DOT NET

Back in the 1980s, there were just seven domain extensions or TLDs (.com, .edu, .gov, .int, .mil, .net, and .org). Out of these, .com was meant for commercial businesses, .org was meant for organizations, .net for networks, .edu for schools, colleges and universities .gov for government sites and .mil for the military. Today, out of the original seven extensions, only .edu, .gov and .mil are still restricted and not available to the public.
In 2001-2002, seven new domain extensions were introduced. Out of these, .biz, .info, .name, and .pro are unsponsored and open to anyone who wants to register their domain name with these extensions. The other three new domain extensions, .aero, .coop, and .museum, are sponsored. A sponsored domain extension is not available to everyone and is backed by institutions. The sponsored domain extensions are specialized TLDs representing the narrower community or industry that is most affected by the TLD. The sponsor or the domain extension is the body responsible for policy-formulation over matters that concern the sponsored domain extension.

Start with a list. . Make a list of possible names that can be a good representation of your business. Choose names for easy access. Having a list of alternative domain names helps in the case your first pick has already been taken by someone else.
Choose what level of domain and the domain extension you want: While .com is the most preferred domain extension, good domain names with the .com extension are scarce. As such, you may want to consider domain extensions like .org, .net, and your country-specific domain extensions.

• Contact information – Make sure you have a valid email address. You can opt for private domain registration where your identity is kept private. However, you need an email ID for correspondence with your domain registrar.
• Decide on the duration – A domain name can be registered for just one year or up to ten years. You need to decide the length you want to register your domain name for. Registering for multiple years usually saves money overall and reduces the chance of missing a renewal date the following year. You want to make sure you secure the use of your domain for as many years as you think necessary. Some feel that a new business should only register a domain name for two years and then start renewing for longer periods if the business is still going strong.
• Payment Methods – Have your credit card ready. Many companies allow you to use a check or money order, but the fastest payment method is paying with a credit or debit card. Make sure this is a secure transaction! Paying with the fastest method safeguards you against the chance that your domain name might get registered by someone else while your payment is in transit.
• Lock your domain name – Locking secures your domain name and prevents anyone from transferring your domain to another registrar. Make sure you read carefully all links that are provided upon registration. Most domain registrars lock your domain, but some won’t if you don’t specify that you want to do so.