If you’re thinking of owning your own website, you’ve probably heard of the word
domain
.
When launching a website, the “domain” comes along with the “
server
.”
Domain is an
IT
-related term, so it has many complicated parts and can be difficult to understand.
In this article, we will explain what a domain is, how to acquire one, and the benefits of acquiring one.
We will also explain about unique domains and subdomains, so please refer to them.
What is a domain?
A domain serves as an address on the Internet.
More specifically, an IP address is a string of numbers such as 000.00.000.0 that plays the role of an address, but a domain is a string of characters converted from these numbers.
000.00.—.00 -Convert to string→ original-domain.OO.OO
The following parts of a website URL or email address correspond to the domain.
example
Website URL: https://
OOOO.OO.OO
←This part
Email address: mail@
OOOO.Omail.OO
←This part
You can create multiple email addresses by manipulating the character string before the @ symbol.
Purpose of acquiring a domain
If you are building your own site, acquiring a domain is essential as a symbol that indicates the site’s location.
If your company operates a website, you can promote your brand by including your company name in the domain name.
Relationship between domains and servers
If a domain is an address, the server is like a building that stands above it.
A server acts like a warehouse that sends, receives, and stores emails from your company’s site, and the larger the capacity, the more emails and site articles it can handle.
About original domains and subdomains
Domains can be classified from various perspectives, but first
1. Unique domain
2. I will explain the two types of subdomains.
What is a unique domain?
https;//www.
original-domain.OO
←The part in red is the original domain
A unique domain is a “one-of-a-kind domain in the world” that can be obtained from a rental server or domain registration service.
A unique domain is basically a one-of-a-kind item, so other people cannot reuse the same one.
There are four advantages to having your own domain:
1. Highly reliable
2. You can include your own site image on the domain
3. Can be used even if the server is changed
4. Excellent in terms of
SEO
measures
For this reason, it is generally recommended to obtain your own domain.
What is a subdomain?
https://
www
←This part.original-domain.OO
Subdomains are used to categorize the original domain, and in this figure www
You can reuse one domain multiple times by changing this part.
Subdomains are useful when you want one domain to have a role, so you can use one domain for multiple purposes such as a blog, EC site, travel site, etc.
An example of Yahoo! is as follows.
| domain | kinds |
| Yahoo! Shopping | https://shopping.yahoo.co.jp |
| Yahoo Auctions! | https://auctions.yahoo.co.jp |
| Yahoo! Weather | https://weather.yahoo.co.jp |
| Yahoo! News | https://news.yahoo.co.jp |
By rewriting the string before the original domain in this way, you can give the same domain multiple roles.
About domain levels
original
–
domain.OO.OO
Domains are separated by “.” and from the right
1.
.OO
→Top-level domain
2.
.OO
→ second level domain
3.
Original-domain
→ Third-level domain.
A third-level domain is a character string that can be specified in your own domain, and a second-level domain is a name that is called when two top-level domains are lined up.
There are three types of top-level domains:
1. Field-specific top-level domains (gTLDs)
2. Country Code Top Level Domain (ccTLD)
3. Classified into three types of JP domains by attribute. In this chapter, we will explain these three classifications in detail.
Field-specific top-level domains (gTLDs)
This domain is available to anyone in the world.
Examples include the commonly seen “.com” and “.net”.
| kinds | the purpose |
| .com | commercial |
| .net | network services |
| .org | Non-profit organization (NPO etc.) |
| .biz | business |
| .info | information service |
Country Code Top Level Domain (ccTLD)
A domain assigned to each country or region where a person or organization resides or is located.
You can obtain it as long as you belong to the country, and if you are in Japan, you can obtain .jp.
| kinds | the purpose |
| .jp | Japan |
| .us | America |
| .tv | Tuvalu |
Attribute type JP domain
A domain defined for each specific organization.
There is a limit of one registration per organization, and there are conditions for registration.
Registration requirements are strict, and organizations that own this domain can gain trust from search engines as having passed the screening process.
| kinds | the purpose |
| .co.jp | For companies registered in Japan |
| .or.jp | For foundations, incorporated associations, and special corporations |
| .ac.jp | For higher education institutions and educational corporations |
| .lg.jp | For local governments |
Advantages of own domain
As mentioned earlier, having your own domain has the following advantages:
1. Highly reliable
2. Add brand value to your site
3. Can be used even if the server is changed
4. Excellent in terms of SEO measures In this chapter, we will explain these advantages in detail.
Advantage 1. High reliability
Since custom domains are completely original, you cannot create two identical ones.
Due to its system, it is difficult for other sites to imitate or take over, so it is extremely reliable and safe from a security perspective.
Advantage 2: Add brand value to your site
By including your company name, your username, etc. in your unique domain, you can make it easy for people to understand what kind of site you are from the URL of your site.
By getting users to understand about your site, your site will gain fans. Your unique domain becomes a landmark for your fans.
This advantage is effective when running a blog or own website.
Advantage 3: You can reuse your own domain even after changing servers
Basically, the domain is tied to the server, so if you change the server, you must also change the domain.
Servers need to be reviewed regularly from aspects such as capacity, and it is extremely time-consuming to re-register domains when changing servers.
On the other hand, since your own domain is your property, you can continue to operate the same site using the same domain even after changing servers.
Advantage 4. Strong in SEO
About SEO
Abbreviation for “Search Engine Optimization.” Search engine optimization is a measure to increase the ranking of your site pages by creating a site structure suitable for search engines.
If you run a website, you will definitely need to do SEO.
One of the factors that Google considers important when identifying websites is “trustworthiness,” and this is an indicator that emphasizes “who” and “what their intentions are” in operating a website.
By setting your own domain, you will be able to run a site with high security and reliability, showing who is running it and what their intentions are, making it easier to rank your site higher.
The most important thing in SEO is to create articles with the reader in mind, but even before that, it is extremely important to show what kind of site the site is as an indicator.
3 steps to acquire a domain
Next, I will explain how to acquire a domain.
There are three steps to acquire a domain:
1. Decide on a domain name
2. Check if your domain is being used by someone else
3. Domain application procedure
Step 1: Decide on a domain name
First, decide on a domain name.
By including your blog name, company site/brand name, etc., you can make the domain easy for readers to understand.
Please keep in mind that the domain name should be something that is easy for users to understand and imagine.
By choosing a domain name that is easy for users to remember, you can increase the number of people who visit your site from search engines.
Step 2: Check if your domain is being used by someone else
Once you have decided on a domain name, go to the domain registration page and use the search box to search to see if it is available.
A domain is a unique asset in the world. You won’t be able to register the domain if someone else is using the same one, so first check to see if anyone else is using it.
Step 3: Domain application procedure
Once you’ve decided on a domain name and checked to see if anyone else is using it, the final step is to apply.
Please apply for a domain from a domain registration service.
Once you complete the purchase application process, you can obtain your own domain.
What is domain registration service?
When acquiring a domain, it is essential to use a domain registration service.
Although there are ways to obtain information without using a service, we recommend using a service that allows you to quickly look up things you don’t understand.
Domain registration services include:
Example of domain registration service
・
Name.com
・
X server
・
Mumu domain
etc…
After acquiring the domain, let’s configure reception settings.
Once you have acquired the domain, it is a good idea to configure your mobile phone to receive emails.
By doing so, you will be able to receive emails from devices other than your computer, and you will be able to prevent emails sent from your site from being sorted as spam.
summary
Here’s what we explained in this article:
1. A domain is an address on the Internet.
2. A unique domain is one and only domain in the world.
3. Subdomains are for classifying one domain.
4. There are three levels of domains: “Top,” “Second,” and “Third.”
5. There are three types of top-level domains: “Sector-specific”, “Country code”, and “Attribute-type JP”
6. Procedures for acquiring a domain
7. About domain registration service
8. What to do after acquiring a domain
If you have your own website, registering a domain is essential.
Why not try acquiring your own domain for various purposes?