| So, you are interested in using your computer to | | | | periods and costs. If you want to keep the domain |
| make money on the internet with affiliate marketing. | | | | name you have chosen, be sure to pay the renewal |
| Congratulations! Affiliate marketing is a fascinating | | | | fee before it expires (sort of like paying the rent |
| area, and it can be unbelievably rewarding. However, | | | | before you get kicked out!). |
| it can also be unbelievably confusing. Even some of | | | | So what is website "hosting?" |
| the words your encounter can make you think you're | | | | Let's do a quick re-wind. Actually, registering your |
| reading a foreign language. Here's a quick summary of | | | | domain name is more like getting a post office box |
| some of the vocabulary you will need to know. This | | | | than getting a house. You have an address, but you |
| article is the second in an ongoing series of articles | | | | sure can't move into a post office box! |
| about affiliate marketing vocabulary. | | | | Your website will need a good place to live, too. |
| Let's continue our discussion by looking at some | | | | Unless you are a pretty accomplished website |
| terminology involved in setting up and running a | | | | developer with a lot of computer expertise, your |
| website. | | | | website will almost certainly "live" on someone else's |
| Many affiliate marketers do their marketing via one | | | | computer. Of course, that "someone else's computer" |
| or more websites, which of course, need names, so | | | | isn't really called that. It's called a server. A server is |
| let's start there. | | | | just a very large and fast computer on which |
| You may be thinking about a "website" name. So | | | | someone basically rents out space for websites and |
| was I when I started learning all of this. But there is | | | | keeps those websites up and running. That service is |
| some different internet vocabulary involved here. | | | | called "hosting." |
| Instead of saying "website name," we talk about a | | | | This is important - and it's definitely not the time to |
| "domain name," which is just another term for | | | | go looking for free or super-cheap services. This is |
| website name. | | | | truly one of those times in life when you generally |
| So, sometimes you will see the term "website name," | | | | get what you pay for. You can find services that will |
| and sometimes you will see "domain name." Either | | | | offer to host your site for practically nothing - or |
| way, it's the name for the address and space that | | | | even for free! Ever hear the expression "penny wise, |
| your website will occupy on the internet. Like buying | | | | pound foolish?" It comes from the English system of |
| a house, you can't use the address unless you live in | | | | money, and refers to someone who is very careful |
| the house. Your website will "live" in your domain, and | | | | about spending pennies, but carelessly spends pounds |
| its "address" will be your domain name. | | | | (similar to US dollars). In my experience, that |
| There are actually three aspects to domain names | | | | expression clearly applies to choosing your hosting |
| and websites: registering, hosting, and building. | | | | service. |
| When you "register" your chosen domain, you are | | | | If you are not already familiar with various hosting |
| claiming it for yourself. There are many, many domain | | | | services, back to Google! This time, search on |
| registration services available to you. If you don't | | | | "website hosting services." You will find many |
| already have one that you like using, just go to | | | | companies that would love to have your business. |
| Google and search on "domain registration services." | | | | Again, read about and compare different services to |
| Review a few of them, and see what seems to fit | | | | see what seems to be best for you. |
| your needs best. | | | | You do not need to commit to a hosting service until |
| Follow the directions on the registration service that | | | | you have decided who will build your website and |
| you chose to find available domain names that you | | | | how they will do it. That is a big decision, and |
| like. Then register the domain name(s) you selected. | | | | involves many considerations that will be discussed in |
| To "register" your chosen domain name, you will | | | | another article. |
| need to provide contact information and payment for | | | | It's true that there is a lot to know about starting an |
| your domain name. | | | | affiliate marketing website, but it is all completely |
| Once you have registered your chosen name, no one | | | | do-able - even if you are brand new to the internet |
| else can claim it. Sort of. When you register your | | | | business world. You just need to approach it one |
| domain name, you will need to choose a time period - | | | | step at a time, and make sure you have understood |
| six months, one year, etc. Different domain | | | | and completed each step as you go along. |
| registration services offer different registration | | | | |