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A domain name is a critical part of your online identity and branding. Understanding what a domain name is and the types of domains available can help you make informed decisions about your online presence. This guide will walk you through the basics of domain names, why a custom domain is important, how to choose one.
Domain Name vs. URL
Domain Name
A domain name is the readable address of your website. It includes the unique name of the website and its top-level domain (TLD).
In portfoliobox.net, "portfoliobox" is the domain name and ".net" is the TLD.
URL
Simply put, a URL (Universal Resource Locator) is the entire address of a website, including the protocol and other parts. For example, in the URL https://www.portfoliobox.net/learn:
- https:// is the protocol
- www is the subdomain
- portfoliobox is the domain name
- .com is the TLD
- /learn is the page path
Types of Domains
- Top-Level Domains (TLDs): These are the extensions found at the end of domain names, such as .com, .org, or .net.
- Country Code Top-Level Domains (ccTLDs): These are country-specific domain endings like .se for the Sweden or .jp for Japan.
- Sponsored top-level domains (sTLDs): These are specialised top-level domain tailored to serve specific communities, like .edu or .gov.
Why Get a Custom Domain Name
You don't need to have a Custom domain name to have a Portfoliobox website but a custom domain name
- Makes your website easier to discover
- Enhances your brand's professionalism and credibility
- Makes your website appear more trustworthy to visitors
- Improves your rankings in search engines
When choosing a domain name, consider using your own name for personal websites and your brand name for business websites. Have backup options in case your preferred name is taken. You can try variations of your name or different TLDs.
Choosing a domain
Choosing the right domain name is crucial as it impacts your site's visibility and brand perception. Here’s how to choose effectively:
- Keep It Short and Memorable: Long domains are hard to remember and prone to typing errors.
- Use Relevant Keywords: Incorporate keywords that describe your business and help improve SEO.
- Avoid Numbers and Hyphens: These complicate the domain name and make it harder to verbalize.
Check the TLD Portfoliobox can register for you.
How to get a domain for your website
You can either get a domain name via Portfoliobox or connect a domain your already own to your site.
Get a domain name via Portfoliobox
- Publish your site: To publish your site, please click on Publish at the upper right corner of your admin panel.
- Choose the option Get a New Domain
- Type the domain name you wish and click Search
- You'll see in the list of results, the domain names available
- Pick the one you prefer
Use the Domain You already own
- Publish your site: To publish your site, please click on Publish at the upper right corner of your admin panel.
- Choose the option Use the Domain I already own
- Submit your domain name and click Use my domain
- Confirm.
- Update DNS Records of your domain.
For a complete tutorial on how to use your own domain, please visit Connect your Domain to your Portfoliobox website.
Set up a domain email address
With an email address that matches your domain, you maintain a cohesive online presence and enhance your professional image. When your domain name is configured and ready, you can easily set up a custom email address that matches your domain name (e.g., yourname@yourdomain.com). With Portfoliobox, you can create aliases (e.g., order@ or hello@), set up email forwarding and autoresponder, and use your email address with external email clients.
Read more about Custom Email Address.
