Dot TK

Dot TK is a domain registrar that offers free domain names in the .TK extension.  Millions of users have being using this TLD since 2001, which makes it more recognizable and powerful than you might think.  There are some advantages to having a .TK domain name, especially if you plan to use it with a short secondary domain.  In addition, it can be used with any type of website you may have, whether it is a blog or e-commerce site.

.CO.NR Free Domain Name

This is another service that offers free domains with a variety of extra features to boot.  Your name comes with the .CO.NR extension, a project designed to help those who are strapped for cash obtain a unqiue domain that can establish a degree independence similar to premium domains.  Some of the features that come along with the service include domain forwarding, URL cloaking and meta tag support, all of which are free with your domain name.

Afraid.org

Afraid.org offers a host of free services.  On the menu are domain names with the .afraid.org extension and several more, sub-domains, URL cloaking, dynamic DNS support and full DNS management.  In order to reap the benefits of Afraid.org, you must first sign up as a member, which can be done for free.  There are also paid packages that provide a greater level of flexibility as more capacity is available to you.

UNI.CC Network

Here you have one of the most popular free domain name services available today. UNI.CC Network allows you to build your web presence with the unique .uni.cc extension.  The service provides a variety of domain registration tools along with a DNS Setup Wizard that makes managing your identity a breeze.  This service is provided at absolutely no cost.  All you are required to do is keep your contact information up to date and abide by the site’s terms and conditions.

Fadlan

Fadlan is another great site that offers a free URL redirection and DNS service.  Domain forwarding is free, so you get a domain such as mysite.fadlan.com as well as path forwarding and three types of directs.  Because it also specializes in free DNS services, if you have dedicated IP address, you have the ability to run your own web server on a sub-domain.  Fadlan isn’t the best looking site, but it has come become very popular and offers a few services you may find useful.

]]> http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/10/30/free-domain-name-resources/feed/ 0 http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/09/10/should-you-register-a-tel-domain/ http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/2009/09/10/should-you-register-a-tel-domain/#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2009 16:02:29 +0000 CommunicateBetter http://webhostinggeeks.com/blog/?p=517 The late 90s saw the trendy .com extension take the internet world by storm.  Thousands of individuals and businesses invested a significant amount of time and money into obtaining domain names attached with this extension; some to use for a website, others solely to make a profit.  The .com explosion should have taught us a lot, and one of those lessons is that if you have your heart set a particular domain name, you must act fast and secure it before someone beats you to it.  Many hopeful registrants take a trip to the register only to find that their idea name has already been registered and taken off the market.  This just goes to show that a good piece of internet real estate is becoming harder to find.  With the recent launch of .tel top level domains, internet users have another opportunity to secure the domain name they actually want.

The Benefits of .tel Domains

.tel domains are not your ordinary extension.  This new global internet standard allows you to control how and where you connect with your audience.  Below are some of the many benefits internet users are raving about:

Stay in Touch from any Device - A .tel domain enables your brand name or business to be accessible from any client device connected to the internet.  For example, customers can type your website address into their browser, choose their preferred method of contact and simply click a button to initiate the communication process.  Since the TLD is optimized for mobile devices, it allows you to create a strong mobile presence through the increasing large number of compatible devices

Potential Revenue Generator - You could also use a .tel domain for a variety of services based on generic names such as shoes.tel, computers.tel, hosting.tel or whatever you desire.  Just like .coms, each individual domain can easily be configured to have numerous sub-domains in order provide convenient navigation to local vendors or specialists.

Increased Exposure - By registering a .tel domain, you can greatly increase the visibility of your business as it allows you to publish multilingual keywords specific to each department and location associated with your company.  Because these keywords are indexed by the major search engines, this extension can easily improve optimization and exposure for your online business.

Increased E-commerce Traffic – A .tel domain can be useful in offering and selling various storefront products and services.  For instance, a music orientated site could provide their users with the latest news or popular downloadable mobile content such as ringtones or MP3 files.  Such exclusive offerings can work wonders at driving traffic to traditional online storefronts.

Is it Time for a .Tel?

Though certainly not as widespread as the more mature options, .tel is catching on quickly as a viable TLD.  The hype and distinct benefits could make this extension just as popular and highly sought after as .com in a few years.  And while still not available at all registrars, .tel is being increasingly adopted and comes at a price that is comparable to traditional extensions.  We don’t encourage you to give up that catchy .com you finally secured, but this new option is definitely one you want to consider.

So,  you have finally decided that you want to make a name for yourself online.  Before you even create the website, it is best to register a domain name first.  As simple as it all sounds, registering a domain is something that calls for careful planning.  Without a strategy, you could end up regretting the chosen name and actually hinder your ability to succeed online.  To avoid those issues, we present you with six critical factors to consider.

Determine the Purpose of Your Site

Before registering a domain name, it makes sense to determine the purpose of your website.  For example, if you are a book distributor and want to sell novels online, you may want to incorporate relative terms into your domain.  If you want to brand your site, come up with something that is unique and can be easily pronounced – Google is a perfect example.

Domain Extension

If at all possible, you want to register your domain name with the popular .com extension.  While this extension is highly recommend, keep in mind that your ideal domain may not be available exactly how you want it.  When this is the case, you should get creative and think of a few combinations that will get you as close to the desired name as possible.  Some options include adding a (-) to the name, although it is not advisable to use more than one.  If you just can’t find that .com, don’t hesitate to use .net or .biz as they make the best alternatives.

Think Keywords

If you want to generate traffic from search engines like Google and Yahoo, it wise to research a few primary keywords relative to your initiative and incorporate them into your domain.  This could possibly boost your search engine rankings and drive in more traffic as well.

Length of Registration

Good domain names are hard to come by.  For this reason, we suggest registering your name for as long possible.  If you prefer to renew each year, be sure to do so on time or you just might lose it to someone else.

Domain Registrars

A domain registrar is what you need to register your domain name.  There are a several registrars to choose from and while they basically offer the same service, you will find that the price tends to range widely.  If you want to save money, you should look into a company that offers free domain registration with the purchase of web hosting service or an inexpensive registrar like GoDaddy.   In general, you should easily be able to find a respectable registrar offering domain registration for $10 or less per year.

Domain Privacy

The last factor you need to consider is the possibility of somebody looking for you on the web.  Anyone can search for domain owners on the WHOIS website.  Depending on what you have going on, you may not want to make this information accessible.  In this case, you could opt for domain privacy which will keep your domain name private on the WHOIS database.  A registrar typically charges an additional fee for this service, but you might find it to be worth the extra costs.