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About domain names
A website name (such as "www.yourName.com") is also known as a domain name or a URL (Uniform Resource Locator).
You can purchase one directly from an online domain name registrar, or we can do it for you.
Please note that the Website Package offered by Click as a Flash includes the purchase (for a year) of a .com, .biz, .ws or .info name, but not other country specific names.
How they work
A domain name such as clickasaflash.com can be purchased before it's site has actually been created. Then, the name is "pointed" or "parked" at the registrar's site so that all registered registrars know that name is taken.
Anyone who tries to look at a purchased name which doesn't yet have a site will instead be redirected to an error page or notice on the registrar's site saying something like "the site you are seeking is a registered domain name but it doesn't have a website yet" or whatever.
Later, once the name's actual site is created and placed on a server (a 24 hour connected computer) the domain name must be directed away from the registrar and instead pointed at this actual server. Only then is the website accessible to the public. (Note that two servers are generally used so that when one goes down temporarily, the other one is still available.)
Buying a domain name
Details on how to easily buy a name follow later.
The cost of purchasing a .com, .biz, .ws or .info domain name is included in your purchase of a Website Package from Click as a Flash.
(If you already own your domain name the package fee reduces by $15.)
This registration lasts for one year after which it must be renewed. Some registrars allow you to purchase multiple years.
If at any time you choose to discontinue hosting with us, we can transfer the domain name to you.
Country specific domain names such as .co.uk for Britain or .com.au for Australia are not included in our package.
Why we recommend you register your name yourself!
It's in your own best interests to register your own domain name. It's best for you to fully own and control (and renew) your domain name which is, after all, your second business name and a precious asset. For us to do it would be like commissioning us to visit your government office to register your business name for you. And by doing it yourself, you can take responsibility for renewal to avoid the possibility of it being forgotten!
Please note that we only register names on behalf of hosting clients. In that case, if you choose to discontinue hosting with us, your site name should be transferred to you or your new webmaster.
Other web companies like to provide your domain name to "lock you in" as a customer!
The current price at our recommended registrar directNIC.com is $15 per year for one of the above name types. If you purchase a name yourself or already own one, the Website Package price is reduced by $15.
How to buy a domain name yourself
It's an easy and straightforward process. With credit card handy, you visit a domain name registrar's site and follow their instructions. (Which registrar depends on whether you want a .com or .co.uk or .com.au type etc).
Good registrars make it simple. There are two basic steps:
- Do a search on the registrar's own on-site search engine for the name you would like.
- If the name is available, you fill in a secure (128-bit encrypted) form with your details and credit card number etc and send in your order and payment. That's it, you can own a name in minutes!
Full details of registering with directNIC follow shortly.
What's next?
After you purchase a name, you or your registrar "point" it at the registrar's own site, even though you have no site yet. (This is so other registrars know that that unique name has just been purchased - registrars link to each other's sites.) To activate it once you have built a site, access it again on the registrar's site and key in the server (hosting computer) names of whoever will be your real host. So if you are purchasing a Website Package from us, we provide you with our host server's address for you to point your domain name at.
Please note that different rules and fees apply to different name types. For example, only governments can use the ".gov" extension. But the method of buying one is similar for all types.
About registrars
Registrars vary between countries and so do their fees. They are generally private companies, but they are authorised by governments and by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers who coordinate the international data). They cooperate and connect with each other so that two registrars cannot both sell the same name to two different clients.
The icann.org site has lots of information about domain names, and also lists many registrars.
Click as a Flash uses a registrar called directNIC.com for the dozen or so international .com names we own. Their fee is a very affordable $US15 per name per year and their site is very easy to follow. DirectNIC also sells the popular .biz, .ws and .info names.
In Australia (for .com.au) visit melbourneit.com.au whose fee is $A140 for two years.
These sites contain more detailed and up-to-date information than appears here.
For other specific country names, you need to check out your own nation's registrars for the best deals. If you are not sure how to do this, you could try visiting a search engine like google.com and if you want a British website for example, enter words like: "Britain, domain, registrar" in the search field. Or look at ICANN's lists.
About rules
International domain names (.com)
You can pretty well register any name with the .com extension if it hasn't already been taken. No-one regulates the words. That's the main problem — the best names have been snapped up. But if you are imaginative, you might be able to get a good name by being clever.
For example, a name like "fantasticFlowers.com" might already be taken, but if you're a florist in London, you might find that "fantasticFlowersLondon.com" is available. Or "fantasticFlowersAnywhere.com".
Technical restrictions do apply — you can only use lower case letters and numbers, though dashes can be used. The name can be up to 63 characters in length.
New names like .biz, .ws (for "website") and .info are also available and many good names are still available.
Register with directnic (for .com, .biz etc)
Actual registration may vary from what appears below.
Click as a Flash uses and recommends www.directNIC
To register a .com name (or other top level names eg .biz, .info) with directNIC you first set up a free account. This is then accessible anytime. On their home page, click on the "Sign-Up" button at the top. On the form that appears, fill in your details and a password. It must be letters or numbers from 6-14 characters in length and for security reasons cannot be a single dictionary word. Submit the form.
Go back to the home page. Click on "Domain Registrations" at left. Perform a search for your preferred name by typing it into the search engine text field that appears and submitting it.
A new page appears telling you if the name is available. (Other options and variations on that name also appear. They are hoping to generate extra sales.)
If your desired name isn't available, you'll have to try another.
If the name is available, click on "Click here to add to cart!"
A new secure page appears giving you the option of opening the account you just created. Enter your name & password and continue.
A page appears featuring the domain name(s) you have already placed in your shopping cart.
Here, you get the option of selecting how many years to pay for. Click "Continue Purchase."
A new page appears. Check your name is correct. For the moment, leave the domain nameservers pointed at their default (eg ns0.directnic.com). These are the fields that have to be changed later to the nameservers of whoever will ultimately host your site. Remember, after purchase, you are able to easily change this via your new account (if you remember your password!) Click "Continue Purchase".
(A "nameserver" is simply the hosting computer which will eventually host your site. Once purchased, names have to be pointed at a "host", in this case your registrar, even before you have a site so that the world knows that name has been taken.)
A secure page appears. Input your credit card details and send. That's it! You shortly get an email confirmation and receipt. And you can check on your domain name at any time via your account. This registrar sends you an email before renewal is due. Write yourself a reminder in next year's diary as well. If you let your name expire, anyone can take it over!
I own a name. What happens next?
Once we have created a website for you, we notify you of the two server names of our hosting provider. These names are simply domain names like server01.com and server02.com.
You then go to your registrar's site and open your secure account using your password. You simply locate the fields containing the two names your domain name is currently "pointed" at (ie the registrar's servers) and replace them with the new server names we give you.
A day or two later the entire world knows your new web address exists, and customers start pouring in!
Australian clients can click here for information about the .com.au domain name
