Why do I need a website?
Maybe you don't, but if you want the world to see what you're all about, then a website will do that for you.
A website is the quickest way to join the e-commerce revolution. Just imagine for a minute the following possibilities if you DID have a website. At their leisure, your clients(and potential clients) could learn all about your company and its products/services. Instead of mass mailings, you could just post your information on your website for everyone to see. Your clients could see pictures of and buy your products or services, 24 hours a day. Your small business could suddenly become an international business with clients all over the world. A small investment to get your company on the web means better service for your clients, more business overall and more money for you.
The possibilities are endless. Isn't it time you got on the web?
So I want a website, what do I do now?
Your first few steps will be to decide what you want your website to be? Is it a place for you to market your wares? Is it going to just provide information to your existing clients? Perhaps you want to use it to attact new clients? Maybe all of the above? Find websites you like on the internet, keep track of where they are. This will be your first step in building a website....knowing what you want!
How much money do you have in your budget for your website? Do you want a unique domain name (more money) or are you happy just getting your information out there?
Who will create all this for you? Do you have a company logo or company colours?
You're probably thinking, "Huh???". Don't worry, Rome wasn't built in a day and your website won't be either. In time you'll understand what all this means; carry on reading the FAQ below to get the whole picture.
What is a domain name?
A domain name is a unique alpha-numeric name used to identify a particular location on the Internet. The purpose of domain names is to allow computer users connected to the Internet to find web sites and send email to addresses with familiar names such as "enbcom.com" or "ottawa.com" without having to memorize the numerical addresses that actually locate the computers or servers on the Internet.
While computers use Internet Protocol(IP) numbers such as 216.209.166.128 to locate each other on the Internet, people find them hard to remember. Therefore, domain names were developed to permit the use of easily remembered words and phrases to identify Internet addresses.
For example, the domain name enbcom.com represents the company ENBCOM. When you type www.enbcom.com into a web browser or send e-mail to someone at enbcom.com, the Domain Name System(DNS) translates enbcom.com into the IP numbers used by the Internet and connects you to us.
Do I need to get my own domain name?
It depends. Having your own domain name makes it easier for people to find your website and remember where it is. This costs more money though. You will have to find a unique name that nobody else in the world is using, pay to register it, pay a hosting company to host it, then maintain it all every year. There are a few ways to cut costs in all of this, ENBCOM can help you with that.
If you don't care about having your own domain name, then your website address will look something like this, depending on who your friends are: "www.enbcom.com/yourcompany"
What is a top level domain(TLD)?
A top level domain(TLD) is the suffix that is attached to the end of a domain name. For instance, in the domain name enbcom.com, '.com' is the TLD.
There are two types of top-level domains: global and country code. Global Top Level Domains(gTLD) were created to be used by the Internet public, while country code Top Level Domains(ccTLD) were originally created to be used by each individual country, as they deem necessary, but are now widely available to the public.
The gTLDs are as follows:
.com
.net
.org
.edu
.mil
.gov
Some examples of ccTLDs are:
.ca (Canada)
.to (Tonga)
.cx (Christmas Islands)
.md (Moldova)
.co.uk (United Kingdom)
How do I register the domain name I want?
Registration of domain names is controlled by ICANN (The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers), a non-profit corporation formed to assume responsibility for the IP address space allocation, protocol parameter assignment, domain name system management, and root server system management functions.
Basically, registration services for gTLD's are offered by a number of different companies authorized to do so by ICANN. The complete list of Accredited and Accreditation-Qualified Registrars is available on the ICANN website. ccTLD's are generally controlled by organizations based in each respective country. The complete list of ccTLD organizations is also available on the ICANN website.
What's better, .com, .org, .ca or something else?
I would have to say that a .com address is by far the most popular gTLD while .ca is probably the most popular ccTLD. CIRA is the new authority for the .ca domain. In the fall of 2000. .ca domain registration services will be offered by Accredited Registrars authorized by CIRA. The first such Accredited Registrar is Webnames(formerly CDNnet). Certain rules apply for .ca names but they are changing.
What is domain name hosting?
Under construction...
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