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April 2005
Be Professional: Get an Internet Domain Name for Your Consulting
Business
By Karilee Wirthlin
 One
of the simplest things you can do to give your independent consulting
business a professional presence is to get a Web address, also
known as an Internet domain name. Some consultants feel they only
need a domain name once they’re ready to put up a Website;
however, claiming a domain name before you launch a Website has
many other benefits, including a professional email address.
If you’re not technically-inclined, setting up an Internet
domain name might seem like a time- and expertise-intensive task.
In reality, you can set yourself up with a domain name quickly
and easily once you:
- Know that your email is not tied to your Internet Service
Provider (ISP). When you sign up with an ISP (either
dial-up or high-speed service), you will receive an email account
on your ISP’s domain name (e.g. comcast.net or sbcglobal.net);
however, you are not tied to using those email accounts. You
can have an email account on your own domain name and check
it from the mail program you are using today. You can even
check email from your own domain name using popular Web-based
mail services such as Yahoo! So, don’t let how you check
your email dictate your business email address.
- Know the difference between a registry service and
a Web hosting service. The line is blurring between
these two services these days as one-time registry-only services
are now offering Web-hosting services, too. Registering a domain
name is distinct from where that domain name is hosted.
When you register a domain name, you are adding the domain name
to a central registry and claiming ownership of that name for a
period of time (usually one year with the ability to purchase multiple
years). Registering a domain name doesn’t really do you any
good until you point to a server that will host your Web pages
and your email boxes. That is why most registry services are now
offering Web-hosting packages.
Select a Web hosting service first. Then the hosting service will
register your domain name for you. Most offer deals where the registration
is free or a discounted price when you purchase a hosting package.
As long as you renew your service with that Web host every year,
you will be re-registered for your domain name every year. But,
know that you can own the domain name separate from the Web hosting
service and transfer it with you if you decide to change services.
- Look for a budget Web hosting service with key features. Most
independent consultants’ needs for a Web hosting service
fit into the category called budget hosting services. These services
are typically $9.95/month or less, with discounts if you sign
up a year at a time. These days you can find reliable Web hosting
for less than $100/year.
The easiest way to find available Web hosts is to search “web
hosting comparison” and read the reviews at the sites that
appear at the top of that search. You’ll find the same top-quality
hosting services listed in each of these reviews, and you will
then be able to compare features that fit your needs.
Most Web hosting packages offer similar features for similar prices.
When comparing, concentrate on these key features:
- Spam Filtering This will either tag spam
as it comes in so that you can easily filter it in your mailbox, or will
stop spam at the Web host’s server for you to review at
periodic intervals. Deciding which type of spam filtering you’d
prefer can be a critical deciding factor when choosing a Web
hosting service.
- Web Statistics Hosts offer different
types of statistical packages. Most offer a sample on their Website
for you to view. Ask for a sample if you don’t see one.
Decide which report from which host you’d prefer reading.
- Web-mail or Browser-based Mail This
feature will allow you to check your email from any computer,
which makes checking your email while at a client site much easier.
Hosting services will vary on what interfaces they offer for
Web-mail. Decide which interface from which host you’d
prefer using.
- Web-based Control Panel All Web hosts
these days have control panels where you can add mailboxes, view
statistics, and generally manage all aspects of your Website
and email through a simple Web interface; however, some control
panels are easier to use than others. View or ask for a demo
of the control panel and decide which control panel from which
host you’d prefer
using.
- Check to see if your desired domain name is available. At
any of these Web-hosting services, you can use their free domain
name look-up tool to see if your desired domain name is available.
If the name you want is not available, you have some options.
While most businesses end with .com, you can register a domain
name with other extensions such as .biz, .net, .info, or .org.
The extension .net is usually reserved for Internet Service Providers
(ISPs) and .org is usually reserved non-profits.
- Purchase a Web hosting service and set up email boxes. Once
you’ve done all of your homework and have decided which
Web hosting service best fits your needs, you’re ready
to purchase. Most Web hosting services have an online order form
that makes it very simple to purchase. In that online ordering
process, you will type in your desired domain name and all the
registration of that domain name will be taken care of for you.
After you’ve submitted your order, the Web host will send
you an email with instructions on how to access the control panel.
It will also include info on how to set up your email boxes and
how to start checking email in your preferred email program. You
can usually access the control panel right away, but it will take
24–72 hours for your domain name to be fully available
on the Internet. After 72 hours, you should be able to receive
email at your new email address and to type in your domain name
into a Web browser and at least see the “under construction” page
your Web host has up for you.
- Consider linking your new domain name to your WIC Member
Profile page if creating a full-blown Website is not in your
immediate future. You can easily set up a redirect
via your new Web hosting service’s control panel to your
WIC Member Profile page in a few easy clicks. Find the redirects
section of your Web control panel and have it point to "www.womeninconsulting.org/firstname_lastname",
replacing your first name and last name in the URL. Voila!
You have a professional Website with a professional email address.
While there are many technical details to setting up a Website, don’t
delay the detail of getting a domain name for your business. Securing
a domain name and using an email account with your domain name is
a great first step to establishing a professional presence for your
consulting practice.
Karilee Wirthlin, principal and founder of KL
Consulting in Silicon Valley, is a leading Website strategy consultant
who combines her sales support experience with her technical
background to produce innovative, targeted, and effective Web
content management programs. You can reach Karilee at (650) 947-4986
or at info@klconsulting.com www.klconsulting.com
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