time. If this is a domain for a company, it's a good idea to register the domain name for a long period of time. That way, you don't need to reregister the name as often and you lessen the risk that someone else may register it before you get a chance to reregister it.
5. Fill in your contact information. This information is used for administrative purposes and must be kept current. You can have up to four different contacts for your domain name- 1) Registrant 2) Technical 3) Administrative and 4) Billing. You don't need to include all of these contacts. If you don't fill out all of the contacts, the Registrant details will be used for all of the contacts. Multiple contacts are often used for companies where more than one person is in charge of the web site.
6. Verify the information is correct for your domain and contact details. If you see errors, simply click on the step that contains the incorrect details and correct the information.
7. You will then be taken into the shopping cart to purchase your domain, first make note of the price of your items. Then, fill out your customer details. Enter your credit card details to finalize the purchase of your domain name.
8. You will receive an email when your registration is completed.

Glossary

Administrative Contact

The contact responsible for any administrative issues pertaining to the account. Any administrative changes to the domain must be approved by the Administrative Contact. WebMedia will use this contact for any non-technical questions it may have regarding the domain name!

Billing Contact

The contact responsible for all billing information relating to the domain name. This person will also receive any invoices, charges or billing questions related to the domain name.

Name Server

The computer that organizes domain names to correspond to their IP addresses.

Registrant

The contact that registers a domain name. Once the domain name is registered, the registrant can use the domain name for the period of time the domain was registered.

Renewal of Domain Name

To continue the registration of the domain name after the original expiration date.

Technical Contact

This is the contact responsible for providing technical information, such as the name server. WebMedia will contact this person with any questions of a technical nature.

Whois

A function that allows you to look up the contact details of a domain name.