When you're ready to launch your web site, you'll need to make two very important decisions, what your domain name will be and where you will host your new site.

A domain name is used to locate a particular web site on the Internet. It is a part of the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) and instructs the browser as to where to find a particular web page. When a web address (http://www.domain.com) is typed into the browser, the web server will look for a page called index. This page may have different extensions, such as .htm, .html, or .shtml and will be displayed when the URL is called.

Additional pages within the site are called by including the URL followed by a forward slash and the page name. http://www.domain.com/page.htm Selecting a quality domain name is of the utmost of importance. Not only will it tell your potential customers what your business is all about, but it will also play a role in branding.

A good domain name is one that will be immediately remembered by your visitors, as it connects with something they're interested in.

A great domain name is one that can be guessed by a potential visitor looking for something in particular. For example, if someone is looking for information on dog grooming, they might type in: http://www.doggrooming.com. A great domain name will enable a potential visitor to guess the web address and will contain your most relevant keyword phrase.

Here are some basic guidelines to assist you in selecting a great domain name:

1) Select a domain name that contains your most relevant keyword phrase.
2) Your domain name should be easily remembered.
3) Avoid using abbreviations or anything that will be difficult for your visitors to remember.
4) Keep your domain name as short as possible.
5) Select a quality domain name that will grow with your business.

Although there are many new domain extensions available, dot.com or .co.uk is still the best choice.

Web Hosts
A Web Host is a company that provides you with server space for your web site. This includes all of your web pages, graphics, scripts and files.

When your web address is typed into a browser, your web host is being contacted to locate and display the requested page.

Free verses Professional Web Hosts
All Web Hosts are not created equally. There are a number of free hosting services available on the Internet. However, if you're planning a web site for business purposes, you should NEVER host your web site with a free host.

In order to establish credibility, you must be willing to invest in your own domain name and professional web hosting. Web sites hosted on free servers are not taken seriously and will suffer a serious loss of business. Your visitors may feel that if you don't have your own domain, you may not be a credible company. They'll simply take their business elsewhere.

Not only is professional credibility a great reason not to host with a free service, but many Search Engines won't even index a site hosted on a free server. so If you're serious about your business and you have a sincere desire to succeed, having your own domain name and professional hosting is a must.