by M. Teri Robnett, Whole Brain Technologies, LLC (2004)

.org, .com, .net, .biz, .info, .us, .pro, - How do you know which one to use when registering a domain name for your organization? The decision is easier if you understand a bit about how the Domain Name System (DNS) works.

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the nonprofit responsible for coordinating certain Internet technical functions, including the management of the Internet Domain Name System and the Registrar Accreditation Process .

The Domain Name System helps users find their way around the Internet by allowing a familiar string of letters (the "domain name") to be used instead of the numeric IP (Internet Protocol) address. So instead of typing 66.7.157.12, you can type www.wholebraintech.com.

There are new TLDs like .aero, .coop, .pro, and .museum that are designed for use within a specified community. Two letter domains, such as .uk, .de and .jp, are called country code top level domains and correspond to a country, territory, or other geographic location.

As you can see, the your web site can prove to be your most valuable promotional tool. At Whole Brain Technologies, LLC, we offer free introductory consultations. If you're interested in discussing the power of the Internet to affect your business, please contact us.

When researching the availability of domain names for your commercial business, the .com, if you can get it, should always be your first choice. It's the default in the minds of most Internet users. The .biz is an alternative, but not what people naturally think of first when typing in a domain name. If you're a nonprofit, look for the .org first and the .com second. If your business deals with the internet or a network of some sort, the .net is a reasonable alternative.

If your organization is in its infancy and you haven't yet settled on a name, in addition to checking with the appropriate government entities for name availability, be sure to visit Network Solutions (www.netsol.com) for the corresponding domain name. If the domain name you want is unavailable, you might consider choosing a different name for your business.

If you need help or advice in selecting or registering your domain name, feel free to contact Teri at Whole Brain Technologies at 303.410.9600.

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