Free Tutorial on the use of domain names, top-level and subdomains.

What's In A Domain Name ?

     You may wonder why I could write a whole page on the importance of domain names. First let me explain what a domain name is. A domain name is the URL or web address of your website. It is what web surfers enter in their browser to go to your website.
     When you sign up for a free website, they provide you with a "second level" or "sub-domain". This means you only get to choose part of your website's address. The rest of the address will be the provider's domain name. Most times you will choose a name that goes in front of of the free site provider's name and it will look similar this: jim.boxmail.biz. Other providers allow you to choose the name at the end of their name and it will look similar to this: geocities.com/doyledawkins.
     Sub-domains are great because they are FREE, but they have a couple drawbacks. You do not own a sub-domain. If the free website provider stops offering free websites, or goes out of business altogether your sub-domain name goes with it. Any traffic that you have built up and any visitors you get every day are gone for good. You cannot transfer the name and you have no recourse. Since it takes so much time to build up a visitor base, this can be devastating, as you will have to start over!

What Can I Do ?

Believe it or not there are free websites that will host your "top-level" or "real" domain name for free. (http://builtfree.org) When you own (you really rent it) your own top-level domain name, you can host it anywhere you want. The domain name and the hosting account are completely separate. You can take your domain name anywhere you want and your visitor traffic will follow the name! So if a web host goes out of business, or you find a more reliable web hosting provider, you simply move it by changing your dns settings in your domain name manager (easy). Domain names can cost as little as $6.95 a year, so the investment is well worth it!
Another great benefit of having your own "real" domain name is that search engines take into consideration the text in a domain name for the site's search engine ranking. So having a name like "surfboards.com" would rank higher than "surfboards.myfreewebsite.com" if site content was equal.

Host your top-level domain name free at http://builtfree.org! (Choose Free Domain Hosting)