Deciding on a Domain Name Success always comes when preparation meets opportunity.     - Henry Hartman Introduction This section deals only with suggestions on choosing a domain name. For more about domain names, see What is a Domain Name. To register a domain name, see Domain Names Management.   First Considerations Decide on your actual name. If available for registration, your domain name should be as similar as possible to your business name. However, a catchy phrase or slogan can also help "brand" your web site making it easy for your visitors to recall its address. Consider using words that are not commonly misspelled or have multiple forms of spelling. Although commonly used, you might consider avoiding the use of hyphens. These can be a source of confusion or misrepresentation through oral means of communicating your web site's address. To check on the availability of a domain name , see Look Up a Domain Name. Select your Top-Level Form Your next task is to determine which top-level domain extension (.com, .net, .org, .ca, etc.) to choose. An extension represents the respective web site's nature or type. In the early days of the Internet, these extensions would have been used more discreetly, but due to the rapid growth of the World Wide Web and the fact that thousands of web site addresses are granted each day, individuals and companies are utilizing any extension that is available to complete the registration for the desired name.  The following chart outlines the nature and meaning behind each extension. Keep in mind there are a number of nationally designated top level domains around the world. As well, more top level domains are being added to broaden the scope of identity and to cope with the ever increasing demand for new and available domain names. Such examples include ".tv", ".info" and ".biz".   Top Level Description .ca Top Level domain designated for Canadian entities .com Top level domain originally intended for "commercial" entities. One of the worldwide top level domain, in which any person or organization may register a domain name .edu Top level domain designated for four-year, degree-granting colleges and universities .gov Top level domain designated for agencies and branches of the United States Federal Government. State and local governments in the United States should use the us top level country code domain .mil Top level domain designated for United States military entities .net Top level domain designated for entities and computers that represent part of the Internet's infrastructure. Originally intended for use by Network Information Centers (NICs), Network Operations Centres (NOCs), administrative computers (such as a name server) and network node computers. One of the worldwide top level domains .org Top level domain designated for miscellaneous entities that do not fit under any of the other top level domains. Typically used for non-profit organizations. One of the worldwide top level domains Choosing a Registration Service Knowing the name and which top-level domain extension you want now leads to selecting a company which provides domain name registration services - a registrar. In registering a domain name you become the registrant. McCann & Cambrian E-Media Services is a Registration Service Provider and as such can register top-level domains including .com, .net, .org and .ca. See Domain Names Management. The minimal time period for a domain name registration is one year. The maximum is 10 years, however the domain name owner always has the right to renew a name and therefore can hold on to it indefinitely.

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