Giving a Domain Name as a Gift

There are so many things you can do with a domain and a simple web site. Here is a short list of the people and occasions in your life that might like to have a domain as a gift:

1. Grandparents would love a web site that allowed them to see their grandchildren living far away.

2. College students, for the most part computer savvy, can share their campus experiences with family and old friends.

3. Military families can stay in constant touch even half a world away. The site owner can post pictures of the new baby and post his or her own blog of daily events. Imagine how that would pick up the spirits of military personnel away from home - and very home sick. A personal or family website is almost like being there.

4. Kids can get very creative (probably more than adults) using today's site building software.

5. Family with distant relatives.

6. Small business owners.

7. Artists

8. Writers

9. Poets looking to expose their works to the world.

10. Not-for-profit organization

11. Community organizations

12. Town sports teams

13. Service organizations

14. Special Occasions

15. Birthing Gifts

16. Birthday Presents

17. Anniversary gifts

For a domain name to "exist," it has to be registered. Most often, registrars are web hosting companies and can charge anywhere from $3 to $18 to register a domain name with the W3 domain name authorities. I suggest a full service domain registration and hosting company like Augie's Domains.

There are millions of web sites, which means there are millions of registered domain names because that's what a domain name is all about - a web site. Amazon.com is a domain name you may have heard of. Youtube, Myspace and WebMD are other examples of domain names.

So, if you're giving your brother a domain name for his birthday, choose a name that he'll enjoy and appreciate. Be creative in developing a name that's (1) available and (2) a reflection of the gift recipient. To check availability of a domain name go to Augie's Domains. Type your idea for a domain name gift into the box labeled "Start Your Domain Name Search Here" near the middle of the page.

Now, we're all familiar with dot-coms, as in IBM.com and Google.com. The c-o-m stands for "company," telling potential visitors that this is a commercial site. But today, there are many more options for domain name extensions including .net, .us, .name and plenty of others. This gives you many more domain options because if IBM.com is taken (and it is!) you might try IBM.net or IBM.us until you find a name that will please the individual who receives the gift.

You and/or the domain name owner are now poised to construct a web site. Look for a web host that provides a toolbox of web building tools free. Go with a web host that provides all the tools you'll need to design and launch a website. Augie's Domains also provides web hosting!

Low-cost web hosting, with a pile of goodies, shouldn't cost more than $10 a month - less than $120 a year. BTW, this might be a cost you add to your "gift" - a one-year subscription of web hosting. You get the best rates when you sign on for 12 months or longer.

Once you've selected a web host, it's time to build a web site and, really, it's something anybody can do. You don't have to be a computer genius. You don't even have to be a computer dummy.

Help or let the gift recipient handle things on his or her own. A child might need a little help but part of the fun of designing a web site (especially one given as a gift) is to personalize it and make it your own.

Actual site construction is done using templates - basic forms into which you add whatever information you want - your name, the family name, whatever - that's what makes it your site.

Using pick-and-click templates, even the techno-impaired can build a web site in a few hours with a completely customized look. Hey, now you've taken your place in cyberspace. You have a digital identity.