Domain

What is a domain?

A domain is the internet address of a website. This Internet address is unique worldwide, such as “eology.net”. It is especially important for online stores and companies, as visitors and customers can immediately call up the page via it. An own web address thus ensures a serious web presence and creates trust towards the user.

How is a domain structured?

A URL address is divided into three areas (top, second and third level domain).

The rear part of the URL, also called the Top-Level-Domain (TLD), deals with the geographical assignment of the web address. For Germany, the ending “.de” applies, for Austria or Switzerland, however, “.at” or “.ch”. However, TLDs are also used for generic purposes. The endings .com (for commercial), .net (for network) or .info (for information) are the most common uses here.

The Second-Level-Domain represents the actual name of the website. It is recommended to choose the company name for this. This increases the recognition value and creates trust with the user. In our example, the 2nd-level domain is “eology”. It can be chosen freely during registration – as long as it is not already taken.

With the Third-Level-Domain, also called subdomain, you have the possibility to separate areas of your website. For example, if your website exists in a German and English version, you can use “en.” as a subdomain for the English page. Thus, yoursite.com becomes en.yoursite.com. This way both internet addresses are independent of each other and can have completely different content. For the user it is nevertheless recognizable that it is the same company, which creates a different basis of trust. The most common third-level domain is “www.”. However, possible subdomains can also be blog.yoursite.com or login.yoursite.com.
It is important, however, that when using multiple versions of your site, you make sure that no duplicate content is created. You can easily avoid this by canonical marking of the original website version.

What do I have to consider when buying a domain?

In general, you should be aware of three points before buying an internet address:

• A web address should be well considered, as it usually remains unchanged for many years.
• Before you register a domain, you should check with a so-called domain checker whether the desired Internet address is available.
• Every company and every person can buy a web address. However, certain top-level domains such as “.de” are only available with a residence or business domicile in Germany.

What does a domain cost?

The price you pay monthly for reserving your Internet address varies from provider to provider. Many providers make a domain available for a small amount of cents per month, and take a big bite out of the services, such as technical support. You should therefore make sure that email facilities, web hosting and support are included in your total costs. In most cases, the monthly fees for the web address are increased after the first 12 months, so that the actually favorable price can quickly become a cost trap. To avoid this, you should take a close look at your provider.

Domain management and transfer

Die Domainverwaltung bezieht sich auf alle Aktivitäten, die notwendig sind, um eine Domain zu kontrollieren und zu pflegen. Dazu gehören unter anderem die Aktualisierung der Kontaktdaten, die Verwaltung der Nameserver und das Setzen von Domainweiterleitungen. Eine ordnungsgemäße Verwaltung ist entscheidend, um sicherzustellen, dass die Domain stets erreichbar ist und keine technischen Probleme auftreten. Die meisten Registrar-Anbieter bieten ein Kundencenter, in dem Du diese Einstellungen bequem vornehmen kannst. Hier kannst Du auch automatische Verlängerungen für Deine Domain einrichten, damit diese nicht versehentlich abläuft.

Domain administration refers to all activities that are necessary to control and maintain a domain. This includes updating contact details, managing name servers and setting domain redirects. Proper administration is crucial to ensure that the domain is always accessible and that no technical problems occur. Most registrar providers offer a customer center where you can easily make these settings. Here you can also set up automatic renewals for your domain so that it does not expire accidentally.

An important part of domain management is the security of the domain. Many providers offer additional functions such as domain locks to prevent the domain from being transferred or changed without authorization. You should also regularly update your contact details, especially your email address, as this is used for all important notifications, such as renewals or security warnings.

Domain transfer is the process of transferring a domain from one registrar to another. This may be necessary if you want to change your provider, find better conditions or simply prefer a different registrar. To carry out the transfer, you usually need an Auth-Code (Authorization Code), which you will receive from your current provider. It is important that the domain transfer goes smoothly, as there should be no downtime for the website during this process. Some providers use a transfer blocking mechanism to prevent domains from being transferred too quickly, which entails additional security precautions.

Importance of domains for SEO

The domain name plays a crucial role in the SEO success of a website. Although it is only one piece of the overall SEO puzzle, it influences various aspects of the visibility and perception of a website in search engines. In detail, there are several factors to consider:

• Length of the domain name
• Keywords contained in the domain name
• TLD (top-level domain)
• Trustworthiness and reliability
• Branding and recognition