If you are serious about making your business as successful as it can be then you need to have a web presence. Being online will help project a professional image and expand your potential market place well beyond your local area.

Registering a domain name will also help protect your business name or brand name and branded goods or services. Once you have decided on your online strategy you will then need to do the following:

• Register a domain name: Visit InterNIC (www.internic.net/regist.html) to find a registrar of domain names where you can register your chosen website address. The InterNIC website is run by ICANN, the Domain Name System (DNS) registration service. Try to register a .com domain, as the ‘.com’ suffix still carries the most prestigious and well-recognized of all the suffixes for a business website. Unfortunately, many domain names with the suffix .com are not available, but if your name is original enough you may be able to get just what you want. Otherwise, be prepared to try multiple variations. Here’s a tip: if your name is not available, for example www.domaincosts.com, try using dashes; www.domain-costs.com or www.costs-domain.com. Typically, a .com domain name will cost you about $20 for 2 years.

• Host your website: As stated in the previous section, this can cost from $40 to $120 per year.
WWW.INTERNIC.NET/REGIST.HTML

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