When the internet was first developed and then released to the public, domain names were simply an alphabetic method of describing an IP address. The internet protocol address was the location, but by typing in the domain name, users had a more memorable and more error-proof method of finding the information or website they were seeking.

The Growth of Domain Names
As the internet continued to grow and companies and individuals began to recognize the value of a memorable domain name, the business of domain names exploded. While no longer at its peak, many individuals still make serious profits buying, selling and trading quality domain names. At first domains were following the rules of top, second, and subsequent level domains, but as the general population got online, these rules became more of a set of guidelines as domain names became increasingly more valuable.

The Rules, or Guidelines, of Domain Names
Originally, a domain name or URL consisted of an alphanumeric code or word followed by the top level domain or extension. The alphanumeric aspect of the domain name was the more recognizable piece and was technically called the second level domain. Subsequent pages or area of each website were arranged before the second level domain, so the domain name was actually arranged from right to left.

As the general population began to explore the internet, this sequence became less common, especially on heavily marketed websites. The original top level domains are still in use today although the category meanings, especially “.com,” are not followed as closely. In addition to country codes such as “.us” for the United States, top level domains are categorized as follows:

Top Level Domain Names - Related Entity - Domain Information
.aero Air Transport Must be a verified air transport entity to register
.biz Business Anyone may register, but sites must be commercial in the related field.
.com Commercial Anyone may register.
.coop Cooperatives Limited to authorized cooperatives
.edu Educational Only learning institutions may register
.gov Government US governmental agencies (mostly Federal)
.info Informational Anyone may register
.int International Only entities endorsed by an international treaty may register.
.jobs Companies A company may only advertise its own jobs
.mil United States Military Only used by the US military
.mobi Mobile Phones and Devices Websites must be compatible with mobiles
.museum Museums Website must belong to a verified museum.
.name Names Individuals Anyone may register for their own name.
.net Network Anyone may register
.org Organization Anyone may register
.pro Professions Only available to doctors, lawyers, and CPAs
.travel Travel Related Only available to legitimate travel agencies

Selecting the Right Domain Name
With so many domain names already selected, it can be tricky to find the perfect domain name for your latest project. While options are endless, there are certain things to seek out in a name, and others to avoid.

The shorter and more memorable a name is, the better it will be, especially for marketing purposes. Search engines especially like domain names that contain keywords highly relevant to the site in question. So seek out the most memorable name possible containing valuable keywords or phrases.

Be careful, however, not to infringe on the property of others. Domain names are now protected as personal or company property and by selecting a domain name that is too similar to a trademark of an existing company, you can be setting yourself up for trouble. Double-check the domain’s spelling as well when you are registering a name. Domains are not case specific and you might be spelling out the wrong message or making your site name unclear if you fail to plan carefully or use hyphens effectively.

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