In the early 90s our mother company, The Green Spot Ltd., started using email. Our first email address was through MCI, affording us an us@mcimail.com email address (or something like that). All was good. It didn’t look terribly professional, but back in that time we were ahead of the game compared to some of our industrymates. However, within the year MCI sold or changed names to worldcom.com. We had to update everything. Some time later we were told to change again, this time to some British-owned outfit. There was a buyout. Oh, man. Each time this happened it cost us a great deal of money — most everything was printed the old fashioned way back then, on paper, and that was inconvenient and expensive. Having been repeatedly burned by others we decided to take control and there was only one way to do so. It’s was time for our own domain name. It was time for our own email addresses.
That was a an important step for us. It meant that no matter what we could keep our email addresses. We’d no longer be subject to the whims of those in control. We were in control. To best appreciate this, it’s important to first understand how it all works.
A Numbers Web
The Internet is numerically organized using IP addresses. IP referring to the protocol. In this case it’s the Internet Protocol. Every web site, every domain name, every user, and every connection, all are assigned a series of numbers. An IP address. It looks like this: 38.107.179.230 (this is actually your IP address). These numbers are not necessarily exclusive to a single user and nor are they necessarily static. Dial-up users, for example, typically get a new IP address each time they logon. Domain names, however, are exclusive, even when they share their IP numbers, which is pretty common.
You’re probably confused at this point, but maybe this will help clarify matters. When you register a domain name with us you are also given some numbers. Behind the scenes we tell the name you’ve chosen to point to your numbers. This is done by a server called a Domain Name Server (DNS). You own the name and you point it at other numbers any time you like. This is done by changing the “nameservers” — the DNS to be precise.
Portability
If you own your own domain name you are truly independent. Sure you have a registrar to depend on, to let you know when the name is about to expire and to direct your emails. And if you have a web site you will also reply on a web host. In many cases this is the same outfit. That’s the case here. We offer domain name registration and well as web hosting services. You can have one or the other or both (with your domain name for free in one case). And if you leave us, because you are the Lord and Master of your domain [name], literally speaking, the name goes with you. Right along with your email addresses.
You also have email flexibility. While you may of have had us or your current registrar or web host create an email address for you, because the address is attached to your domain name, you can move it where ever you like, or you can even point it to another email address, e.g., @hotmail.com, @yahoo.com, @gmail.com, or any @common.com address.
Stay In Control
The cost of domain name ownership is next to nothing. If you register with us, for example, it’s only $15.00 per year and you have nothing to do other than check the address. This can be done on the web or via a client-side email software such as Outlook Express (or we can redirect it to an existing address). We’re on the high side because we offer such comprehensive service, but pricing can be as low as $5 per year. Just bear in mind that with lower priced offerings you will bear more of the management responsibilities.
In any case, when you own your own domain name you call the shots. If you want to print yourname@yourdomain.com on your business cards, you can, without fear of someone pulling the plug or changing things.
Professionalism
Can you imagine the Ford Motor Company using a Gmail address? For example, fordtrucks@gmail.com. That wouldn’t look very professional. It may make people question the firm’s legitimacy. Or how about a web site address like www.microsoft.blogspot.com? Domains such as these will never gain the respect they perhaps deserve. To do it right, owning your own domain name is the only acceptable option. Furthermore, ideally a Top Level Domain (TLD) such as .com, .net, .org are the best to have when and if possible. This is because they are most common. A .us address isn’t bad for US companies. Others, though, sort of have a mixed following. Take .biz, for example. To us it sort of says fly-by-night company. Same thing goes for .ws, though, worse due to its mystique. The WS stands for Western Samoa, a US Territory, but most people don’t know this so they can question the domain.
No Excuses
If you have a company, or if you’re a professional corporation you really should have your own domain name. But you’re not the only one. Individuals who have a web presence are best served with their own domain name. If not for all the reasons listed, some still apply and subsequently reward by way of their other virtues. Even if you have a site at, say, Blogspot, you can still forward your mydomain.com domain name to your web location, and you can also forward your email@mydomain.com email address. And as stated, reserving a domain name is very reasonable. If you don’t have your own domain name yet, maybe it’s time you did. Have questions? Please feel free to contact us.