Should you buy your own website name?

It’s never been easier to create your own website and put it on the internet for all to see. Many companies offer free space to hold your site, but nobody will be able to remember a web address that looks like http://mywebsite.bobsfreewebsites.com.

If you’re serious about attracting visitors, you’ll want something like www.mywebsite.co.uk. This is called a domain name, and buying one can be simple and cheap ­ providing you know the pitfalls to look out for.

Picking a package
The first step is to choose a name: this consists of a domain name (such as Computeractive) and a suffix (such as .co.uk). Some suffixes, such as .co.uk and .com, are available to anyone, while others, such as .gov and .edu, are restricted to certain types of organisation.

The next step is to see whether the chosen name has already been taken. Companies that sell domain names, known as registrars, provide tools where you can type in a name to see if it has been taken. If it is already in use, simply choose again. Once you have chosen your domain name, it’s time to pick a registrar and pay.

This is where research is vital. Many companies will offer to sell you a domain name, but the services they include vary wildly. In itself, buying a domain name does not get you a website ­ all it does is register that you own that name.

To make use of a domain name, you’ll need to find a package that includes either hosting or forwarding. Hosting involves the company making room on one of its computers for your website. You can then create some pages, upload them and they will appear online at your address. Hosting packages cost from around £2 per month, and this option is best if you want to create a large or complicated website.

If you already have a website that’s hosted by your internet service provider (ISP) or a free service, then there’s no point paying more for hosting. Instead, look for a registrar that provides web forwarding. This will mean that anyone who visits your domain name can be automatically redirected to your existing website.