What Are Parked Domains?

What Are Parked Domains?

What are parked domains? This article will define what parked domains are, explain the pros and cons of parked domains, and offer advice on how to make money on parked domains. Keep reading to see what parked domains can do for your online business.

Because domain names are constantly being snapped up by any number of people, it might be in your interest to grab your preferred domain name, even if you are not quite ready to build a Web site. The act of registering a domain name, and then not developing a Web site with services, is known as domain parking. A parked domain does not offer a completed Web site, nor does it usually have contact information. It might have ads or links, or it might have an “under construction” notification or something similar. The domain name is “parked” because you do not enter the server of your hosting company. Instead, the registrar puts the domain on one of its default pages. It “parks” the domain name.

Advantages of parked domains

The main advantage of a parked domain is that it reserves the domain name for you. Many start-up companies now go and reserve a domain name, even if they are not quite ready to develop a Web site. This way, they can get the domain name of their choice. Other companies these days try to find a domain name that they like, and then use that for a company name. In either case, the goal is to claim a domain name so that no one else can take it. You still have first choice, as long as you are up to date on your registration payments. 

Another way that some try to control their image and domain name is by parking a name that is similar. If you are yourcompany.com, but are concerned about someone else taking yourcompany.net or yourcompany.biz and drawing off some of your traffic, you can park other domain names that are similar and then you have control of them. In many cases, it is possible to direct people from a parked domain to your active domain. This way, when people make mistakes, they can still find you.

Monetizing a parked domain

Another opportunity is presented by the act of monetizing a parked domain. If you agree to this arrangement, you can earn money from a parked domain. Ads and links to products and services are shown on these pages. You can earn revenue when visitors click through and make purchases. While you won’t get all of the revenue, you can still get some money from the domain. For those who want to get a little something while they work on Web development, this can be very helpful. However, it is important to consider the ramifications of domain parking in this way. You might lose some credibility if you have a bunch of ads there before you put together a viable Web site.

Another way some people monetize a parked domain name is to wait until some other domain name expires – especially one that has received reasonably good traffic. You can try and capture the domain name, and then park it and earn money from the traffic that is already established for that domain name. However, the process of getting an expired domain name can be time consuming and get expensive. It is also worth noting that you can get someone else’s parked domain name if it expires. It is possible to receive notifications of domain names – including parked domains – that are on the verge of expiring.

In the end, whether you park a domain name is up to you. They are most effective for those who either plan to try and make residual income by permanently parking a domain name, or for those who are interested in reserving a domain name while they get the company moving a develop a Web site. Evaluate your needs to determine whether or not domain parking would work for you.

Add-on Domains

Add-on Domains

Add-on domains are one option to adding another domain name to your Web hosting account. This article explains how add-on domains work, tips on creating add-on domains, offers the advantages to add-on domains, and pros and cons of domain add-ons.

In many cases, you might be interested in adding another domain name to your Web hosting account. This can be a good idea if you want to set up another Web site for some reason, or if you have some other information that you want to get out there. In these cases, it is a good idea to see about getting add-on domains. Before you get an add-on domain, though, you need to check with your Web host. You may not be allowed to add these. Many hosts, though, will allow add-on domains. You’ve just got to make sure you go through the process properly.

Creating add-on domains

It is important to realize that an add-on domain, while it shows a different Web site, actually creates a sub directory in your main Web hosting directory. It will be part of your main hosting account, and use up bandwidth and disk space. Therefore, if you plan to use add-on domains, you should make sure that it won’t put too much stress on your bandwidth and how much disk space you have. You will have to manage add-on domains from your main hosting manager.

The first thing you need to do in order to set up add-on domains is to register your desired domain name with an accredited and approved registrar. It is important that you do this first. If you want a new domain name, you will have to register it properly, since it won’t show up as part of your existing domain.

Next, you will need to get the domain name server from your Web host. Your new add-on domain name information should point to the same domain name server as the Web host of your current account. This could take between 24 and 48 hours to properly propagate. It is probably a good idea to give it the 48 hours in order to make sure.

After the propagation has taken place, you should be able to get into your Web hosting manager and add the domain name. Add-on domains can usually be found in an option that is clearly labeled. This is especially easy if your Web host has cPanel. When you click on the option for add-on domains, you will need to fill in the desired information:

• The “New Domain Name” field should be yourname.com. There should be no use of www or http://. Just put in the Web site name.
• Username/directory/subdomain should be a field with just the name, such as yourname. This one shouldn’t even have a .com or any other suffix at the end of it.
• Next, enter a password of your choosing in the appropriate box.

After you follow these steps, you should be able to access your new add-on domain from your main Web hosting manager. It will be a sub folder in your public_html folder. Once you have everything squared away, it is possible to start adding pages, indexes, images and anything you want to use to build this site.

Advantages to add-on domains

Creating add-on domains can have a number of advantages. Some of the ways that you can benefit from add-on domains include:

• Use the same Web hosting account to create multiple domains. This can allow you to easily manage all of your domains in one place.
• Save money. Because you are using the same Web hosting account, you can save money since you will not have to set up another account and pay for it.
• All of the resources are shared.
• The add-on domain gets its own stats, FTP manager and other trappings automatically. You can also upload desired forums, scripts and images in your add-on domain sub directory.
• You can promote different Web sites on one hosting account with different keywords.

In the end, you have to decide whether it is worth it to use add-on domains. You will still have to pay regular prices for domain name registration, but you won’t have to pay for additional hosting, although if your add-on domains get enough traffic it might be worth considering upgrading your hosting package.

Add-on Domains

Add-on Domains

Add-on domains are one option to adding another domain name to your Web hosting account. This article explains how add-on domains work, tips on creating add-on domains, offers the advantages to add-on domains, and pros and cons of domain add-ons.

In many cases, you might be interested in adding another domain name to your Web hosting account. This can be a good idea if you want to set up another Web site for some reason, or if you have some other information that you want to get out there. In these cases, it is a good idea to see about getting add-on domains. Before you get an add-on domain, though, you need to check with your Web host. You may not be allowed to add these. Many hosts, though, will allow add-on domains. You’ve just got to make sure you go through the process properly.

Creating add-on domains

It is important to realize that an add-on domain, while it shows a different Web site, actually creates a sub directory in your main Web hosting directory. It will be part of your main hosting account, and use up bandwidth and disk space. Therefore, if you plan to use add-on domains, you should make sure that it won’t put too much stress on your bandwidth and how much disk space you have. You will have to manage add-on domains from your main hosting manager.

The first thing you need to do in order to set up add-on domains is to register your desired domain name with an accredited and approved registrar. It is important that you do this first. If you want a new domain name, you will have to register it properly, since it won’t show up as part of your existing domain.

Next, you will need to get the domain name server from your Web host. Your new add-on domain name information should point to the same domain name server as the Web host of your current account. This could take between 24 and 48 hours to properly propagate. It is probably a good idea to give it the 48 hours in order to make sure.

After the propagation has taken place, you should be able to get into your Web hosting manager and add the domain name. Add-on domains can usually be found in an option that is clearly labeled. This is especially easy if your Web host has cPanel. When you click on the option for add-on domains, you will need to fill in the desired information:

• The “New Domain Name” field should be yourname.com. There should be no use of www or http://. Just put in the Web site name.
• Username/directory/subdomain should be a field with just the name, such as yourname. This one shouldn’t even have a .com or any other suffix at the end of it.
• Next, enter a password of your choosing in the appropriate box.

After you follow these steps, you should be able to access your new add-on domain from your main Web hosting manager. It will be a sub folder in your public_html folder. Once you have everything squared away, it is possible to start adding pages, indexes, images and anything you want to use to build this site.

Advantages to add-on domains

Creating add-on domains can have a number of advantages. Some of the ways that you can benefit from add-on domains include:

• Use the same Web hosting account to create multiple domains. This can allow you to easily manage all of your domains in one place.
• Save money. Because you are using the same Web hosting account, you can save money since you will not have to set up another account and pay for it.
• All of the resources are shared.
• The add-on domain gets its own stats, FTP manager and other trappings automatically. You can also upload desired forums, scripts and images in your add-on domain sub directory.
• You can promote different Web sites on one hosting account with different keywords.

In the end, you have to decide whether it is worth it to use add-on domains. You will still have to pay regular prices for domain name registration, but you won’t have to pay for additional hosting, although if your add-on domains get enough traffic it might be worth considering upgrading your hosting package.

Top Level Domains (TLDs)

Top Level Domains (TLDs)

This article has information on top level domains (TLDs), Country TLDs, Generic TLDs, Special TLDs, and categories within the Generic top level domains (gTLDs) including sponsored TLDs and Unsponsored TLDs. Keep reading for more on top level domains.

Occasionally you might run into the term “top level domain”. A TLD is a way to organize Web site addresses into categories and make them more manageable. With spread and commercialization of the Internet, it became obvious that some sort of organization and regulation would be needed. For the most part, the Internet is largely unregulated; however, the way domains are named is actually quite heavily supervised.
Top Level Domains (TLDs)
For the purposes of supervising the name of domains, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) came up with different designations for addresses. In the Web address www.yourname.com, the top level domain is the very last thing, the .com. The second level domain is the next to last thing, the yourname. A top level domain is divided into certain categories:

• Country TLDs: These are domains that are assigned to countries. There are more than 250 assignments for countries. These are designations like .ca for Canada or .jp for Japan. These ccTLDs are designed to be administered by the codes and policies of the country in question.
• Generic TLDs: A generic TLD is one that is used for a number of purposes. These are the commonly seen top level domains, such as .com and .org. These have different policies, and will be discussed below.
• Special TLD: There is also the TLD .arpa, which is meant for the technical community involved with Internet infrastructure. Only certain developers can use the .arpa, and that usage is guided by the Internet Architecture Board.

Generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs)
The most common type of TLD is the generic TLD. This is what most people use when they set up Web addresses. Originally, in the 1980s, ICANN came up with seven gTLDs. These were .com, .org, .net, .edu, .int, .gov, and .mil. It is possible to use .com, .org, and .net without restriction. All you have to do is find a domain name that has not been taken and register it. It used to be that .org was only for non-profit organizations, but that is not a requirement anymore. As you might guess, the .gov, .int, .mil, and .edu top level domains were for specific purposes, and only certain institutions can use them today.
It is also worth noting that there are other categories in the gTLD designation:

• Sponsored TLDs are those that have a specific purpose. They are subject to interested parties and policies are developed by communities that have a direct interest in their usage. These types of sponsored TLDs are things like .museum, .mobi, .travel, .asia, .coop and .aero. These sponsored top level domains require that registrants meet the criteria set by the concerned communities. A sponsor operates under ICANN, and does its best to take responsibility for the community.
• Unsponsored TLDs are general and do not require oversight beyond what is considered the norm for the global Internet community. The rules established by ICANN are sufficient; no further rules are needed in order to police these top level domains. Some examples of newer unsponsored gTLDs include .biz, .name, .info and .pro.

The most popular top level domain is still .com, although .net and .biz are becoming more popular as the .com world becomes rather crowded. It is important to carefully consider what top level domain is most suitable for your business. Chances are, though, that a generic, unsponsored domain name with few restrictions will be just fine. It is what people expect, and they will be more likely to remember it and find their way to you Web address.

Expired Domain Name

Expired Domain Name

Domain names are not good forever, they expire. You can buy or sell expired domain names. This article explains how domain name registration works, how to get an expire domain name, and what to expect to pay for an expired domain name.

If you are trying to register a domain name, you have probably discovered that most common words and phrases have already been claimed. Indeed, domain names are rather difficult to get right now because an online Web presence is so common and desirable that there are close to 80 million registered .com names and more than 177 million domain names total, according TechCrunch. With that kind of competition for domain names, it is no wonder that it is hard to find something you can use.

How domain registration works

It is important to understand how domain registration works if you are going to make best use of the process. First of all, it is important to realize that you have to work through an accredited domain name registrar. This registrar must have approval from ICANN – the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. When you get your domain name, it is actually more of a rental. You have to make regular payments (usually yearly up to every 10 years) in order to keep your domain name active. There are some free domain names, but normally you will not be the top level if you choose these. If you want your own top level domain name (www.yourcompany.com as opposed to www.yourcompany.blogspot.com), you will have to pay for it.

If you do not make regular payments, your domain name will expire. When the expiration is complete, your domain name will then be able to someone else. Indeed, this is why it is so important to renew. Set up automatic renewal, or sign up to have reminders sent to you regarding renewal when the time comes. Otherwise, you might end up with an expired domain name – and no home on the Internet.

Getting an expired domain name

If the domain name you want is not available, you might consider looking at expired domain names. Many registrars have lists of domain names that have expired, or that are about expire. You can look through these databases for something you like, and then attempt to secure it. However, the process can be long and difficult. And, depending on the popularity and desirability of the domain name, it can get expensive.

First of all, if you are interested in getting an expired domain name, you can place an order on it. This order, however, does not guarantee that you will end up with the name. It only means you have a chance at the domain name. First of all, there is a grace period for expired domain names. The domain owner has a 30 day grace period that starts when the expiration date arrives. During this time, the owner can re-register the domain name. If this happens, you clearly will not get the expired domain name.

After the grace period, there is another 60 day period. During this time, the owner can still renew, but for a premium. You are still waiting for the expired domain name to work its way through at this point, and you can keep tabs on how things are going. Finally, around 90 days after the expiration date, a domain name is actually available. If no one else is waiting to grab it, and you already have an order on it, chances are that you will then get the expired domain name.

However, if someone else also wants the domain name, a bidding war ensues. Expired domain names go to auction. The registrar facilitates the auction, sending you notices of other bids for the domain name. You have a certain amount of time to respond, and raise the bid. If you do, then the other players have a certain amount of time to respond and decide whether they want to raise their bids. In the end, you have to decide how much the new domain name is worth to you. If you do win the bidding contest, then you are the shiny owner of an expired domain name.

Of course, if you want to keep this domain name, you will have to make regular payments on it so that it does not expire. For some expired domain names, the cost can be as much as thousands of dollars. Some domain names are quite expensive: Business.com cost $7.5 million in 1999. Most expired domain names end up costing somewhere between $100 and $1,000.

Domain Name Renewal

Domain Name Renewal

Just because you purchase a domain name once does not mean it is yours forever, you have to do a domain name renewal regularly. This article will cover tips on getting a domain name and keeping your domain name at the time of domain name renewal.

One of the most important things a business or individual can have is a Web address. Your domain name is an important part of who you are on the Internet. However, it is important to understand that when you have a domain name, it isn’t yours after just buying it once. Indeed, cyber real estate is more like a rental. You have to keep renewing your domain name.
Getting a domain name
You can’t just set up shop and have any domain name that you want. Instead, you have to go through an accredited registrar. This domain name also has to be one that is not registered elsewhere. It needs to be original. Most registrars have a search feature. You type in your desired domain name, and your desired ending (.com, .net, .org, .biz, etc.). The search then lets you know whether or not your preferred domain name is available. If it is, it is only a matter paying for it and moving forward.
If your desired domain name is not available, you will have to try some other options, or variations. However, it is important to be careful not to change things so that customers won’t recognize you. Also, you will have to be aware that adding random numbers to your domain name won’t do you any favors, either. You can also search for expired domain names and domain names that are about to expire, and try to secure those instead.
Keeping your domain name
Once you have a domain name, it becomes important that you keep it. You don’t want to end up with your domain name expiring on you. If you don’t keep paying for your domain name (on average, this costs between $7 and $35 per year), you can lose it. In many cases, it is possible to secure a domain name for between two and five years, paying a larger fee each time, but making sure you have the domain name for a longer period of time. 10 years is the current and accepted limit, although there are some attempts to get 99 year registrations.
Most registrars will remind you as your renewal period approaches. This is extremely helpful, since you will be able to see when a renewal is needed, and act accordingly. Some also offer automatic renewal, so that the renewal fee comes out of your bank account or credit card account regularly without you having to do anything. In these cases, though, it is important to remember that expiration dates on credit cards or changes to your bank account can mean that you miss a renewal. So remember that domain name renewal is a regular bill that needs to be paid.
Even if you do miss your renewal date, there is a 30 day grace period. This grace period provides you the opportunity to renew your domain name, without interrupted service, and for the same rate you already pay. If you miss even the grace period, your service will be interrupted. But you will still have first claim on your domain name for the next 60 days. You may have to pay an additional fee, though. If you still haven’t paid for your domain name, it is revoked and becomes available to others. If you want it back at this point, you will have to try to reclaim it. If others want the name as well, you might have to out bid them.
In the end, it is much easier just to renew regularly. Most domain names are relatively inexpensive, and it counts as a business expense. Set up automatically, or arrange for regular reminders. This way, you will be able to renew as needed, and you won’t risk losing your domain name.

Domain Name Extensions

Domain Name Extensions

Domain name extensions represent different things - find the meanings of each domain name extension before you register a cheap domain name through your favorite domain registrar. Domain extensions vary in cost and use.

When you look at an Internet address, or when you register a domain name, you may notice that while most Web addresses end in .com, there are other ending as well. You may see a .net, or a .biz, or a .org. These are known as suffixes, or domain name extensions. They are designed to help Internet users understand what a Web site is about, and provide some direction in domain name registration.
Different domain name extensions and their meanings
When you know what a domain name suffix indicates, it can help you determine the legitimacy of a Web site, or help you figure out which domain name you should register. Here are some of the available domain name extensions:
.com and .net: These are two of the most common domain name extensions (.com is more popular). These extensions are available to the public, and just about anyone can use them. However, they really do not tell you much about the Web site. It can be helpful to know that many businesses choose to register both the .com and the .net versions of their name so that another site can't create confusion or attract traffic by having a similar name. Many companies also use .com and .net designations in conjunction with each other: .com is for the front Web page and .net may contain backend Internet operations.
.org: This is another common domain name extension. In order to get this designation, you need to be a non-profit organization or a charity. It is available to the general public, but many domain name registration sites will require some sort of verification that you are a non-profit or a charity. But you do need to be careful. Some organizations that are not truly non-profit have been able to exploit loopholes in order to get the .org designation.
.biz: Because .com and .net are used so often, .biz was introduced for commercial businesses. This allows more domain name registrations for legitimate companies. Indeed, many companies are starting to migrate toward .biz, and some are adding a .biz registration to complement the .com and .net extensions they already have.
.info: Like .net and .com, .info is available to the general public and is considered "general use." It is not very widely used right now, but it does convey a sense that the Web site will contain information. However, like .com and .net, it is difficult to really get an idea of what the Web site is about from the extension.
.edu: This domain name extension is reserved only for accredited and recognized schools (elementary, secondary and higher education) in the United States. This suffix is very tightly regulated and verified. Your Web site cannot use the .edu domain name extension unless you are, in fact, a recognized school by the Department of Education. When you visit these Web sites, you know that they are accredited and legitimate schools.
.gov: This is another domain name extension that is tightly controlled. The .gov suffix can only be used on government Web sites in the United States. These can be state and municipal governments, but they have to be verified as government organizations in the U.S. One of the things to watch out for in terms of Web addresses is those that use government names and add a suffix like .com. Some sites will register a domain name like nasa.com, irs.com or whitehouse.com (as opposed to the official sites which are nasa.gov, irs.gov and whitehouse.gov) in order to draw traffic to their Web sites. However, if you want the official Web site, you need to make sure that the suffix is .gov.
Other domain name extensions: There are other domain names extensions being offered to describe different types of Web sites, even though they are few and far between. Here a few of them:
.aero is a suffix for those involved in the industry of air transportation.
.pro indicates someone in a professional career, such as a doctor, lawyer, accountants and other service providers.
.name can be used for a purely personal Web site.
.mobi indicates a Web site that can be accessed by mobile devices, such as PDAs and cell phones.
.coop can be used by cooperatives.
.museum is an obvious (and little used) designation for museums.
Once you know what different domain name extensions can be used for, and what they indicate, you can make a better decision about your domain name choice - and you can be better educated about what other Web sites are trying to accomplish.

Registering Domain Names

Registering Domain Names

How to register a domain name, costs of owning a domain name, transfering a domain, and length of domain name registration are all covered in this article on registering a domain name. Find cheap domain names after reading this.

If you spend any time on the Internet, you have been exposed to domain names. A domain name is the Web address that you type into the address bar of your Internet browser. It is the easy name that is attached to a series of numbers that are much harder to remember.
Here's how it works:
Internet pages are stored on computer servers. All of the locations on the servers have an address - a string of numbers that identifies where the information can be found. Now, the Internet wouldn't be very user friendly if you had to type in numbers in order to call up a web site. So, instead, the location of a web site corresponds with a name that is easier to use by most people. This is known as a domain name. When you type in the domain name, the computer server recognizes that it is connected to a specific address expressed in numbers, and it retrieves the web site almost instantly.
Registering your domain name
In order to make the system work efficiently, it is necessary to ensure that each domain name is unique, so that when someone types in a web address, the right web site is retrieved. This means that a process of registration is required. Different companies will offer to do this for you (for a fee, of course).
When you go to register, you will find out if your chosen domain name is already taken, or if it is available. Then you will choose a designation (usually ending in .com, .net or .org) to go with your domain name. This generally tells the user what sort of organization you are. The most common ending is .com. It is possible, in this system, to have domainname.com go to a different place than domainname.net. Also, there might be a domaname.com that is similar, but incorrect. For this reason, some companies and individuals register different names to go to the same web address in order to ensure that they are getting all of the traffic intended for them.
It is important to note that some endings, like .gov and .edu, are reserved for specific institutions (in this case the government and schools, respectively) and cannot be bought commonly through domain registration.
Here are some answers to additional common questions about domain name registration, taken from information provided by the US Department of Commerce:
What process is involved in applying for domain name registration?
Most companies have different processes for submitting a domain name registration. However, registration is usually done over the Internet. You will have to submit your real name, address and phone number so that you can be properly identified in cases of complaint, violations of law and if other issues arise. In many cases, this information will be confirmed through your Internet service provider (ISP).
Make sure you carefully read up on the process, and the terms of use and other legal information, when you apply for domain registration. Each registrar does things a little differently, and you want to make sure that you understand what is required.
Does domain registration cost money?
Usually, you have to pay if you want to register a domain name. There are some sites that offer free domain registration, but it is important to carefully screen them. They may not be officially accredited registrars or re-sellers. Domain registration costs vary by company. Shop around for a company that appears to be reasonably priced and that fits your needs.
How long does a domain registration last?
Depending on the company, your domain registration can last anywhere from one year to ten years. The company can decide to renew every year, or renew for longer periods. Many companies give you a two year domain registration. If you do not pay to renew your registration, your web site will no longer be retrievable when someone types in your web address. After a set amount of time, your domain name will become available for others to buy if they want it.
Is it possible to transfer my domain registration to another registrar?
If you want to change registrars, it is possible to do so once sixty days have passed from your initial domain name registration. However, you need to check guidelines to make sure that you are going about it properly. Contact your new registrar to find out what sorts of things are involved in the domain name transfer process.
A domain name can be a great tool. However, it is important that you understand how it works - and how to properly maintain your domain name once you have it.

Keeping your domain name

Keeping your domain name

Once you have a domain name, it becomes important that you keep it. You don’t want to end up with your domain name expiring on you. If you don’t keep paying for your domain name (on average, this costs between $7 and $35 per year), you can lose it. In many cases, it is possible to secure a domain name for between two and five years, paying a larger fee each time, but making sure you have the domain name for a longer period of time. 10 years is the current and accepted limit, although there are some attempts to get 99 year registrations.

Most registrars will remind you as your renewal period approaches. This is extremely helpful, since you will be able to see when a renewal is needed, and act accordingly. Some also offer automatic renewal, so that the renewal fee comes out of your bank account or credit card account regularly without you having to do anything. In these cases, though, it is important to remember that expiration dates on credit cards or changes to your bank account can mean that you miss a renewal. So remember that domain name renewal is a regular bill that needs to be paid.

Even if you do miss your renewal date, there is a 30 day grace period. This grace period provides you the opportunity to renew your domain name, without interrupted service, and for the same rate you already pay. If you miss even the grace period, your service will be interrupted. But you will still have first claim on your domain name for the next 60 days. You may have to pay an additional fee, though. If you still haven’t paid for your domain name, it is revoked and becomes available to others. If you want it back at this point, you will have to try to reclaim it. If others want the name as well, you might have to out bid them.

In the end, it is much easier just to renew regularly. Most domain names are relatively inexpensive, and it counts as a business expense. Set up automatically, or arrange for regular reminders. This way, you will be able to renew as needed, and you won’t risk losing your domain name.

Domain Name Renewal

Domain Name Renewal

Just because you purchase a domain name once does not mean it is yours forever, you have to do a domain name renewal regularly. This article will cover tips on getting a domain name and keeping your domain name at the time of domain name renewal.

One of the most important things a business or individual can have is a Web address. Your domain name is an important part of who you are on the Internet. However, it is important to understand that when you have a domain name, it isn’t yours after just buying it once. Indeed, cyber real estate is more like a rental. You have to keep renewing your domain name.

Getting a domain name

You can’t just set up shop and have any domain name that you want. Instead, you have to go through an accredited registrar. This domain name also has to be one that is not registered elsewhere. It needs to be original. Most registrars have a search feature. You type in your desired domain name, and your desired ending (.com, .net, .org, .biz, etc.). The search then lets you know whether or not your preferred domain name is available. If it is, it is only a matter paying for it and moving forward.

If your desired domain name is not available, you will have to try some other options, or variations. However, it is important to be careful not to change things so that customers won’t recognize you. Also, you will have to be aware that adding random numbers to your domain name won’t do you any favors, either. You can also search for expired domain names and domain names that are about to expire, and try to secure those instead.

Getting a Free Domain Name

Getting a Free Domain Name

This article offers information on getting a free domain name, the pros and cons of free domain names, and getting a free domain name through web hosting. Anything free comes with a price, so keep reading to find out if a free domain name will work for you.

When you set up shop in cyber space, you need an address so that people can find you. This is very important if you want to garner clients and customers. Many people look for free domain registration. This can have a number of benefits, but there are also some drawbacks. The main benefit to a free domain name is that it is, well, free. But there are some other things you should think about before you get a free domain name.

Realities of a free domain name

Realities of a free domain name

In many cases, your free domain name is part of some other domain. For example, Wordpress.com offers you the opportunity to make a simple Web site, using a free domain name. But instead of having your own top level domain name, such as yourcompany.com, you would have a sub-domain: yourcompany.wordpress.com. This might unacceptable on a couple of levels:

1.      It makes it harder for customers to find you. Many customers will assume that your address is your company name. However, if you have a .blogspot or a .wordpress after it, then it is harder to remember, and your potential clients may not ever find you.

2.      It looks unprofessional. A free domain name in this style also looks unprofessional. You do not seem as serious – or at least a bit cheap – if you are not willing to at least buy a cheap domain name. A top level domain name always looks more professional that a subdomain.

Another thing to consider is that sometimes, depending on whether you are getting free Web hosting along with your free domain name, your Web site might have ads on it from other companies and services so that the service can make money off of advertising. This can further alienate customers and project an unprofessional image.

Free domain name through Web hosting

Free domain name through Web hosting

On the other hand, some Web hosts offer free domain names with their Web hosting packages (as long as it is not a premium domain name, or an expiring domain name). This can actually be a good decision. A good Web host that offers a free domain name as one of the value-added portions of its hosting package is a definite plus. You should consider this type free domain name, since it can be a great way to save a little bit when you get a complete package.

There are many benefits to getting a complete package from a Web host. This way, everything you need is covered and serviced. There are plenty of Web hosts out there that offer high quality hosting services that include ecommerce packages, security, email accounts, Web site builders and templates, and free domain name registration. This can also be useful, since it makes it easy to search available domain names and create something that works well with your business style and individual needs.

In the end, you have to decide what is best for you. If you are just setting up a Web site so that you can update your personal life for your friends and family, a free domain name through a free Web host is probably sufficient. But if you are a business looking for a home on the Internet where customers can find you, you might consider paying something for a domain name that exudes an air of professionalism. Additionally, a top level domain name allows for better scaling when you want to make changes and adapt to the changing market. When choosing how to go about getting your domain name, it is a good idea think about the future, and consider the image you are projecting.

Allowed character set

Allowed character set

Domain name registrations have traditionally only been allowed for names that consist only of letters, digits and the hyphen (-) from the ASCII character set, as in hostnames. The full stop (dot, .) is used to separate DNS labels, the hierarchical components in a domain name.
This character set excludes numerous characters commonly found in non-English languages, and does not allow multi-byte characters necessary for most Asian languages. The Internationalized domain name (IDN) system, which permits such characters, has been developed and many registries allow such names.
The underscore character is permitted in names used in the domain name system, and is frequently used to ensure that a domain name is not recognized as a hostname, as in the use of DNS server records (SRV), for example. Other naming systems often used in conjunction with DNS, such as NetBIOS, allow it.

Second-level and lower level domains

Second-level and lower level domains

Below the top-level domains in the domain name hierarchy are the second-level domain (SLD) names. These are the names directly to the left of .com, .net, and the other top-level domains. As an example, in the domain en.wikipedia.org, wikipedia is the second-level domain.

Next are third-level domains, which are written immediately to the left of a second-level domain. There can be fourth- and fifth-level domains, and so on, with virtually no limitation. An example of an operational domain name with four levels of domain labels is www.sos.state.oh.us. The www preceding the domains is the host name of the World-Wide Web server. Each label is separated by a full stop (dot). 'sos' is said to be a sub-domain of 'state.oh.us', and 'state' a sub-domain of 'oh.us', etc. In general, subdomains are domains subordinate to their parent domain. An example of very deep levels of subdomain ordering are the IPv6 reverse resolution DNS zones, e.g., 1.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.ip6.arpa, which is the reverse DNS resolution domain name for the IP address of a loopback interface, or the localhost name.

Second-level (or lower-level, depending on the established parent hierarchy) domain names are often created based on the name of a company (e.g., microsoft.com), product or service (e.g., gmail.com). Below these levels, the next domain name component has been used to designate a particular host server. Therefore, ftp.wikipedia.org might be an FTP server, www.wikipedia.org would be a World Wide Web server, and mail.wikipedia.org could be an email server, each intended to perform only the implied function. Modern technology allows multiple physical servers with either different (cf. load balancing) or even identical addresses (cf. anycast) to serve a single hostname or domain name, or multiple domain names to be served by a single computer. The latter is very popular in Web hosting service centers, where service providers host the websites of many organizations on just a few servers.

Top-level domains

Top-level domains

The top-level domains (TLDs) are the highest level of domain names of the Internet. They form the DNS root zone of the hierarchical Domain Name System. Every domain name ends in a top-level or first-level domain label.
When the Domain Name System was created in the 1980s, the domain name space was divided into two main groups of domains. The country code top-level domains (ccTLD) were primarily based on the two-character territory codes of ISO-3166 country abbreviations. In addition, a group of seven generic top-level domains (gTLD) was implemented which represented a set of categories of names and multi-organizations. These were the domains GOV, EDU, COM, MIL, ORG, NET, and INT.
During the growth of the Internet, it became desirable to create additional generic top-level domains. As of June 2009, there are 20 generic top-level domains and 248 country code top-level domains. In addition, the ARPA domain serves technical purposes in the infrastructure of the Domain Name System.
During the 32nd International Public ICANN Meeting in Paris in 2008, ICANN started a new process of TLD naming policy to take a "significant step forward on the introduction of new generic top-level domains." This program envisions the availability of many new or already proposed domains, as well a new application and implementation process. Observers believed that the new rules could result in hundreds of new top-level domain to be registered.

Domain name

A domain name is an identification label that defines a realm of administrative autonomy, authority, or control in the Internet, based on the Domain Name System (DNS).

Domain names are used in various networking contexts and application-specific naming and addressing purposes. They are organized in subordinate levels (subdomains) of the DNS root domain, which is nameless. The first-level set of domain names are the top-level domains (TLDs), including the generic top-level domains (gTLDs), such as the prominent domains com, net and org, and the country code top-level domains (ccTLDs). Below these top-level domains in the DNS hierarchy are the second-level and third-level domain names that are typically open for reservation by end-users that wish to connect local area networks to the Internet, run web sites, or create other publicly accessible Internet resources. The registration of these domain names is usually administered by domain name registrars who sell their services to the public.

Individual Internet host computers use domain names as host identifiers, or hostnames. Hostnames are the leaf labels in the domain name system usually without further subordinate domain name space. Hostnames appear as a component in Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) for Internet resources such as web sites (e.g., en.wikipedia.org).

Domain names are also used as simple identification labels to indicate ownership or control of a resource. Such examples are the realm identifiers used in the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), the DomainKeys used to verify DNS domains in e-mail systems, and in many other Uniform Resource Identifiers (URIs).

An important purpose of domain names is to provide easily recognizable and memorizable names to numerically addressed Internet resources. This abstraction allows any resource (e.g., website) to be moved to a different physical location in the address topology of the network, globally or locally in an intranet. Such a move usually requires changing the IP address of a resource and the corresponding translation of this IP address to and from its domain name.

Domain names are often referred to simply as domains and domain name registrants are frequently referred to as domain owners, although domain name registration with a registrar does not confer any legal ownership of the domain name, only an exclusive right of use.

This article primarily discusses the group of domain names that are offered by domain name registrars for registration by the public. The Domain Name System article discusses the technical facilities and infrastructure of the domain name space and the hostname article deals with specific information about the use of domain names as identifiers of network hosts.

Qualified rate

Qualified rate


A qualified rate is the percentage rate a merchant will be charged whenever they accept a regular consumer credit card and process it in a manner defined as "standard" by their merchant account provider using an approved credit card processing solution. This is usually the lowest rate a merchant will incur when accepting a credit card. The qualified rate is also the rate commonly quoted to a merchant when they inquire about pricing. The qualified rate is created based on the way a merchant will be accepting a majority of their credit cards. For example, for an internet merchant, the internet interchange categories will be defined as Qualified, while for a physical retailer only transactions swiped through or read by their terminal in an ordinary manner will be defined as Qualified.



Mid-qualified rate

Also known as a partially qualified rate, the mid-qualified rate is the percentage rate a merchant will be charged whenever they accept a credit card that does not qualify for the lowest rate (the qualified rate). This may happen for several reasons such as:



A consumer credit card is keyed into a credit card terminal instead of being swiped

A special kind of credit card is used like a rewards card or business card

A mid-qualified rate is higher than a qualified rate. Some of the transactions that are usually grouped into the Mid-Qualified Tier can cost the provider more in interchange costs, so the merchant account providers do make a markup on these rates.



The use of "rewards cards" can be as high as 40% of transactions. So it is important that the financial impact of this fee be understood. So therefore, merchants will be charged the qualified plus the mid qualified rate. Example) If your qualified rate is 1.5% and the mid qualified rate is 1 %, your effective rate would be 2.5 %.



 Non-qualified rate

The non-qualified rate is usually the highest percentage rate a merchant will be charged whenever they accept a credit card. In most cases all transactions that are not qualified or mid-qualified will fall to this rate. This may happen for several reasons such as:



A consumer credit card is keyed into a credit card terminal instead of being swiped and address verification is not performed

A special kind of credit card is used like a business card and all required fields are not entered

A merchant does not settle their daily batch within the allotted time frame, usually past 48 hours from time of authorization.

A non-qualified rate can be significantly higher than a qualified rate and can cost the provider much more in interchange costs, so the merchant account providers do make a markup on these rates.

Rates and fees

Rates and fees


A Merchant Account has a variety of fees, some periodic, others charged on a per-item or percentage basis. Some fees are set by the merchant account provider, but the majority of the per-item and percentage fees are passed through the merchant account provider to the credit card issuing bank according to a schedule of rates called interchange fees, which are set by Visa and Mastercard. Interchange fees vary depending on card type and the circumstances of the transaction. For example, if a transaction is made by swiping a card through a credit card terminal it will be in a different category than if it were keyed in manually.



Discount Rates

The discount rate comprises a number of dues, fees, assessments, network charges and mark-ups merchants are required to pay for accepting credit and debit cards, the largest of which by far is the Interchange fee. Each bank or ISO/MLS has real costs in addition to the wholesale interchange fees, and creates profit by adding a mark-up to all the fees mentioned above. There are a number of price models banks and ISOs/MLSs use to bill merchants for the services rendered. Here are the more popular price models:



 3-Tier Pricing

The 3-Tier Pricing is the most popular pricing method and the simplest system for most merchants, although the new 6-Tier Pricing is gaining in popularity. In 3-Tier Pricing, the merchant account provider groups the transactions into 3 groups (tiers) and assigns a rate to each tier based on a criterion established for each tier.

Merchant Account Marketing

Merchant Account Marketing


Merchant accounts are marketed to merchants by two basic methods: either directly by the processor or sponsoring bank, or by an authorized agent for the bank and additionally directly registered with both Visa and MasterCard as an ISO/MSP (Independent Selling Organization / Member Service Provider). Marketing details are by card issuers like Visa and MasterCard, and are enforced by various rules and fines.



[edit] Marketing by Banks

A bank that has a merchant processing relationship with Visa and Mastercard, also known as a member bank, can issue merchant accounts directly to merchants. To reduce risk, some banks limit approval to merchants in its geographical area, those with a physical retail storefront, or those that have been in business for 2 years or more.



[edit] Marketing by Independent Sales Organization (ISO)/MSPs

To market merchant accounts, an ISO/MSP must be sponsored by a member bank. This sponsorship requires that the bank verify the financial stability and suitability of the company that will be marketing on its behalf. The ISO/MSP must also pay a fee to be registered with Visa and Mastercard and must comply with regulations in how they may market merchant accounts and the use of copyrights of Visa and Mastercard. One way to verify if an ISO/MSP is in compliance is to check a website or any other marketing material for a disclosure "company is a registered ISO/MSP of bank, town, state. FDIC insured". This disclosure is required by both Visa and Mastercard and will cause a fine of up to $25,000 if it is not clearly visible. In almost all cases, if there is no disclosure, the company is likely to be an uninformed 4th party or worse. In many cases unregistered operators have been responsible for some of the worst horror stories from merchants.

Level 2 or Level 3 Processing - Purchasing Cards

Level 2 or Level 3 Processing - Purchasing Cards


Visa and Mastercard have created a specialized type of credit card used primarily by government agencies and businesses. Increasingly, corporations and government agencies are relying on this form of payment to compensate their service providers and suppliers. Businesses benefit by receiving their funds quickly and by winning competitive bids and government contracts where purchasing cards are the required form of payment. The downside, however, is the increased costs associated with receiving these payments. These costs will usually be much higher than accepting a standard consumer credit card.



The solution is that some businesses may qualify for ways to process these transactions that allow them to pay lower fees if they can supply additional information, called "level 2 or level 3 data". For example, if government transactions are over $5,000, businesses can significantly reduce their transaction costs by including "level 2 or level 3 data" about the purchase along with each transaction. Examples of level 2 or level 3 data is a purchase order number associated with the transaction that the credit card will be paying. This data is passed on to the purchaser so that it may be many times easier to reconcile the transaction. If all the required data is not collected and passed on during the transaction, the merchant can have surcharges added to the basic fees or be forced into a non qualified transaction category.

Automated Response Unit (ARU)+Payment gateway

Automated Response Unit (ARU)


An ARU (also known as a voice authorization, capture and deposit) allows the manual keyed entry and subsequent authorization of a credit card over a cellular or land-line telephone. With this method a merchant typically imprints their customer's card with an imprinter to create a customer receipt and merchant copy, then process the transaction instantaneously over the phone.



Payment gateway

A payment gateway is an e-commerce service that authorizes payments for e-businesses and online retailers. It is the equivalent of a physical POS (point-of-sale) terminal located in most retail outlets. A merchant account provider is typically a separate company from the payment gateway. Some merchant account providers have their own payment gateways but the majority of companies use 3rd party payment gateways. The gateway usually has 2 components: a) the virtual terminal that can allow for a merchant to securely login and key in credit card numbers or b) have the website's shopping-cart connect to the gateway via an API to allow for real time processing from the merchant's website.

Credit card terminal

Credit card terminal

A credit card terminal is a stand-alone piece of electronic equipment that allows a merchant to swipe or key-enter a credit card's information as well as additional information required to process a credit card transaction. A credit card terminal is a dedicated piece of equipment that only processes credit cards although it is common for related transactions including gift cards and check verification to also be performed. A credit card terminal typically must be plugged in to a power supply and connected to a telephone line. However, some terminals may be powered by batteries, communicate over the Internet or through the cellular phone networks. When a credit card is processed (either swiped through the magnetic stripe reader or keyed in to the keypad), it contacts the network to verify if the credit card can be authorized. The transaction is then stored on the machine until the polling window is opened. The machine will either upload the electronic funds directly to the merchant bank, or a polling service provider will dial in to collect, process then submit the data to the merchant bank. The most popular credit card terminals consist of a modem, keypad, printer, magnetic stripe reader, power supply and memory card. They have had the same basic design since the 1980s. As with computers, there is a wide range of memory capacities and other features like built-in printers and debit card pinpads that affect the manufacturing cost of a credit card terminal.

Methods of processing credit cards

Methods of processing credit cards


Today a majority of credit card transactions are sent electronically to merchant processing banks for authorization, capture and deposit. Various methods exist for presenting a credit card sale to "the system." In all circumstances either the entire magnetic strip is read by a swipe through a credit card terminal/reader, a computer chip is read, or the credit card information is manually entered into a credit card terminal, a computer or website. The earliest methods, submitting credit card slips to a merchant processing bank by US mail, or by accessing an Automated Response Unit (ARU) by telephone, are still in use today but have long been overshadowed by electronic devices. These early methods used two-part forms and a manual device for mechanically imprinting the embossed card number information onto the forms. Whenever practical it is best to swipe a credit card because the rates will be much lower and the incidence of stolen credit card number fraud is greatly reduced.

Murray Chotiner

Murray Chotiner (1909–1974) was an American political strategist, attorney, government official, and close associate and friend of President Richard Nixon during much of Nixon's political career. He served as campaign manager for the future president's run for the United States Senate in 1950 and for his vice presidential bid in 1952, and managed the campaigns of other California Republicans. He was active in each of Nixon's two successful runs for the White House in low-profile positions. After Congress investigated Chotiner in 1956, suspecting the attorney was using his connections to Nixon for influence peddling to benefit his private clients, the Vice President and his former campaign manager temporarily parted ways. Nixon recalled him to work on his 1962 gubernatorial campaign and again for his successful 1968 presidential bid. After Nixon was inaugurated in 1969, Chotiner received a political appointment to a government position and, in 1970, became a member of the White House staff. He returned to private practice a year later, but was involved in Nixon's 1972 re-election campaign. He remained an informal adviser to Nixon until he died in Washington D.C. following an auto accident in January 1974, and Nixon mourned the loss of a man he described as a counselor and friend

The AMS Merchant Account Solution

http://unitech.edu.np/At AMS, we constantly monitor our competitor's merchant account services so you always receive low pricing on name brand credit card processing solutions! Should you find a better price on anything we sell simply Price Bust our competition by 5% and save even more! At AMS, our low pricing also includes superior 24/7 customer service and support long after the sale. Browse our website and discover why we're your #1 choice for credit card acceptance services in the U.S.A. regardless of business type, size, or processing volume.

New Master Card

New MasterCard Application Helps iPhone and iPod Touch Users Quickly Find the Nearest ATM

PURCHASE, N.Y. -- MasterCard Worldwide today announced that its MasterCard[R] ATM Hunter application is available on the Apple App Store. The app lets iPhone and iPod touch users easily locate the nearest ATM no matter where in the world they are.

"MasterCard is focused on delivering innovative applications and services that help make life easier not only for MasterCard cardholders, but for all consumers," said Cheryl Guerin, Senior Vice President, Global Digital Marketing, MasterCard Worldwide. "With MasterCard ATM Hunter for iPhone and iPod touch, users will no longer be detoured and slowed down looking for the nearest ATM and can instead spend time doing things they enjoy."

The MasterCard ATM Hunter utilizes the iPhone or iPod touch's location awareness technologies to pinpoint the search. Users can customize their hunt based on their unique banking needs - such as focusing their search to a specific financial institution if they need to make a deposit or wish to avoid ATM withdrawal fees. MasterCard ATM Hunter can also pinpoint wheelchair accessible, drive-through, or 24-hour access ATMs and provide the directions to get there. Additionally, MasterCard ATM Hunter automatically provides users with helpful ATM safety tips.

MasterCard ATM Hunter is available for free from Apple's App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at www.itunes.com/appstore/.

Powered by the MasterCard Location Services platform, MasterCard ATM Hunter is the latest delivery channel for ATM location information from MasterCard. Each year, more than two million consumers contact MasterCard via the Web, phone and wireless (SMS) to find ATM locations - when they need them, wherever they are - quickly and easily.

MasterCard ATM Hunter is the first in a series of free applications that MasterCard is developing specifically for iPhone and iPod touch. For more information, please visit www.mastercard.com.

About MasterCard Worldwide

MasterCard Worldwide advances global commerce by providing a critical economic link among financial institutions, businesses, cardholders and merchants worldwide. As a franchisor, processor and advisor, MasterCard develops and markets payment solutions, processes approximately 21 billion transactions each year, and provides industry-leading analysis and consulting services to financial-institution customers and merchants. Powered by the MasterCard Worldwide Network and through its family of brands, including MasterCard[R], Maestro[R] and Cirrus[R], MasterCard serves consumers and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. For more information go to www.mastercard.com.

Don’t keep records

Don’t keep records

Although you might have a number of cards and it might be hard to remember the PINs for all of them, make sure that you don’t write down the number anywhere at all, especially on your person. If you have your PIN written down then you are more likely to have the number stolen.

Change it regularly

Although many people keep their PIN the same for years, this can be dangerous. In order to keep your card secure you should regularly change your PIN. This means that even if your PIN is found out, the thief will not be able to use the card for a long time. Changing your number every few months is a sensible idea.

Destroy documents

When you first receive your PIN through the post, you should learn the number quickly and then destroy the document. If the letter looks to have been tampered with then you should immediately request a new number. Once you have the number learnt you should go to a cash machine and change the number to something you can easily remember, although avoid numbers that are obvious like 1234 or 0000.

Report anything suspicious

If you believe your PIN might have been stolen or intercepted, then you should report this immediately. Even if it has not been stolen, it is better to get a new PIN from your bank than run the risk of having your money used illegally. As long as you are sensible with your PIN and take precautions, your card should remain secure and safe.

Never tell

Keeping your PIN secure requires that only you know the number. Although you might give your PIN to friends or family that you trust in order to take money out for you, this is a bad idea. The more people who know your PIN, then the more likely you are to have the PIN discovered. Also, never give your PIN out over any communications such as email, as your bank will never ask you for this. Keep your PIN private and it should stay that way.

Take care at ATMs

One of the most common ways that people can get hold of your PIN is by seeing you type it in at an ATM. Make sure that you always shield your number whilst you type it in, and that you look behind you to make sure that no one is watching you. Also, look out for anything suspicious at the cash machine such as small cameras or electronic devices.

How to Keep your Pin Secure

Banking and card security is becoming more and more of an issue as identity thieves and fraudsters find new ways to get hold of our money. If you are concerned about your credit card security, then the best thing you can do is to keep your PIN secure. Keeping your PIN secure will limit the ways in which a thief can use your card. Here are some useful tips on how to keep your PIN secure.

Second Tier Internet Affiliate Marketing Programs Explained

How will refering new Internet affiliates to an Internet affiliate marketing program make me money in the future? Thats where a second tier Internet affiliate marketing program works like magic!

Internet Affiliates are getting cleverer by the day. So these days, Internet affiliates know the difference between the different types of website traffic they can get paid for. There are a lot of definitions though – CPM, CPC, CPA, CPL, CPD and many more.

CPM is impressions, when the publisher (the website owner) gets paid every time a banner is shown.

CPC is clicks, where the publisher (or email marketer and other Internet marketers) gets paid every time a banner or text link is clicked upon.

The other ways of getting paid are grouped together under the term performance marketing – and this is where the term Internet affiliate is most commonly used as well.

An Internet affiliate is a marketer who sends visitors to another website using a variety of techniques (such as placing banners or text links on their own website, buying sponsored listings on search engines, email marketing and many other different techniques) and gets paid when an action happens. This action can be a lead (CPL stands for Cost per Lead), a Sale (CPS stands for Cost per Sale), a download (CPD stands for Cost per download) and many other variations.

Some in the Internet marketing industry refer to performance based marketing as CPA (cost per acquisition), although the term is also sometimes used for specific types of campaigns such as leads or sales.

Now that we have got over the hard part, the rest is easy to understand.

The Internet affiliate gets paid for sending visitors to a specific landing page where an action happens – either a lead, a sale, a download or some other sort of action that the advertiser requires. As an example, some advertisers are looking to build up their databases, so they pay for each opt in email address they receive, others want leads from specific locations, so they pay for zip codes, and then try convince the visitors after they fill in their zip code, to fill in a more detailed lead form.

The common denominator is that the Internet affiliate gets paid when an action happens.

A Second Tier Internet affiliate marketing program is simply finding new Internet marketers to sign up under you to do EXACTLY what you are doing – sending visitors to different offers and getting paid when the visitors perform some sort of action. So why would you want other Internet marketers to sign up under you to promote the same offers? Simple – you get paid a percentage of the amount the Internet affiliate you refer gets paid? Sounds complicated?

Do not worry, it is not hard to understand. As an example, say Alex promotes 5 different offers on a single Internet affiliate marketing network. He gets paid for every lead, sale, email and zip code he generates from these different offers. Alex now tells Michel about the Internet affiliate marketing network and gets Michel to sign up using a banner or text link that has Alex’s referral code built into it. Michel now signs up to the Internet affiliate marketing network under Alex and starts promoting various offers and advertisers from the Internet affiliate marketing network. These offers DO NOT have to be the same offers that Alex is promoting. Michel can promote ANY of the offers on the Internet affiliate marketing network.

And this is the best part…

For any amounts that Michel gets paid, Alex receives a percentage of the amount over and above what Michel gets paid. So if Michel gets paid $1000 in Month 1, and the second tier Internet affiliate marketing program is paying 5%, then Alex would receive $50 just for referring Michel.

But it gets even better…

Some second tier affiliate marketing networks pay LIFETIME commissions. So Alex would not get a referral commission just for a month or a year – he receives it FOR ALL TIME.

If Michel becomes a super Internet affiliate and starts generating HUGE commissions every month, Alex can just sit back and collect the checks as he referred him.

There are 3 important things to know when finding Internet affiliates to sign up under you on second tier affiliate programs:

Is the Internet affiliate marketing program or affiliate marketing network credible, has proper tracking so your referrals are correctly tracked, has good campaigns and offers for the Internet affiliates to promote so they actually do make money, and do they pay timeously? Assuming that the Internet affiliate marketing program or network is good, what percentage do they pay you on amounts that your referrals get paid? All programs vary so compare different programs to see what the industry standard is.

How long do you continue receiving referral commissions for? Some pay for a month, some for the lifetime, and of course there are many variations in between.

Domain Name Registration and Maintenance for Beginners

If you're starting an online business or just want to have your own identity on the Internet, one of the most critical decisions you have to make is registering and maintaining your domain name. After all, the domain name is what will set you apart and make you identifiable in the organized chaos that is the Web. Here are tips on effective domain name registration and maintenance you can use:

Decide on a memorable domain name Before registering a domain name, decide carefully if it is the right name to use. A domain name will identify and represent you. Don't register a domain name you will regret later or get you sued. If you have a few names floating around, check if they have been registered or trademarked.

Find a reliable company to register with There are dozens of companies that offer domain name registration for a fee. The cost can vary, ranging from really cheap ones with basic services to expensive ones that offer a few extras. If you want to be cost effective, make sure you do your research first before you decide on which registrar to sign up with.

Consider the type of services you can make use of There are domain name registrars that not only lets you register your website but also offers you maintenance. Ask about terms of service and the length of the agreement. In most cases, you'll probably find service packages ranging from basic to premium.

Compare the services for each package to see which one suits your present and future needs. A cheaper package may seem attractive initially but it may prove to be expensive to use in the long run. Conversely, choosing the most expensive package may not work for you if it has too many services you can't make full use of.

Got a domain name double? Register other name variations If you're building a business or an online identity in a popular or industry-specific niche, it's possible that you could have similar names with other businesses or websites. If your domain name is http://www.unitech.edu.np/, for example, there could be another website out there with another owner that has a similar domain name, such as http://www.unitech.edu.np/ or domainname.net. Whatever the name or names may be, consider these as a cut in your potential market share.

You could minimize the confusion and competition by registering your other domain name variations. Check to see if there are no existing websites or registered domain names using those variations and register them yourself. You can then redirect any searches or clicks to your own website. While this can be costly, it can still be worth every penny if it ensures that your targeted traffic comes to you.

Can't handle all the work? Outsource domain name maintenance If you're swamped, you could always pay someone else to do domain name maintenance for your website. You can then focus on running your business and doing other tasks to help build your reputation online.




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