Domain Names

Can you host domain names other than .com .net .org .biz .info and .us?

Can I have additional domain names point to my hosting account?

You will have the option to point multiple domains at the same directory (e.g. domain.com and domain.net point to the same place), or to separate directories (e.g. domain1.com to /domain1directory/, domain2.com to /domain2directory/).

Aren’t my domain renewal and my hosting account renewal the same thing? Why separate charges?

Domain name renewals and hosting account renewals are separate services and are billed separately. You may have registered your domain name with one of many domain name registrars. If your domain name is registered with another registrar, you will receive your domain name renewal from that registrar. If your domain name is registered with VirtualReality, you will receive your domain name renewal notice from us.

If VirtualReality hosts your website, you will receive your hosting account renewal notice from us. If you let your domain name expire (no matter the registrar), your website will not be accessible, even if the hosting account is still active (no matter the hosting company). Domain names are recorded through the main domain registry (so no 2 parties can register the same domain name worldwide) but your web hosting account can only be active at 1 web hosting company. We will not have records of your domain name account’s username and password if you created your own domain account with other company.

Can I have more than one domain name? Can they both point to the same web site?

You can have as many domain names as you like. You can have each domain name point to a different site, or you can have multiple domain names point to the same web site (but not to different pages within the same web site). Many companies register several domain names and have them all point to the same central web site. This is known as a “domain alias.”

Registering multiple domain names for the same site not only brings the largest draw to your site, but it also can prevent competitors from poaching your potential customers. When picking multiple domain names — or aliases — for the same site, consider variations of your name such as common misspellings, as well as both singular and plural versions of the name.

Can I keep my domain name if I switch my web hosting over to your servers?

Absolutely! You need to change Name Servers to switch your host or server.

Although each registrar has it’s own policy for releasing domains and some may charge you a release fee.

How long will it take to register my new domain name?

VirtualReality registers your domain name immediately after receiving your request. The propagation process normally requires 48 to 72 hours.

How long will it take to transfer my domain name to VirtualReality’s registrar?

Typically the transfer should be completed within about 48 to 72 hours. You may want to check with your registrar to see exactly how long it should take to complete the transfer.

I already have a registered domain name. How do I transfer it to VirtualReality?

The transfer process depends on the registrar with whom you registered your domain name. VirtualReality can transfer your domain name for you, but will probably need your username and password to log in to your current registrar’s system. The transfer process typically takes several days.

I want to reserve my name, but I’m not ready to post my site yet. What are my options?

You have a number of different options. If you think you may want to get your site up and running in the near future, you can go ahead and register your name and sign up for a hosting plan now. VirtualReality will create an “Under Construction” page that all your site’s visitors will see until you are ready to publish your site.

If you think it may be a while before you are ready to publish your site, or if you want to reserve your name “just in case,” you can select a plan that offers only domain name registration. With this plan, your domain is registered so that no one else can use it, but you do not have to pay for web site design or hosting yet. This is sometimes referred to as “parking” your domain. If you decide you want to go ahead and publish a web site later, you can quickly upgrade your plan.

My site is not showing up when I type in my domain name. What’s wrong?

If you have recently set up your account, this probably means that your domain name has not been propagated to all of the possible domain nameservers.

Test your domain by typing your temporary web address in a web browser. If you can access your site using the temporary web address (URL), wait a day or two for the propagation period to complete. If after 72 hours the domain name still does not resolve correctly, contact VirtualReality.

Someone else is already using the domain name I want. Is there anything I can do?

Once a domain name is registered, it belongs to the person or company that registered it. If you are really interested in having a domain name that is already registered to someone else, you can contact the owner of the domain name to find out if the name is for sale or you can wait for the registration to expire.

What is propagation?

When visitors type your domain name into their Web browsers, their request is referred to a nameserver that indicates the physical location (the IP address) of your domain on the Internet. When your site location changes to a new IP address, or when you deploy a new site with a new domain name, nameservers around the world must be notified of the change. This process of notification is referred to as propagation.

Propagation typically takes 48 to 72 hours. During this time, if you are transferring your domain, some nameservers will still refer to your site’s old location while nameservers that have already been notified of the change will refer to the new location. As a result, visitors accessing your site may be directed to either the old or new location, depending upon which nameserver they connect to.

If some visitors are still being directed to your old site location after 72 hours have elapsed, you should contact your previous Internet Presence Provider and request that they update their DNS and delete your domain from their servers. Once this has been done, and this change has been completely propagated, the transfer to your new location will be complete.

If your site is new, your site may not be recognized by all nameservers until the propagation period has completed.

What kind of domain name extensions can I use? Can I use international domains such as .tr, .ch, .ca, .us or .au?

You can use common domain extensions such as .com, .net and .org as well as international domain extensions such as .fr, .ch, .us and .au. VirtualReality can provide web hosting for any of these domain types.

VirtualReality can register domains with .com, .net, .org, .info and .biz extensions, as well as a number of international domains.

How do I keep my domain safe?

Unfortunately, cyber crimes are getting more sophisticated. When it comes to domain safety, the burning issues remain cybersquatting and domain hijacking. Owning an SSL certificate is not an extra layer of security anymore, but a necessity.

Does your domain name affect SEO?

Search engine optimization (SEO) refers to a set of practices and techniques which are employed to increase the amount of organic traffic that comes through search engine queries.

Given the fact most users rely on Google to search the web, webmasters try to follow Google Guidelines in order to rank well on this search engine page result for relevant keywords. Google’s ultimate goal is to offer the best possible user experience by offering only the most relevant results for each user that types in a certain word or a phrase.

When you take in mind 93% of all website traffic comes from a search engine, learning SEO is recommendable for all webmasters, regardless of the industry they operate in.

However, Google’s complex algorithm takes in mind over 200 ranking factors, of which not all are equally important. One group of ranking factors that are related to domain is called domain ranking factors.

Domain ranking factors are not always in the spotlight when it comes to discussing SEO practices that bring results. However, they do matter and should not be disregarded, especially in terms of online security.

In this context, people from the SEO industry mostly focus on discussing the role Domain Authority or exact-match keyword domains have.

What are premium domain names?

Would you ever pay $90 million for a domain name? Well, believe it or not – that was the price of the most expensive domain name in history, lasvegas.com.

Yep, premium domain names are often much more expensive than other ones and can reach astronomic figures, for many different reasons. Incredibly easy to remember with great branding potential, premium domains are already owned, either by individuals and organizations, or the registrars themselves.

Do I need to trademark my domain name?

If your brand name matches your domain name, you should consider getting a trademark so to legally protect your business. Having a trademark protects your business from infringement and the benefits of it become even clearer if your company is planned to operate fully online.

Depending on your location and other factors, you can trademark your business name for between $100 and $400. Some companies decide to register multiple domains as a cheaper alternative of preventing brand thefts in the digital space, as well as domain blackmails. Cybersquatting is a real issue. Luckily, thanks to the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA) – U.S. citizens are protected, while the international arbitration system of ICANN provides the needed protection for those outside of the U.S.

Why do I have to renew my domain? Can’t I just buy it?

Although the phrase “buy a domain” became widely used as you do make a purchase during the registration process, it’s not a completely accurate expression. You cannot actually purchase a domain name for life, but you can continue “renting” it, year by year. Assuming that you want to stick with your chosen domain name, most registrars offer automatic annual renewal option.

So, why is that? Why can’t you buy a domain name?

The reasons are economical and it’s actually common sense. ICANN leases you your domain name for a fixed period of time, usually a year. The operating costs for domain registry increase with company growth and inflation, and so does the number of domains that are under its management. So, the registry would have to increase domain extensions’ prices in order to address these costs, which isn’t really a good outcome for businesses.

Renewals are actually a smart thing in the broader picture. In addition to this, ICANN charges something that’s called “domain tax” and it’s about $.18 per year.

Having all this in mind, the most precise expression would be to call someone a “domain holder” instead of a “domain owner”, as you never really own the domain name.

How do I register a domain name?

The moment you decide on your domain name and extension, you’re all set to officially register it. The process of registration is very simple and it can be done online. We can divide it into four easy steps:

1. Check if your domain name is available (most registrars offer you an instant domain availability check via search box, so do we.
2. Once you check if your desired domain name is available for registration, it’s time to choose an accredited registrar or an authorized reseller.
3. Register your domain name online (make sure you read the terms and conditions so you know what you are signing up for).
4. Pick a hosting service that suits your needs (some registrars offer hosting services along with domains, some don’t; in any case, you can ask your registrar to park your domain name until you figure out the best hosting option for yourself; during the time your domain is parked, search engines do not rank it).

Whether we’re talking about choosing a registrar or your hosting service, you need to be careful not to get tricked by business. Always double check sign up prices and renewal fees. Ask for the list of supported features and know what you are paying for. Also, hosting services have to be crystal clear regarding the level of security and protection they offer, so ensure to tick the safety box as well.

What should I know before registering a domain name?

There are a couple of things you need to know before registering a domain name. With a credible and reputable domain service, you will certainly have someone trustworthy to guide you through the process and possible dilemmas, so here’s just an overview of some precaution steps:

• In case you are buying a previously owned domain name, you need to investigate that domain’s history and reputation (check previous WHOIS information, whether or not that domain has ever been banned by Google, or if it is perhaps protected with a trademark).
• Brainstorm your domain name before registering and check whether or not it’s available as a username across social networks.
• Watch out for hidden fees (some registrars are not very transparent about additional fees that come with editing WHOIS information, transfer fees, or domain name renewal costs).
• Demand clear information regarding hosting packages if you’re reaching out to resellers.

What is WHOIS?

WHOIS is a query and response protocol that provides information about the domain holder, the date of registration and expiration, whether or not the domain name is available, etc. You can check WHOIS information by searching for an available domain name on our homepage, let’s see how it works. In case the domain already exists, you’ll be able to see the WHOIS information below.

Who is responsible for managing domain names?

A non-profit organization called Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is responsible for DNS management, IP address allocation, and managing databases related to namespaces – all that in accordance to highest security standards.

So, whenever someone as a registrant tries to register a domain name, this request goes through either a reseller or a registrar, and then reaches registries that check if the domain name is available and provide name servers. ICANN oversees the assignment of IP addresses and domain names, thus providing the foundation of WHOIS information.

What are top-level domains (TLDs), as opposed to second-level domains (SLDs)?

Each part of the domain name is a precious piece of information that’s used to identify the website in question. So, different segments of the domain help browsers to locate the web page.

Even though top-level domains and second-level domains might sound like they mark different types of domains in terms of quality, this has absolutely nothing to do with it.

A top-level domain represents the last segment of the domain name. So, it’s everything located after the final dot in the internet address. It’s also referred to as “domain extension”. Top-level domains include .com, .net, .me, .info, .org, and many more.

A second-level domain complements the top-level domain. It is a part of the domain name located left of the final dot.

So, if you look at the example of “google.com”, .com is the top-level domain, while “google” is the second-level domain. It’s that simple.

What are domain name systems?

The moment you register a domain name, it gets tied to a specific IP address that’s like no other in the whole wide world. Magical, right?

So, to make it clear: when you type “google.com” into your browser, computers actually see the following string of numbers: 216.58.206.46, and they know exactly what website you are looking for.

This wouldn’t be possible without the domain name system (DNS). DNS is made of thousands of computers that are called servers; servers are responsible for hosting websites and they are to thank for the seamless communication between computers on the web.

What is domain name?

In everyday speech, we would say “the name of the website” instead of “domain name”.

Each website has a unique IP (Internet Protocol) address that’s used for its identification in cyberspace. An IP address is a one-of-a-kind string of numbers that might seem nonsensical to humans, but actually represents numerical instructions computers understand.