There are many unique ways to get started online these days – through social networks like Facebook and Twitter, online marketplaces like jumia and jiji or soko.
However, to get a serious and solid online presence that speaks on the business’s credibility, choose the right domain name which is unique to you and the type of business. The major use of a domain name is for identification in a unique and easily memorable manner.
One of the most common misconceptions about domain names is that by registering a domain name, you automatically get a website. Unfortunately, that is not how it works. A domain name is a vital part of the online world, but they function similar to street addresses. Just because you have reserved an address for instance in the CBD, does not mean you have a piece of land there, not to mention a store or a house.
When you want to build a house, you will first need a piece of land and materials to build. Similarly, if you want to build a website, you will need to buy a domain and hosting space.
There is a correlation between the size of a house you build and the size of land you buy. Same principle applies to hosting space. In essence, you cannot have a domain name without hosting space. It’s like having a house plan without a piece of and to build that house on.
A piece of land would be a hosting, space you buy on a server, while the store/house would be your website. When you want to build a website, first, you buy a domain name with your licensed registrar (as listed on www.kenic.or.ke). Second, you get a hosting plan that fits your needs (the space that you need will depend on the size of your website), then you build a website. That website can be a one-pager, a blog or a full-blown website.
Domains must not necessarily be accompanied by Websites, you can buy a domain with the aim of just having professional email addresses. But a hosting package is a must unless one just wants to reserve his domain for future use, he will not need a hosting plan.
We advise clients to have a domain with an extension – emails, blogs or websites to minimize its deletion. If a domain is not used, it is rendered useless thus increasing the chances of it being deleted.
What are domain names?
In a web address or URL, the domain name is everything between the protocol sign and the first slash (if there is one).
So, for example, in the URL: https://webdev.kenic.or.ke/some/page.html
The domain name is: kenic.or.ke
Domain names also are used for email addresses: admin@kenic.or.ke
So what really is a domain name?
A domain name is the readable, meaningful and unique identification string that makes your brand standout online.
Take that initiative today and acquire your own .KE domain to stand out from the rest from one of our accredited Registrars listed on the KeNIC Website.
By: Stephen Wafula