If you don't already have a domain name, we can register one on your behalf. We will then have it delegated to your new website via your web host's DNS.
When you have a website, you need three things: (1) the website itself (analogy: your house); (2) web hosting (analogy: land on which to put your house); and (3) a domain name (analogy: a street address). A detailed explanation of domain names follows.
What is a domain name?
A domain name is your own personal web address, e.g. yourcompany.com.
Many organisations throughout the world, including ours, have .com addresses. Country-coded addresses are also available, e.g. yourcompany.com.au for Australia, or yourcompany.co.uk for the United Kingdom. Other suffixes such as .net and .org also exist. You may register any .com or .net or .org domain name you wish, so long as it is available. However, fairly strict rules apply to the registration of Australian domain names. For instance, you can only have a .com.au domain name if you have a registered Australian business.
In a nutshell, anyone can register global .com .net .org .biz or .info domains (and they're cheaper), but if you're a business wanting an Australian domain name, you'll need to provide your ABN for .au domain name registration.
Your domain name is your unique internet web address, so choose something compatible with you and/or your business.
More about domain names!
• Be aware that you can't change your domain name after registration - domain name registrars do not offer refunds.
• Your domain name will be portable. It can be delegated to the hosting company of your choice.
• Domain name delegation is not the same as domain name forwarding. Forwarding is useful in various situations, but if used exclusively it will seriously impede your search engine rankings. The best use of forwarding is when you want to have two or more domain names to ensure you'll be found if someone types in the wrong address. For instance, if you register yourname.com PLUS yourname.com.au, the .com.au name could be officially delegated using DNS, while the .com name could be forwarded to the .com.au, or vice versa. (Example: Range Web is available at rangeweb.com and rangeweb.com.au. The latter forwards to our .com address.) Please note, however, that not all domain name registrars offer free domain name forwarding.
• Range Web can take care of all your domain name searches, registrations and delegations. There is no need for you to do anything other than tell us what you want and provide us with your ABN, if you have one. Then relax, and let us do the rest.
