Set up your own domain name
In today’s post we take a look at domain names and how you can use your own domain name with your website.
If you’ve spent any time at all on the internet you’ve likely encountered many domain names, whether you were aware of it at the time or not.
When a computer connects to a web site it does so through use of an IP address (or “Internet Protocol address”) which is a unique string of numbers that identifies a particular server (the host of a web site). IP addresses consist of a string of four numbers between 0 and 255, separated by periods. For example, one IP address for the popular search engine Google is 72.14.205.147 - so if you enter 72.14.205.147 into your browser’s Address bar you will be connected to the Google site.
While using numerical IP addreses may be simple enough for a computer, few humans are going to remember all those numbers every time he or she would like to visit a particular web site. The solution to this dilemma is a domain name.
Domain names are a wise investment for businesses large and small or even individuals who wish to have a presence on the world wide web. Not only is it inexpensive to register a unique domain, but the domain can help promote a business name or brand. For instance, eBay.com, Apple.com, and Jeep.com are all domains which reinforce the company names of the respective businesses and are easy for people to recall, helping contribute to the success of both the web sites and the businesses themselves.
Perhaps the best thing about domain names is that they are available to anyone. Any individual or business may affordably register a chosen domain (as long as it has not been registered already by someone else). Domains must be registered through a domain name registrar, which is a company accredited to register internet domain names.
If you register a domain name of your choosing and have an Enhanced Web Site account with WebSpawner, you can have your domain connected (or forwarded) to your website at no additional cost in just a few easy steps.
First you will need to register your domain with a domain registrar, such as Misk, DomainsNext, or DNbuy . Simply go to a registrar’s site and follow the instructions provided to select your unique domain name and register it. Domain registrations cost just a few dollars per year.
After you have registered your domain name, you will need to change the Name Server Settings (aka DNS Settings or Domain Name Server Settings) for your domain. This is done through the login area provided to you by the domain registrar you selected. The Name Server settings will need to be changed to the following:
Primary DNS: ns.webspawner.com
Secondary DNS: ns2.webspawner.com
If you need assistance with changing the Name Server Settings for your domain, ask your domain registrar for help and provide them with the settings above.
When the Name Server Settings have been adjusted, login to your WebSpawner account using your Account Name and Password. Next, contact WebSpawner Customer Service through the orange “Customer Service” tab in the Members Menu. Advise Customer Service of your registered domain name and confirm that the Name Server Settings have been changed - WebSpawner will take care of setting up your domain from there. In just a short time, your domain address will be functioning with your web site!