A domain name is a convenient way to identify a web address. Rather than a collection of meaningless numbers like http://349857345897.com, you can choose a word or combination of words. So if you wanted to create an online store called Bob’s Bargain Basement Birdhouses, you would have the option of using one or all of these words to name and describe your website. You could use all the words (BobsBargainBasementBirdhouses.com) or a select few (BobsBirdhouses.com). Wouldn’t you agree that both of these names are easier to remember than a numerical series like http://432507328901.com?

Domain names are unique, so if you wanted to call your website ToyBarn.com and someone else already owned that name, you would be out of luck. It is sometimes possible to get a domain owner to sell you a domain name, but this can be an expensive option.

You may have noticed that some domain names have an ending different than .com. Examples of this would be .gov and .org. As you could probably guess, .gov is a domain specifically for government websites. And .org is for non-profit entities. There are even country specific domains, such as .fr for France. If you are starting a basic website that isn’t related to the government, a non-profit organization or based in a country other than the United States, you would most likely register your domain name in the .com domain.

A URL is a unique address that allows you to find a file on the internet. A URL is different from a domain name because a domain name will merely direct you to a website, but a URL can take you to any given page within that website. For example, if you typed ToyBarn.com into your browser, you would be taken to whatever page the website owner chose to route the domain to…most likely the homepage. But if you typed the URL ToyBarn.com/clearance, you would be taken to the Clearance page of the website. Or if you were to type ToyBarn.com/FAQ, you would be directed to the FAQ page. In this way, a URL can serve as an internal address to a website, making any page accessible.

Understanding the basics of domain names and URLs will help you effectively run your website and get the most out of your web experience. Professional Marketing International is proud to offer world-class consulting and their consultants are available by phone to help answer clients’ questions and take full advantage of their extensive program.