Domain Names
From FoEActivists
Contents |
What is a domain name?
A domain name is the address people use to find your organisation on the Internet - whether this be your website, email or other services. It is usually the part following 'www' in a website address, or the part of an email address after the @ sign.
Examples of domain names include foe.co.uk and google.com (not www.foe.co.uk or news.google.com though). Domain names are unique on the Internet - once a domain is registered, no one else can use it.
What do I need a domain name for?
If your group wants to have a website and its own email addresses, you'll need to register a domain name so that you can use www.yourfoegroup.org.uk, someone@yourfoegroup.org.uk etc.
How much will a domain name cost?
UK domains (.org.uk and .co.uk) can be registered for around £5/year. They must be registered for two years at a time, so the upfront cost is actually around £10.
Other popular domains (.com, .org, .net) can be registered for around £10/year, for a minimum of one year.
The amounts charged by companies for registering domains can vary dramatically, even though the service is largely indistinguishable, so make sure you are not ripped off by being charged £50/year for something which you can get for £10.
You need to renew your domain at the annual rate each year, except for .uk domains which need to be renewed every two years.
Which domain name should I register?
It's entirely up to you - any domain which is not currently registered is available, though some countries place restrictions on who can register particular domains (e.g. you can only register a .fr domain if you are based in France). UK domains are significantly cheaper and have the advantage of identifying you as a UK-based organisation - though this is not a requirement - and so may be the best choice. Many local groups use .org.uk for their domain.
Where can I register one?
There are plenty of companies who are prepared to register domain names on your behalf and make a profit by charging a small fee or offering complimentary services such as website hosting. Some examples include:
